Training

Training by Kara E. Hoefer

Kara E. Hoefer is a published author on the subject of horse training. She currently has a book in the works about re training the off the track thoroughbred. Mrs. Hoefer is also the featured expert trainer for an off the track thoroughbred placement organization and answers training questions for those new owners of off the track thoroughbreds.

Kara has over 25 years of equine experience in both the Western and English disciplines. She was mentored, inspired, and trained by some of the best in the equine industry to include 10 years with Olympic rider, Diane Montgomery (Chicago, IL), Hunter/Jumper trainer, Ingrid Schultz (Germany), and AQHA/FQHA champion trainer, Arnie Ford (Wayne, IL), and all the horses she rode on the circuit especially her three-day eventer, “Ptarmigan.”

She has long since retired her dressage boots and hunt coat. You’ll most likely find her these days teaching a colt and their owner in the round pen. Whether it is riding instruction or saddle training, Kara believes in the “hands on”, team approach to training horse and owner.

“I encourage the owner to participate in their horse’s learning process. Using a team approach I can effectively teach horse and rider to communicate; they can learn together”.

Kara doesn’t utilize harsh training aids such as tie downs, martingales, crops, whips, or bats and absolutely will not utilize any calming agents or performance enhancers. She rides all of her horses in a sweet iron snaffle bit hence, the inspiration for the name of her farm.

“If a horse requires additional training aids such as severe bits, martingales or tie downs then I have a “hole” or fault in my teaching method” says Kara.

She also doesn’t follow any one type of training or teaching method. Kara says “Every horse is unique in the way he learns, just like people. One horse may pick up on Pat Parelli’s method while another does better with Buck Brannaman’s method. There isn’t a right or wrong method as long as it is humane, respectful to the horse, applied consistently, and taught in a way to set horse and owner up for success”.

We offer training in 30 day increments which includes training and pasture board for $600/month. This includes unlimited one on one lessons with you and your horse during the training process whether it is colt starting, ground work for respect/manners, or rehabilitating an undesirable behavior. A week long “horse boot camp” is also offered for $250 per week for those horses that need a tune-up or refresher course in manners; this includes board and unlimited lessons.