About Me

Hi! Welcome to my about me page, please read on to learn about my background with horses. As a child, like many others, I began dreaming of horses at a young age and later developed a true passion for training and competing. I have to say, my real life passion and education around horses did not lead me to exactly the same place as my fantasies of being a Grand Prix Show Jumper and Olympic Gold Medalist, but, they have led me to become a Pinto World Champion in 2009!

When I was five years old, I started riding lessons on a Dartmoor Pony named Peanuts, and from the first time I sat on his fuzzy little back, I was hooked! Growing up, my mom and sister and I all enjoyed riding together and our group lesson was the highlight of our week. We eventually moved on to leasing and showing a variety of horses and finally, bought our first horse in 1998. MD Competition Image is a bay, AQHA gelding with bloodlines amazing bloodlines such as Hotrodders Jet Set, Impressive and Triple's Image. We purchased Image as a five year old with an extensive show career including Quarter Horse Congress. As you can imagine, the addiction to the pleasure and all-around events began. As a teen, I wanted nothing more than to become a quarter horse breeder and trainer.

However, as most people know, sometimes life throws you a curve! So after years of dedication to the American Quarter Horse we decided to take a 'free' thoroughbred. Tattoo was an OTTB that never raced and had many soundness issues which caused him to become aggressive, pushy and sometimes violent. When we first brought Tooey home, we had no idea about his soundness problems. Although he was difficult to deal with, thanks to him we were introduced to trainer Kelli Ann Kinney. Kelli is a Grand Prix Dressage rider and Reining Trainer who also deals with "problem" horses. Using methods developed by Kenny Harlow, the first graduate of the John Lyons Certification Program, Kelli taught us how to deal with these behaviors and create a more stable horse. Tattoo's attitude finally turned around, it was like he was a new horse. He stopped bucking, rearing, biting and kicking and learned new skills like how to self-load in a trailer etc. Unfortunately, due to his soundness issues we had to retire him and gave him away to a retired trainer. Although our time together was short, he taught me some incredibly valuable lessons that I will never forget.

After Tattoo, we took one more little detour and bought a 3 year old Morgan mare from the University of Connecticut. Rythum, is a beautiful mare that my sister and I broke and trained, and she loves to jump! Although we do not show morgans, we have taken her to open shows. She loves to trail ride, hunter pace and play in the ocean! I have never seen a horse who was literally obsessed with water, but she is!

Next, we bought a 2 yr old gelding named Clu Tardy Too, which we thought was a quarter horse. We discovered when we received his papers about a week later that he was actually a Solid Bred Paint. And thus, sparked our interest in paint and pinto horses. I remember the first time I ever rode Beau, I declared, he was going to be the horse that would take us to the World Show. In 2009 he earned numerous Top 5 placings including a World Champion and Reserve Hi-Point Title at the Pinto World Show in Tulsa, OK.

In addition to working with our own horses, I volunteered at an equine rescue facility during my senior year of high school. I used what I had learned, and continued to learn from Kelli to help rehabilitate their horses, some of which had quite devastating histories. We used round penning and ground work to help conquer head-shyness among other issues, and were able to eventually ride some of the horses.

Meanwhile, my mom managed a small boarding facility and had a lesson program. I helped her with the farm and the lesson program and tried to learn as much as possible. I had already made up my mind that the minute I was old enough, I was going to get my instructor's license and become a professional trainer.

In 2006, we opened Rhapsody Hill Farm in Upton, MA. We purchased an AQHA mare named Smooth Brandy Deluxe and decided to start breeding Paints. Brandy was bred to multiple World Champion and Pinto Supreme Champion stallion Bonanza Dot Com and foaled two beautiful fillies. The first filly is BonanzasSplashOBrandy, a bay minimal white overo. Sprinkles was born in 2007 and is started under saddle and ready to show in the 2010 season. She was also shown as a weanling and a yearling. The second filly, Brandys Fancy Valentine is a 2009 filly called Prada. She is offered for sale and will be shown in yearling classes this season until sold.

In 2008 we also purchased a gelding for my sister, named Cool Cattin Mr. Caramel was a 2007 APHA/PtHA sorrel overo colt, with the sweetest disposition a person could ask for. After successfully showing in yearling longe line and halter we couldn’t wait to get him started under saddle. We broke him in May of 2009 and he was a joy to ride. Unfortunately, he passed away at the end of June 2009 and never got a chance to shine in the show ring under saddle. He is greatly missed.

I am currently available for lessons and training at Rhapsody Hill Farm in Upton MA. We also have a summer horsemanship program, pony parties and we welcome truck-in lessons! Please contact me for more information and rates.

Liz

Email liz@ethakar.com or Call 508.887.6712