About Us

Way back in the late 1980’s Kari's parents decided she needed something to occupy her for the summer, so they figured riding horses would give her something to do each week. Little did they know that summer activity would continue on through the winter and to this very day. After a few short months of lessons, Kari attended her very first horse show on Jackspots Curly, a sweet leopard POA gelding who she rode in lessons. During that show, she saw the most beautiful black pony ridden by  one of her fellow students. Kari wanted that pony so badly, but the other little girl had already purchased him. The next few months Kari rode all the wonderful lesson ponies including that black pony. Finally on a nice day in October, Kari went out to the barn to show a new family around, when she was surprised by her very own pony! The very same special black pony she had wanted a year earlier. Charge It, or Sugar as he was known to his friends, was a great first pony. He taught us a lot about owning a horse and showing. Over the next few years, ponies came and went, and many goals were achieved at both the POA and 4H shows. After high school came college at University of Wisconsin River Falls, where, Kari graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Broad Area Agriculture. In 2001, Kari became a member of the American Riding Instructors Association, and was certified to teach Western and Huntseat lessons. In January of 2004, Kari moved to Payson, Arizona where she continues to ride and teach students for Patterson Training, at the Tanner Ranch in Star Valley, Arizona.

In 2007 Kari was honored by the American Riding Instructors Association as a Top 50 Instructor in the USA. She also is in the Circle of Honor for ARIA Instructors for 2007.