Kim Roe

Kim Roe grew up riding on the family ranch and competed in Western rail classes, trail horse, reining, working cow, and hunter/jumper. She trained her first horse for money at 12 years old, starting a pony for a neighbor. Kim has been a professional dressage instructor in Washington state for over 30 years, training hundreds of horses and students through the levels. In recent years Kim has become involved in Working Equitation and is a small ‘r’ Working Equitation judge with WE United. Kim is the editor of the Northwest Horse Source Magazine, and also a writer, photographer, and poet. She owns and manages Blue Gate Farm in Deming, Washington where she continues to be passionate about helping horses and riders in many disciplines.

Bernice Ende, Lady Long Rider

August 5, 2020July 1, 2016 by Kim Roe

12 Years out Riding by Kim Roe It was a rainy morning when I drove to interview Bernice Ende, known as the Lady Long Rider. On my way, I thought of only one question: Why? What would motivate a woman to leave the safety and comfort of home and …

The Sport of Working Equitation – Part 4

August 5, 2020August 1, 2015 by Kim Roe

The Speed and Cattle Phase by Kim Roe The goal of working equitation is to highlight the qualities of a horse that is going to be useful on the ranch. The first two trials are dressage and ease of handling, and judges test the accuracy, suppleness, fluidity of movement, …

The Sport of Working Equitation – Part 3

August 5, 2020July 1, 2015 by Kim Roe

The Ease of Handling Trial by Kim Roe Last month we covered the dressage phase of working equitation, now we explore phase 2: the “ease of handling” trial. This trial involves a course of 8 – 15 obstacles ridden slowly and precisely, like dressage through obstacles. The objective of this …

The Sport of Working Equitation – Part 2

August 5, 2020June 1, 2015 by Kim Roe

The Dressage Phase by Kim Roe As a dressage trainer and rider, I became interested in the discipline of working equitation because it includes a dressage phase. I appreciate the harmony between horse and rider that is developed in dressage, and the way that good dressage work can transform almost …

The Sport of Working Equitation – Part 1

August 5, 2020May 1, 2015 by Kim Roe

Engage Your Dressage Horse with an Exciting New Discipline by Kim Roe Most horses, like most people, need a job that has a clear beginning and a clear end. This clarity brings the horse mentally and physically into the game we are playing and includes sports such as cutting, …

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

August 5, 2020September 1, 2014 by Kim Roe

Realities of Life as a Horse Trainer by Kim Roe I got my first horse training job when I was 12 years old. A neighbor had purchased a pony for his children and it kept bucking the kids off, so he gave me $25.00 to ride the pony for …

What Every Horseman Needs to Know

August 5, 2020April 1, 2012 by Kim Roe

Guidelines for Good Training by Kim Roe Over my career as a horse trainer, I’ve developed a horseman’s protocol or “code” for good training. I keep these priorities in mind whenever I’m working with a horse, and teach my students to do the same. These are not so much training …

A Jiggy Problem

August 5, 2020February 1, 2012 by Kim Roe

Retraining an Annoying Habit by Kim Roe Many riders have experienced the annoyance of a horse who “jigs” by taking small, tense trot steps. The horse refuses to walk and may sway his hips from side to side. Jigging may be accompanied by head tossing, pulling, tongue and mouth problems, and …

Educating “Junior”

August 5, 2020September 1, 2011 by Kim Roe

How to Get the Most Out of Professional Horse Training By Kim Roe Taking your horse to a trainer is not like taking your car to a mechanic to be “fixed”. A mechanic can replace a broken part, then you take your car home, it runs great, and you don’t …