As a youth, Jennifer participated and showed all over the East Coast at 4-H, FFA, Pony Club, local horsemen’s associations, state clubs and national breed associations - in everything from Western Pleasure, Team Penning, Working Cow Horse and Gymkahana to Equitation, Jumpers and Driving. She gained a great deal of knowledge and was a star performer on the Horse Bowl team for many of her youth years.  Still very active competitively,   Jennifer shows Paint Horses on the West Coast and National Circuits. 

In her own words: "My background is varied and my experiences are plentiful. My parents were very supportive of my love of all things equine. My mom was a forward thinker. She wanted me to learn every style of riding and good horse handling skills so I could decide in which to specialize. I have ridden with some big name trainers and taken clinics with even bigger names, but name dropping is for people who don’t have their own credentials. I count as my friends and heroes several prominent horsemen and women: Mrs. Terry Ready, Aiken, SC, past President of PHBA’s Amateur Association, whose late husband, Rodney, help revolutionize the Palomino breed; Mr. Dean Hodges, Herald, CA, a noted judge and winner of every major Western Pleasure Futurity in the Nation; and Mr. Tom Struzzierri, former President of the National Hunter/Jumper Council, owner of the nationwide horse show production company, Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS) and my coach during my Inter-Collegiate days. I have always sought the advice of reputable horse people and developed long standing relationships with judges, trainers and fellow competitors, in an effort to improve my knowledge of horses. Now, those same people contact me for appraisals of their client’s horses."

View Detailed Curriculum Vitae (Resume)

After daily Western riding lessons six days a week with Claudia Varner, a Meredith Manor graduate, in Pensacola, Florida, Jennifer got her first pony, “Little Bit Classy,” a POA Quarter Horse cross. After 8 months of basic horsemanship in Florida, Jennifer rode daily and took Hunt Seat lessons weekly with Dorothy Darnell, AHSA R Judge, in Verbank, New York.  Introduced to the versatility of the Morgan breed in the 80’s, Jennifer had the opportunity to ride Western, Saddle Seat and learn to drive with Judy Nason, a multi-National Champion trainer in Rye, New Hampshire.

Jennifer started showing in the Youth Division of AQHA on “Dillions Doll,” a mare who earned her Superior in Open Western Pleasure. With a well-rounded education in many seats, she became very interested in AQHA's All-Around competition. After Youth, she purchased a 2 year old gelding from Gary Svenningsen named “Rally Jo Doc.” Gary trained the gelding and they competed in AQHA Amateur events including Showmanship, Halter, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, and Trail for several years.

She also showed,  “Kissed in Time,” an APHA mare on the ultra-competitive AHSA circuit. Additionally, Jennifer showed in the Hunt Seat Equitation division and represented Marist College on the Inter-Collegiate Equestrian Team.

In the late 90's, Jennifer became interested in Palominos and the search was on to buy one that could compete successfully at the National level. An AQHA win in the Amateur Western Pleasure meant that “Mr. Skips Impression,” was quickly sold to Illinois. Jennifer then purchased “All the Towns Gold,” a golden Palomino out of Marleen Cowie’s MC Training Stables in Perry, NY. 

All the Towns Gold was PHBA National High Point All-Around Horse in 1999 and Jennifer showed him to Top Ten in the National Amateur All-Around standings throughout 2000, earning an Amateur Championship. He has earned many National Top Ten Placings including the 2003 PHBA World Championship in Hunter Hack. 

Relocating to the West Coast, Jennifer became heavily involved in Miniature Horses. Her miniature horse, "Lucky Four Ridin Rainbows," won a 2001 National Championship, a Reserve National Championship and 8 other Top Ten Placings at the AMHA and AMHR National Shows in Halter, Showmanship, Driving, Hunter and Halter Obstacle. In 2002 and 2003, she showed the great Jr. Gelding, "Avantes Quichotte Sir Holland,"and earned 6 AMHA National Top Tens.

Now, her horse-habit is fueled by showing on the APHA Circuit. California is home to the second largest Paint Circuit in the US. The competition is really tough and the horses are as breath-taking as they are versatile. In 2006 and 2007, she showed in all-around classes with the 5-time World Champion, "Fancy Dot Com," earning Registers of Merit in Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship. In '08, she'll campaign a youngster,  "Gotta Be A Hotrod," by World Champion Hot Roddin Zip, toward the major Pleasure Futurities.

Jennifer continues to compete and enjoy her horses. Read the most recent article as published in the Horsemen's News.

Pictured with Jennifer, from top to bottom: Little Bit Classy, Rally Jo Doc, Mr. Skips Impression, All The Towns Gold, Lucky Four Riding Rainbows, CJ's Charlie Black, Fancy Dot Com, and Gotta Be A Hotrod.

As featured in Horse & Rider and The Morgan Horse magazines.

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