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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Jodie Kelly and Lora Kay Witterstaeter: Teacher and Student Share Gladstone Experience
By Lynndee Kemmet for Dressagedaily.com

Jodie Kelly's Journey

In many ways, the journey has taken her around the world. It started in the Netherlands where Hoefs is based. Hoefs also live in the same town, Erp, where Anky Van Grunsven has her farm. Kelly spent many summers grooming at Anky's barn, a rare opportunity for an American Junior rider. It was there, during one of her many summer training sessions with Hoefs, that she spotted Manhattan. He was barely broke and as a summer student on the farm, Kelley was given the job of showing him to potential buyers.

“Some people came to look at Manhattan. He was amazing the first day and they loved him and came back a second day,” Kelly said. “I was showing him to the people because I had ridden him the most even though I had only ridden him ten times. He bucked me off so high and so high that when the people came the second day it scared them and he ended up not buying him. And that was the day that I bought him. I felt it was just meant to be when that happened.”

That wasn’t the only time the horse has put Kelly in the dirt. She’s been there many times since.

“I can’t say that it’s been smooth sailing the whole time. He’s bucked me off a lot. He’s been a very difficult horse but the most unique horse I’ve ever, ever had. He’s hot and he’s very busy and he has a lot of ideas. But he’s never mean and he’s never evil and he never has any bad thoughts,” Kelly said. “But he can be ten different horses. One day you come out and he’s quiet and he cruises along. Then one day you come out and he’s really hot and one day you come out and he’s really different than that.”

She credits Manhattan with helping to form her career. She may only be 23, but Kelly is already a professional riding instructor and trainer, thanks much to the experience of training Manhattan herself.

I’m not just a rider, I’m a trainer now. And, absolutely he’s been the best thing for me. I’ve just learned so much on him and I think that if nothing else ever comes from him, it’s made me the rider that I am,” Kelly said.