Horse Sports Unlimited!

 I'm the one you receive the e-mail updates from and the one who updates our website!  I think my official title is  "Administrative Assistant of the CVG"! 

 I've been riding since I was 5 years old and learned to ride on a rotten little pony named "Princess."  I upgraded to a real horse at age 7 and trail rode and participated in the gymkhana that our town hosted every summer.  When I turned 15,  I became interested in showing western pleasure at local shows -- I did this for a few years but soon became bored with the showring...it was too slow! 

Upon purchasing an Arabian mare named "Lady" (or for those of you who attended our gymkhanas in 2007, you would recognize her as "Bucky"!) I decided that I was sick of showing and wanted to do gymkhanas!  She had the speed that I was looking for and I thought she'd make a good gaming horse.  The first couple times we did gymkhanas, she wasn't sure what in the world was going on!  But after doing only a couple games, she started to get the hang of it!  She got better and better, until last year when she decided that bucking - instead of running in a straight line - was her thing!  Hoepfully this summer she has gotten those out of her system! 

I hooked up with a friend - Kara - who also enjoyed gymkhanas and we realized that (at the time) there were hardly any places locally who held gymkhanas.  So...Kara, Beth (Kara's mom), and I decided to organize the CVG as part of the Connecticut Valley Fair.  Now we work together to host a series of four gymkhanas located in Bradford, Vermont.  Hopefully we'll see more people participate each year!                                               

Hi, my name is Kara Kendall and I live in Topsham, Vermont. Ashley asked me to write up something about myself for the CVG web site. This is harder then I thought! Where do I begin….Well, I am a mother of a very active 4 year old, Keghan. We try not to bring him to too many gymkhanas as he likes to play in the “big sand box” we like to call “the ring.” Hopefully he will enjoy riding as much as I do.

I started out riding when I was not much bigger then Keghan. My first “real” pony, which I started learning to show with, was good ole Star. He was amazing!!! I showed the Vermont Stock Horse Association for many years with Star winning various Vermont State and Orange County Champions. It was a very memorable period in my life. I then moved up divisions and horses and changes disciplines from English to Stock Seat. I showed Western Pleasure for many years until I decided to, once again, try something new.

Long story short, I had a horse given back to me years and years after I had sold him - Smokey. The little boy had grown up and went off to college; he asked if I would like my horse back.  I took this horse back and decided to venture off with Ashley and try to do a gymkhana. That didn’t turn out exactly how I pictured. The second game I fell off and had to be rushed to the E.R.  I figured out very quickly how different speed events where from jogging around the ring looking pretty!

The following year I got myself a new horse -  his name was Skip. He was fast and I had to learn how to ride and not just “hang on” in a hurry! Last season was my first and last year with Skip. He passed on this spring, but he will always be with us in spirit.

A new beginning is in store for me this year. Not sure what horse I will be running but I am very excited to be a part of the Connecticut Valley Gymkhana. Thanks for everything and every pointer and help from all!