Page 30 - 2302_full

28 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE H O R S E S H O W

On Course with

Kim Burnette-Mitchell

By Jan Westmark

Anyone who knows Kim Burnette-Mitchell knows she believes in giving back to the community and the horse industry. One of Kim’s big passions is a show she runs in Tennessee called Gallop in the Glen and fondly refers to as a “little Hamptons” experience.

“I want people to leave Gallop in the Glen and feel like they have had the time of their lives,’” Kim said. “I have had so many people tell me that this is their favorite show of the year and that they look forward to it and can’t wait to get back to Tennessee. Part of my goal with Gallop in the Glen is that I want the horse community to enjoy East Tennessee and the folks of East Tennessee to enjoy the horse community. What more could you want, this is a great place to be.”

When Kim isn’t running Gallop in the Glen, she and her husband, Dennis Mitchell, operate their farm Kimberden. “We have the best of both worlds because we spend half the year at our farm, Kimberden North, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the other half at Kimberden South in Ocala, Florida.”

Kim also stepped up after Hurricane Katrina and started the Animal SOS Rescue, which is still a big part of her life. “It ‘s nice to be able to help those in need of fnancial assistance for their animals. And as anyone that knows me knows, I take in a lot of strays including goats, pigs, chickens and anything that needs a home. We get them cared for and try to place them in loving homes.” 

Sidelines: What is your secret to making Gallop in the Glen such a successful show?

KBM: The show is very exhibitor-friendly with parties, dinner and fun activities every night. The exhibitors never need to leave the show grounds to go to dinner at the end of the day, because we make sure they are taken care of. I always laugh and say, “You can be late for the ring, but don’t be late for the parties.” I am in the barn every evening making sure people come and enjoy the entertainment and great food. My partner and show manager, Patrick Rodes, handles the actual management and it enables me to do the entertaining, decorating and social part of the event. 

Sidelines: Do you have sponsors for Gallop in the Glen?

KBM: We have some wonderful sponsors that step up for this show. Dr. Malcom Foster, who is with the Mercy Heart Institute and is a client of ours, is the key to making the fnancial commitment for the Grand Prix. He believes in the show and has a great love for the sport. He has already mentioned increasing the purse from a $50,000 Grand Prix to a $100,000 class, which would be wonderful. Another key player in the event is Rhonda Goble with Icon Sporthorses in Knoxville. She puts up the prize money for the $25,000 Icon Sporthorse Children’s/Adult Challenge. Rhonda wants to see the lower level riders have a nice purse to compete for. I am really lucky because these are amazing people who really believe in the show and what we are doing. 

Sidelines: What is your focus at Kimberden?

KBM: Kimberden is a training, showing, and sales operation. We show primarily in the southeast and Midwest and we keep both farms operating year round. We will have groups at several different horse shows  most weekends, thanks to our amazing staff of assistant trainers. Kimberden really is a family business. We now have nieces that are riding and we hope that their interest will help it to continue to be a family business.

Sidelines: Do you like training or competing better?

KBM: I love to compete. My husband does the majority of the training along with our assistant trainers. I am the business part of the operation. I am a detailed person and Dennis is not, so it makes for a perfect ft. Dennis always makes sure I have very nice horses ride, which makes his life easier since he is also the one training me.  

Sidelines: Have you had a favorite horse over the years?

KBM: Of course, haven’t we all! I had, and still have, a great horse named Jappaloe. He enabled me to show and go places and do things that not everyone gets the chance to do. It was a bit of a Cinderella story where Jappaloe was the glass slipper that ft and changed the course of my riding career. He is retired at our farm in Ocala, along with all of my old grand prix horses. They always stay with me and they all have a great life