68 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
Kassandra Barteau enjoyed stellar young rider success:
three national titles, NAYRC individual freestyle gold medal
and representing the United States at the FEI Young Rider
Dressage World Cup in Germany, to name a few. After competing
successfully as an adult, Kassie, 23, opted to leave the security
of her family’s KYB Dressage in Illinois. She continued to develop
her skills and discovered a great outlet for her passion for riding.
In April 2013 she began working with several Al-Marah Arabians
and in November signed on as head trainer.
“When I was younger, my step-dad Kim and my mother Yvonne
worked a lot with the owner of Arabian Nights, Mark Miller, who
is now the owner of Al-Marah,” Kassie explained. “That’s how I
got the connection. I used to ride Arabs when I was 12, 13, and
14, out in Scottsdale, Arizona and at some of the larger national
shows. I just got back into it this year and I’m very excited about
it.”
Mark’s mother, Ruth “Bazy” Tankersley founded Al-Marah
Arabians LLC in Arizona in 1941. Her career in publishing
necessitated relocating the horses to Maryland, but in the early
1970s she moved the breeding operation back to Phoenix. Last
February, the lady behind the famous Al-Marahs passed away at
the age of 91, entrusting the unique line’s continuation to her son.
e
Dressage
“Al-Marah has a great reputation in the horse world and it’s a
great company to work for,” said Kassie. “I really enjoy working
with the Arabs. They’re extremely smart and they’re very trainable
because they are so smart. I do mostly dressage with them. I also
do some in hand and sport horse under saddle. Their bodies are
so small and limber – they’re like driving a sports car.”
Kassie was winning small tour classes and Brentina Cups in
open adult competition, but she needed a change. In 2011 she
decided to become a working student with Steffen and Shannon
Peters in California. It wasn’t easy to leave the comfort and
stability of riding 8-10 horses daily,
competing and serving as assistant
trainer at KYB under the tutelage
of her parents, Yvonne and Kim
Barteau.
“To be honest, because I was
home-schooled, I didn’t have
the usual high school or college
experiences, and I had always
been sheltered by my parents even
though it was wonderful and I had a
great growing up,” Kassie explained.
“I kind of wanted that independence,
because I never got to have it when
I was at home. I was always with
my parents. I wanted to take a little
break from competing and do normal
person things.”
When she arrived at Steffen and
Shannon Peters’ barn where she
didn’t really know anyone, Kassie
felt a little lost and homesick. “I didn’t
Still Riding &
Training &
Dancing On
Horseback
Kassie and her Warmblood dancing partner, Aramo.
Photo by fireandearthphoto.com
Kassie and Aramao.
Photo by SusanJStickle.com
Continued on page 80
