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Saturday, January 30 2021 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Unbridled With Karen Golding

By Jan Westmark

Karen Golding’s long career in the equestrian world began on a pony in England and took her across the pond to the United States, to life as a top groom and to five Olympic Games.

“I met Bernie Traurig in England and he invited me to the United States to work for him for six months,” Karen said. “I took a break from college and Karen Golding’s long career in the equestrian world began on a pony in England and took her across the pond to the United States, to life as a top groom and to five Olympic Games.never looked back. I was very lucky; Bernie taught me a lot and introduced me to many icons in the horse world: Bert de Nemethy, George Morris, Bill Steinkraus and members of the USET. Being a groom in the United States made me feel like I was somebody. In England I was one of many.”

Karen is the only groom to have been inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, a fact that still makes her proud. She worked for Jerry Baker and Michael Matz and had the honor of caring for Jet Run throughout Jet Run’s stellar career. Some of the other notable charges Karen cared for included Springdale, Grande, Mighty Ruler, Sandor, Chef, Rhum IV, Bon Retour, Heisman and Judgement.

In 2000, Karen became an FEI steward, working at Olympic and World Equestrian Games Selection Trials and serving as the Chief Steward at three different World Cup Finals. “Being an FEI steward keeps me in the sport I love,” Karen said.

Where did you grow up? 

I was born in Wolverhampton, England, into a military family. We travelled every couple of years through the Far East and Europe. I now live in Wellington, Florida.

Of all the horses you took care of, who was your favorite?

My favorite would be Jet Run. I met him as a 3-year-old when Jimmy Kohn had him, and Bernie Traurig tried him. He was sold to Winter Place Farm; I went there a month later and the rest is history.  

What are some of your memories of the Olympic Games?

The Montreal Olympics was my first Olympic Games and all disciplines were stabled together. The interaction was great. The Atlanta Olympics was good as we came away with a silver team medal in front of a home crowd. The London Olympics was the best ever — everything was top class and I was an official there.

What made you want to become an FEI steward?

I became a steward when Michael Matz turned to racing. I didn’t want to groom or barn manage for anyone else, yet I wanted to stay around the sport I loved. David Distler and Paul Weir of the FEI talked me into it as we needed FEI stewards for Atlanta. I enjoy being a steward, helping to educate people and observing and teaching things I’ve learned over the years.

Have you had a funny horse moment that still makes you laugh?

Some of my craziest experiences included riding Grande in the ocean in La Baule, and just as Michael was telling me Grande liked to spook, he dumped me in the ocean. Then with Jet Run at the 

World Championships in Aachen, he got down and rolled with his tack on in a peat moss stall.

Thank goodness for fellow grooms. Another funny one was I taught Sandor to bow by touching his left shoulder. Buddy Brown used to ride alongside Michael in prize giving and tap him there and, much to Michael’s chagrin, Sandor would bow.

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the horse world? 

The people in the horse world are my extended family, having lost both my parents and my brother.  My friends over the years are very important to me.

If you weren’t involved with the horse world, what career do you think you would have picked? 

I really wanted to be a barrister (lawyer) in the courts. 

If you had a week off, what would you do?

I used to feel I’d love a week off and just relax. Unfortunately, I had to spend most of the year doing that, so a vacation would be to work!

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired by many people and their fight through adversity, from the child learning to ride a bike to the astronauts going into space.

Do you have a personal motto or catch phrase?

“Be as you are” is my favorite phrase.

What’s your favorite item of clothing to wear?

My visor — love a well-fitting visor.

What three items can usually be found in your refrigerator?

Milk, water and cheese

What’s your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is roast lamb.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I would like peace worldwide.

What’s something everyone should try at least once?

It would be nice if at least once a day people would be kind to one another.

How would you like people to remember you?

As being honest and fair and keeping everything an even playing field

Photo:

Karen Golding

Photo by James Parker

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: fei judge, grooms, stewards

What you can read next

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Growing Up Matz! Horses Don’t Just Run in the Family, They Gallop!
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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
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