About Kim Gentry

Kim is classically trained in the German system of training and education with extensive training experience in Germany. She is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist and a successful FEI trainer and competitor through Grand Prix. Passing the USDF Certified Instructor Training - Fourth Level exams in the same weekend demonstrates the quality of Kim's training. In addition, she has successfully graduated from the USDF "L" program for judge training. Kim holds both a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA. After leaving an executive level marketing career, Kim has developed a successful teaching and training business in the Memphis, Tennessee area.

Kim's diverse riding background includes eventing, show jumping, amateur flat and steeplechase racing and even riding polo ponies for the King of Malaysia. Kim starting riding at the age of six and has been addicted ever since. She was fortunate to start riding under the training of Australian FEI judge Irene Bekels-Noreen. During her teen years she was a very active rider and competitor successfully retraining horses from the race track in Singapore. During that time she won many events in South East Asia and was a member of the Singapore National Team. She trained then with FEI "O" judge Nick Williams and cliniced with British judge Johanna Hall. Over the past 8 years, Kim has trained extensively with Stephan Kiesewetter and cliniced with top US trainers such as Steffen Peters, Lilo Fore, Lisa Wilcox, Lars Peterson and Robert Dover. Kim has also trained with German gold medalist Heike Kemmer and German FEI judge Mrs Angelika Fromming.

She currently competes several horses at all levels including her own horses and horses owned by clients. Kim has successfully trained students and horses to FEI and has successfully competed her self trained horse through Intermediate 1. She is now working with her new FEI partner C-Golden Eye.

Kim's goal is to develop correctly trained dressage horses regardless of their breed and develop their full potential given the horse's physical and mental capabilities. As an instructor, she strives to create independent and successful students in or out of the show ring. Kim also believes that a well trained horse enjoys a happy life and finds it rewarding to work the "kinks" out of horses with training issues.

Over the past 8 years she made many trips to Germany several times a year to train with Stephan Kiesewetter on a variety of horses to challenge and build her skills. In 2008, Kim was the recipient of the Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship which enabled her to travel to Germany with Concerto. Kim travelled back and forth most of this time (often as a groom for KLM). Concerto remained in Germany to be able to get the most of this wonderful opportunity. Kim and Concerto trained with Stephan Kiesewetter at Pferdesport Wintermuehle just outside of Frankfurt. A six week trip turned into a year and a half experience and the changes profound! The benefits of this have been huge and have truly changed Kim as a rider, teacher and trainer. Working at Wintermuehle and becoming a part of the team has given Kim exposure to the day-to-day operations of a world class sales and training facility and the opportunity to ride some really incredible horses. She was fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time when Golden Eye showed up! Stepping foot in the arena everyday with very high level, accomplished professionals and international competitors raises the bar to say the least. Sometimes it's pretty humbling too. Kim is now beginning the journey with a new, incredibly talented FEI horse and already learning so much from him every day.

"The experience of being able to spend so much time working and training in Germany has had a truely profound effect on me. It has changed my whole approach to teaching, training and riding."