JumpStart Training

Kirsten (Kiri) Smith specializes in building a program to meet the needs of the horse and riders at their current level and discipline, creating achievable goals, and stretching their skills and progressing safely and patiently. The training program is customized to each horse and rider and the lesson program is designed to help you learn all aspects of horsemanship and partnership and gives you the tools needed to eventually own a horse if that is your goal. Kiri can help you find the perfect partner when you are ready. She also offers quality lesson horses which are available for full or partial lease. Her foundation started as a “Hunter/Jumper” program but it is currently a Cross-Training program with opportunities for Dressage, Eventing, and Hunter/Jumper disciplines as well as ground training classes and you have the chance to customize your program to focus on one discipline or try different things. The focus of her programs is safe and correct riding and horsemanship, and she is also happy to offer instruction to students who don’t want to jump.

For the advanced student, she can help you learn the fine details and rules of the Hunter/Jumper discipline and has connections and opportunities for learning from other Hunter/Jumper instructors as well as eventing and dressage instructors.

There are many opportunities to compete if that is your desire.

Kiri is ARIA certified in Hunters and Show Jumping. She has been seriously riding and training in ponies, hunters, equitation, and jumpers since she was 9 years old. She started in short stirrup and pony divisions at RockMeadow Equestrian Center. After success in the Large Pony divisions, Kiri graduated to the Jumpers, competing up the west coast from California to Canada under the tutelage of Audra Fleck-Snijders and Patrick Snijders. Throughout her riding career, Kiri participated in and received many awards in 4-H, IHSA, and has a solid foundation in flatwork with some dressage instruction and internships with Sean Rae and Catherine Reid.

She came back to RockMeadow Equestrian Center as an instructor. After working as a riding instructor at RockMeadow Riding School for over two years, Kiri wanted to learn the training side of the business. At Rollback Farm, she was able to learn about the relationships of clients and their horses, how to take care of high quality performance animals, and how to ride and show as a professional. She started working at Rollback Farm under Megan Chagnon as a working student. She developed a wonderful partnership with Megan and became her Assistant Instructor at Rollback Farm where she was able to teach and train as an independent contractor under the guidance of Megan. Kiri currently continues to expand her education by regularly taking lessons with the best dressage, hunter, and jumper instructors in the area

E-mail Kiri at [email protected] for more information and to contact for inquiries