Meet the Pink Ribbon team:
Kris
Poole - Owner, Instructor, Trainer, USDF
Bronze Medalist
Bill Campbell - Owner, IT
Department, Amateur Handler
SM
Sekar
AB
Sunset Hunter +//
Fames
Rebellion
Flashfeuer
+
Kris
Poole
Hi, my name is Kris Poole.
I’ve been riding and working with
horses for over 40 years.
I’ve learned a lot along the way. After
many years of trying to force a horse to do
what I wanted, either through fear, pain, or
brute strength, I’ve figured out a better way. Good
communication with your horse requires
understanding horse psychology and being able
to figure out why your horse does what he does
and reacts the way he reacts.
Understanding the bio-mechanics of
riding, allows us to not only ride correctly,
but to not interfere negatively with the horse
while we’re riding.
To be able to speak your horse’s
language and communicate clearly without
giving mixed signals is the ultimate reward
for a horseman and more importantly, the
horse.
I believe in working with owners on their own
horses to improve their riding and
communication.
Whether you are interested in improving
in the show ring or simply want to have a more
enjoyable ride at home, learning the
bio-mechanics of riding will help.
And if you want to have a horse who is
a willing participant, learning to understand
how your horse thinks will bring you closer
together. Feel
free to come and meet my horses and see what
I’m talking about.
I specialize in dressage and natural
horsemanship but teach all styles of riding
and horse handling.
Thank you to these great horse people and the
many others who have helped and continue to
help me understand the horse and myself
better.
* Pam Thompson started it all by introducing me to
eventing and dressage back in the 70’s and she
is still helping me out today.
* Judy Whyte in Southern Maryland
took me from riding mostly with my hands to
someone who understands the fundamentals of
dressage and has learned to love the sport and
the journey.
* Ray Wheeler in
Lothian, MD,
opened my eyes to horse psychology and
behavior and how we can all benefit from
understanding our horses better.
* Michael Bragdell from Hill Top Farm has been working
with me since the fall of 2009.
With his help I have greatly improved
my understanding of dressage and my riding
ability.
Thank you all for your help and wisdom!
A little bit of background about me:
* I
grew up in Chester
County, PA,
riding Arabians and participating in 4-H
* Over the years I have ridden western, saddle seat, hunt seat,
race horses, eventing, competitive trail
rides, trail classes, and dressage
* I
am retired from the US Marine Corps Reserves
* I
am a Breast Cancer Survivor
* I
am a retired Montgomery County Maryland Police
Officer
* I am married to a wonderful man who supports my crazy love of
horses and teaching – Thanks Bill!
If you just listen, God does show you the way!
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Bill
Campbell
Well, what can I say? I'm your
typical city-boy, computer-geek, Trekkie and
motorcycle lover. What does any of this have to
do with horses? Absolutely nothing! Except that
everything I knew about horses, up until I met
Kris, I learned from watching television!
I'll be the first to admit that
I don't have that passion about horses that so
many of you have. Maybe someday I will. But I do
have a passion for and about Kris and slowly I'm
being coaxed over to the "dark side". Kind of
like how you catch a loose horse with a treat.
It's not a question of if you'll catch
the loose horse, just a question of when.
Slowly but surely I'm being caught!
I started out going to a
Dressage schooling show with Kris while we were
dating. Then stopping at the end of our dates so
that Kris could check-in on Hunter and say
goodnight to him. At our first Christmas
together, Kris gave me my very own manure fork,
with my name labeled on it so that no one else
would use it. And my very own horsie, a stick
pony!
In the spring of 2009, Kris (and
I'm sure Sharon Sexton played a large part in
this) suggested I show Hunter In-Hand. After
some practicing we went to my first schooling
show and I took 2 first places! I should have
quit when I was ahead. One thing we realized is
that Hunter is not really built very well for
showing In-Hand.
After Kris & I became
engaged we began looking for a horse farm. I
mean, doesn't it make sense to keep your own
horse and save those boarding fees? Sure it
does! While we were looking, we kept throwing
different farm names about, trying to decide on
one for our future horse farm. That's when we
decided on "Pink Ribbon Farm", after the breast
cancer that so impacted both of our lives and
ultimately led to us being together. After
several months we found a 15 acre horse farm
just a couple miles away that fit the bill just
right. I remember when we met the realtor for
the first look at the property. She said "let's
go take a look inside the house". Kris replied
"I don't want to see the house, I want to see
the barn!"
So at this point you'd think (at
least I thought), well, this is nice. Kris &
I, Hunter the wonderhorse, Buddy our Jack
Russell Terrorist and a 15 acre horse farm. Oh
no. Remember how Hunter was really not built
well for showing In-Hand? What's the cure for
that? Buy another horse! And that's where Fames
Rebellion (aka Toby) came in. I'm proud to say
that I actually picked him out from the
possibilities that Kris had narrowed down in her
search.
Last, but not least, Kris &
I were married on June 11th, 2011, right here on
our farm!
So, that's my story. I've still
not actually ridden a horse. Someday, maybe.
What an adventure that will be!
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S.M.
Sekar
1982-2008
When
I first met Sekar in the fall of 1987, he
was high as a kite! It
took half an hour for him to bring his head
down to my level. He
was an unbroken, five-year-old, part-Arabian
who had shown at a couple of shows in the
halter division. I
fell in love. Why? I’m still not sure. But I don’t regret any of the
21 years we had together.
Sekar
and I showed a few years at the Arabian
shows. The last year the East
Coast Show was held at Devon, he won the Hunter Under
Saddle class and was Reserve Champion
Hunter Pleasure – and I was riding with my
arm in a cast in a sling!! He was also the Champion
Hunter Pleasure at the Hughsville, PA show. But what I really wanted to
do was the hunter trials (like a 3-day
event, but all in one day). He
was no super-star in the dressage ring, but
get out of his way on the cross-country. It didn’t matter what the
terrain, or where the jumps were, he would
just fly. And
the only things that bothered him in the
stadium were yellow rails and plastic tarps. He was a lot of fun for
someone learning the ropes.
As
the years passed, Sekar became the ultimate
trail horse. He
was the one you rode when there was a baby
going out for the first time or when you
were going new, unknown places. There wasn’t anything he
wouldn't go past or over, regardless of how
the other horses were acting. He
also taught many riders the joy of trail
riding.
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AB Sunset Hunter +//
1994 bay Anglo-Arabian gelding
Hunter
and Kris spent many years learning and
competing together in dressage and trail
classes (obstacles). In
2012, Hunter was officially retired from
riding due to seizures. He
now enjoys the job of welcoming everyone to
the barn. He
really is a special horse with an over-sized
personality. More
like a dog than a horse, Hunter will come on
command, stay when told, move from hand
signals, and several other “tricks” that make
him fun and easy to handle. Years
ago, he opened Kris’ eyes to the benefits of
“natural horsemanship” and understanding
equine language. He
is a wonderful little horse who will always
hold a special place in Kris’ heart.
Some of Hunter and Kris’ show
accomplishments are:
AHA Life Time Achievement Awards
2010
Legion of Excellence
2008
Legion of Supreme Honor (all points
earned at USDF open shows)
2007
Legion of Honor (all points earned at
USDF open shows)
2011
AHA Mason Dixon Classic - High Score First
Level Dressage 70% (for the show)
AHA
NJHAHA - High Score First and Second
Level Dressage 69% (both days)
AHA
Region 15 Championships - Champion HA
English Trail Horse
USDF
All Breeds First Level - Reserve
Champion
2010
AHA Region 15 Championships and
AHA East Coast Championships
Champion
HA/AA First Level Dressage
Reserve
Champion HA/AA Second Level Dressage
2010
AHA
Mason Dixon
Classic and
VAHA Sport Horse Show
Both
shows - Champion High Score Second Level
Dressage
2009
US Arabian Sport Horse Nationals
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Ten HA/AA First Level Dressage
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Ten HA/AA Training Level Dressage
2009
USDF Dressage at Stone Tavern
Reserve
Champion High Score Second Level Dressage –
Day 1
2009
AHA Region 15 Championships
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Five HA/AA First Level Dressage
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Five HA/AA Training Level Dressage
2009
NJHAHA All Arabian Show
Champion
High Score First Level Dressage Day 2
Champion
High Score Training Level Dressage Day 1
2006
USDF Dressage at Fair Hill
Champion High Score Training
Level Dressage
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Fames Rebellion
(2008 bay
tobiano Arabian-Saddlebred cross)
In
the fall of 2010, we purchased Fames
Rebellion, aka Toby. After competing in two
shows in early 2011 and wining in the in-hand
classes and earning high score awards in Intro
Dressage, Toby was diagnosed with Wobbles
Syndrome. We decided to take him to Rood and
Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky for “basket
surgery”. After a year of recovery and rehab,
Toby again competed in dressage with great
scores through Training Level-Test 2. In
early 2013, we came to the realization that he
was not ready to continue his dressage
training due to the physical limitations from
the surgery. Toby was then leased to another
trainer where he enjoyed teaching young people
how to ride at the walk and trot. At the end
of 2016, Toby came home. We’re interested to
see if, after time given to mature and become
accustomed to his disabilities, Toby can enjoy
dressage again. Stay tuned!!
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Flashfeuer
(2006 chestnut
Arabian-Trakehner cross)
In March of 2015, we purchased Flashfeuer, aka
Tigger, from Jim and Suzanne McKinley in
Alabama. Tigger did not have much show
experience but there was just something about
him that spoke to Kris. Kris and Tigger spent
the first six months working with Michael
Bragdell at Hilltop Farm and Jeremy Beale at
Pen-y-Bryn Equestrian Center to get Tigger to
go to the bit and over his back. During that
time, Kris and Tigger competed at several
shows, earning several High Score Awards and
blue ribbons. In September of 2015, they
traveled to Raleigh, NC, for the Arabian Sport
Horse National Championships. They competed
in the Training Level Open Class with 36
entries and earned the Reserve National
Championship with a 71%! They also were
awarded the 2015 USDF All-Breeds Champion
Half-Arabian Open Training Level and Vintage
Cup Awards. Shortly after the SHN show we
realized that Tigger’s suspensory ligaments on
both hind legs were bothering him so he was
given 2016 for a slow recovery. We’re looking
forward to seeing how he’ll do in 2017!
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Some photography on
this website is courtesy of Lynn Kaufman, Equine
Photography by Suzanne, Annie Duncan, Pam
Thompson and Kris' cellphone!
Copyright 2010 -
Pink Ribbon Farm,
Oxford, Pennsylvania
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