Kate Fitzsimmons-Keller has been riding and showing since the age of 7. Her initial training and showing experience was in the ASHA equitation and hunter-jumper field. In 1990, she purchased and trained her first Quarter Horse and soon after entered the Quarter Horse show ring. Since that time she has shown multiple horses to Registers of Merit and Superior Performance Awards in Showmanship, Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure and Trail. She has garnered multiple state and regional All-Around Championships as well as multiple qualifications to the AQHA World Show and Top Ten Honors in Versatility at the Quarter Horse Congress.

        “I sincerely believe in training my horses as individuals – my approach to each horse is completely different from one to the next. There is no “cookie cutter” method. Just as each horse has their own special personalities and quirks, each horse needs a specialized program to best achieve the goals and training level best suited to that individual. My philosophy is no different for my Amateur or Youth clients – each have different goals, different needs and different methods of learning. I sincerely believe if treated and prepared as individuals that each pairing cannot help but develop an innate feel and level of teamwork – and ultimately show themselves to be a talented and special team!”

      Ms. Keller’s students agree that she is a true coach in every sense of the word. From at-home schooling to coaching and evaluating each client’s class at the horse show, Kate is an ever present voice and support team.

        “Kate has been a rare find for me! Not only does she have an excellent, well thought out and personalized program, she has a beautifully soft and kind hand with my horses that I have rarely seen in this business. What she can achieve in a snaffle still amazes me! My horses are soft, flexible and willing – started in the correct way without harsh treatment or training aids or “gimmicks”. She is a true “Riders’ Trainer”. In her lessons, she provides her students with all the necessary tools and techniques needed in a common sense fashion, while at the same time making the hour with her a fun, positive and rewarding experience. It is so refreshing to find a trainer that is truly “all about me” – my goals, my achieving the same results, my rising to that level of partnership with my horse that is so rewarding. Kate represents to me the best of all worlds – a wonderful trainer, a tough and knowledgeable instructor, a positive and supportive coach, and most importantly, an open, honest and always approachable professional!”