Kari McClain

Owner, Head Instructor, Trainer, Breeder & FEI 4* Judge, FEI Young Horse Certified; USEF ‘S’ Judge with Freestyle, Young Horse, Equitation, Freestyle Certifications; USEF Western Dressage ‘R’; USPC Traditional ‘A’ Graduate, USDF “L” Faculty Member, USDF Breeder of Distinction – Gold, Silver, Bronze, Ruby

Kari debuted in her first show in lead-line at age 5 and has been passionate about horses ever since! Her initial experience and education was in 4-H, where she competed successfully in Western, Hunt Seat, Showmanship, Judging, Trail, and even dabbled in Driving, Reining, and Saddleseat. At 15 she joined Pony Club, graduating with her ‘A’ when she was 18. Kari evented extensively through Preliminary in the full format days, winning and placing regularly at events in the Pacific Northwest and at the West Coast eventing finals in CA. In 1980 Kari was long listed as a YR for the NAYRC Eventing Championships and in 1981 was on the NAYRC Region 6 Dressage team that won the Bronze Medal. She has been a USEF judge since 1986, and is currently licensed as an FEI 4* and YH Judge; USEF ‘S’ Dressage Judge w/ Freestyle, Equitation, and Young Horse accreditations; and a ‘R’ Western Dressage license. She has earned her USDF Diamond Rider Achievement Award for having earned all her USDF Rider Achievement Medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze with distinction) ; as well as her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Freestyle bars. Kari is also an elite USDF Breeder of Distinction, having earned her Gold, Silver, Bronze and Ruby honors that reflect the high quality and success of her 35 year breeding program.  

On horses of various breeds that she trained herself, Kari has placed in the top 5 in CDI’s, won champion or reserve at regional championships from Training Level through Grand Prix over 35 times, made USDF Horse of the Year standings multiple times, and won numerous Arabian Sport Horse National Finals classes in both traditional and western dressage. She has trained 20+ of her own horses and 30+ students to Grand Prix. To date, 11 of her students have achieved their USDF Gold Medals, 47 their Silver, and 83 their Bronze. Her students have also earned multiple Freestyle Bars at all the levels and garnered decades of wins and top placings at Regional Championships, CDI’s, USDF National Finals Championships, National Arabian Sport Horse Finals, as well as hundreds of USDF Horse of the Year, All Breed Awards, and Equitation wins. Sixteen of her students have made the North American Young Rider or Junior Dressage teams, and 23 students have earned their judge’s credentials from ‘L’ to ‘S’.  She has coached numerous Pony Clubbers to their upper ratings, including 16 to their ‘HA’ and ‘A’ level, and 10 more to their ‘B’. Her students have placed well or won many combined training competitions from beginner novice through Advanced. Kari also enjoys coaching students in their dressage skills to compete successfully in Combined Driving, Working Equitation, and Western Dressage. The accomplishments that she is most proud of are the many students who have gone on to become successful professional trainers, instructors, clinicians, and judges themselves.

Kari has a passion for teaching, training and sharing her experience and knowledge. She enjoys and excels in working with horses of all breeds and temperaments, and riders of all levels and ages. She has garnered a reputation for being able to bring out the best in riders and their horses, helping them reach past their goals. She strives to develop quiet, correct, riders who communicate clearly and harmoniously with their horses to develop them through the levels into relaxed, confident, happy athletes. She enjoys that teaching riding not only develops the rider/horse partnership, but perhaps more importantly, serves as as means for self-growth and betterment in a person’s life in general. Her clientele consists of many of the top professional riders, as well as adult amateurs and Jr./Young Riders.

Kari has studied with many influential people over the years. Her mom, Deena McClain, a successful multifaceted horsewoman and gifted riding instructor herself, gave Kari a solid start and continues to be Kari’s greatest influence and mentor. Kari also studied extensively over the years with Elizabeth Madlener, Dietrich Von Hopfgarten, Kim Beardsley, Kevin Freeman, Cindy Burge, Tami Masters, Melle von Bruggen, Hilda Gurney, Carol Lavell, Michael Poulin, Debbie McDonald, Lilo Fore, and for decades,  with her close friend, FEI 5* judge, Mike Osinski.

Kari has also had the opportunity to clinic over the decades with many top riders and instructors including: Steffen Peters, Kathleen Raine, Christine Taurig, Edgar Hotz, Janet Foy, Bruce Davidson, Derik De Grazia, Anne Gribbons, Heather Bender, Christian Garweg, Jeff Moore, Major Lindgren, Sally Swift, Sabine Schut-Kery, Karen Pavicic, Charlotte Bredahl, Christine Stuckelburger, and Karen Robinson. Kari continues to pursue educational opportunities with other leading sport horse, riding, and judging notables, feeling that one can never tire of learning more.

Kari continues to be an active and enthusiastic instructor, trainer, and clinician and has owned & run the boarding, training, and breeding facility, Miari Stables, since 1990. She and her husband have bred and raised 150 sport horse foals and were the USDF National Reserve Champion Sport Horse Breeder of the Year for 2016. Their youngsters have been awarded a multitude of Premium and Elite accreditations at sport horse inspections, as well as  numerous sport horse and under saddle titles both regionally and nationally, with one even representing the USA at the World Championships in Para! 

Kari has served in the past as her region’s YR chair, YR Chef d’Equipe, YR coach; and served several years on the USDF Sport Horse, and Freestyle Committees. Currently, she continues as a member of the USDF Test Writing Committee, helps conduct National Judges’ Forums, and is a member of the USDF “L” Faculty.  Additionally, she has experience organizing and running a decade of rated shows, many clinics, and European juried Warmblood testings.  

In her judging career, Kari feels honored to have presided at CDI’s in several countries, US team selection shows, USDF National Championships, the USEF Festival of Champions, the FEI North American Youth Championships, Arabian National Sport Horse Championships, Morgan Nationals, and the Pony Cup, as well as decades of USDF as well as Arabian Sport Horse and Morgan Regional Finals. When time allows, she enjoys world travel; skiing; time with her husband, friends, family, and dogs; as well as theater; art history & museums; and photography.