Mikaela Kuiper
Owner and Head Trainer
NK Photography
NK Photography
Mikaela began her career as soon as her legs were long enough to reach a pair of stirrups, and she has spent most of her life in the saddle ever since. Throughout her life, being a horse trainer and a riding instructor is all she has ever wanted to do.
Building on the solid base that Pony Club provides, Mikaela subsequently served as a working student for several of our region’s most successful trainers, including the national eventing competitor Anna Collier, and the national dressage competitor Jessica Wisdom. She is currently training with Suzan Davis Atkinson at FarmHill, with the goal of making Suzan’s methods the foundation of her own approach to dressage.
Mikaela grew up competing in three-day eventing through Preliminary, and has shown in Jumpers through 1.20 meters. She is currently competing though I1 and has received her Bronze and Silver medal with scores working towards her Gold medal in the dressage ring. Mikaela is now coaching kids and adult amateurs, and showing around the PNW.
She is a patient, dedicated instructor that takes the time to hear your goals and formulate a customized plan for you and your horse. She believes having a training plan catered to you and your horses specific needs is key for success. She specializes in teaching solid basics and teaching you the "why" behind what you are doing. She has been sucessfully teaching a variety of clients from young riders to adult amateurs for several years. Along with being focused on her clients education she is also dedicated to her own continued education and is working towards earning her gold medal.
In addition, Mikaela has found that she has an affinity for off-the-track thoroughbreds, a passion she discovered when she worked at the track galloping young racehorses. She has also competed in the Retired Racehorse Project, and looks forward to training another horse for RRP down the road.
Mikaela says she is happiest when she helps people achieve their goals for partnership and harmony with their horses, whether it is through buying the horse that is right for them, finding a new home for a horse that is not their best match, or working in lessons to achieve their goals.
Contact Mikaela to talk about lessons or training for you and your horse.