About Kimmy

Kimmy Weise has spent her entire life unable to resist the allure of horses. Her earliest memories involving chance encounters with the animal would monopolize her dreams and leave her with the need to satisfy her senses in their presence. The outline of a horse grazing peacefully in a pasture; the velvet softness of their muzzle; the unique and unmistakable scent of the barn; the sound of hooves clopping up the road, which would send little Kimmy running out the door in hopes of an understanding rider allowing her to spend a few moments in the company of their mount. This passion would mold Kimmy's entire life.

Kimmy began regular riding lessons at age 5 on the kindest 15 hand, 18 year old quarter horse named Blue. Originally leaning towards a desire to ride western, she was bit by the jumping bug when a hands-free lesson resulted in an accidental aide which sent Kimmy and old Blue across the arena and over a small jump. From that day on, those red and white poles were added to her dreams. At age 7, Kimmy was given her first pony, the little white pictured above named Artex. His age was unknown, but the pair would spend hours galloping bareback through the hills of central California, helping Kimmy develop a rock solid seat and the confidence to ride whatever was thrown at her. In 1988, nine year old Kimmy moved to Washington's suburban Eastside, where horsemanship was pursued in the abundance of show barns. Without a horse to call her own, she was able to take intermittent lessons until the mature age of 11 where she was able to work off lessons on a regular basis. A full Saturday of cleaning stalls, scrubbing water troughs, raking arenas and cleaning tack in exchange for a lesson was the highlight of Kimmy's week. Working her way up, she was entrusted with feeding, turnout and conditioning. When she was 13 she began exercising thoroughbreds for and elderly couple who bred racehorses. Though the job only lasted a few months, it solidified her passion for galloping, while lessons developed her skills over fences. At age 14, Kimmy was able to purchase her first horse, an arabian named Sham. She continued to work in barns for his upkeep and lessons and was finally entrusted with the coveted title of "assistant instructor/trainer". Kimmy continued to compete in dressage, jumping and eventing, teaching and training in a variety of situations through high school and college, appreciating the opportunities to work under dressage and eventing gurus John Watson, Pamela Pentz and Erin Jorgenesn, to mention a few, while ascending the competition ladder. Ownership was put on hold in favor of a minimal commitment lease at the end of 1999 to pursue a marriage to Bill, motherhood and home ownership in the town of Orting.

Ten months after the birth of her first son, Ezra, Bill and Kimmy purchased a sweet arabian mare named Tsera. Surrounding the birth of their second son, Ethan, the whole family enjoyed bareback rides through the pastures, organized trail rides and played in the gaming arena with the careful and patient mare stepping carefully when entrusted with the children. Tsera would humor Bill by safely thrilling him at a faster pace and would put her whole heart into moving her short little legs when Kimmy asked her to gallop home, but always resume her quiet disposition when asked. Feeling the need for a project to call her own, in 2002 Kimmy purchased a 2 year old grey arabian gelding named Aladdin, who, through the training process, rekindled her passion for eventing. It was during this time that Kimmy was asked to teach some fellow boarders at the barn and obtained her initial instructor's certification through a national organization. As demand in the area increased, she began instructing outside clients, many of whom did not own their own horse. Tsera offered a safe and educational ride, but Kimmy's growing clientele demanded purchase of another lesson horse. While horse shopping, Kimmy encountered Tasha, a distressed 24 year old arabian mare 200 pounds underweight and absent of fur along her entire back resulting from chronic rain-rot. Though she was not the lesson horse Kimmy was hoping for, she brought Tasha home with the intention of rehabilitating and re-homing her, while searching for yet another lesson horse. Kimmy kept Tasha until the perfect home came along 6 years later, where Tasha spent her final three years surrounded by love. Shortly after adopting Tasha, Kimmy found a 25 year old 11 hand pinto pony, also named Tasha, of whom little Ezra donned "Baby Tasha", to differentiate between the two old mares. A couple additional mounts were leased and half leased to satisfy the need for additional school horses as popularity increased and a pregnant Tsera was needing a break.

By the beginning of 2004, Bill and Kimmy had concluded that paying to board five horses (one quite pregnant) made no sense, as their ultimate goal had always been to acquire a farm of their own. That spring, they discovered the property of their dreams in a spectacular, elk filled valley nestled in the foothills of the Ashford Valley. Though quite a commute for Bill, the couple took the plunge, selling their tract house and embarking on the journey of turning a 100+ year old homestead into an equestrian school. By the end of summer, a newly built arena, several paddocks and temporary stalls in an old barn allowed Kimmy to move her herd of 6 home and begin teaching out her back door. In time, an 8 stall barn with all the amenities, a new sand arena and a large level jump field would come, but the humble beginnings of it all made the latter blessings that much more appreciated. Resuming competition herself under the instruction of several brilliant trainers and clinicians, Kimmy was able to relive the thrill of the eventing world, this time with a new appreciation for the dressage phase. As new lesson horses Looney, Missy, Gummy and, most recently Velvet, were added over the years, Kimmy began the process of achieving a higher level of certification in dressage and recreational riding. Having passed a series of comprehensive tests, she became one of only 11 "Level 2" American Riding Instructor's Association instructors in the Northwest region. Lessons and training paired with the rigorous schedule of a mother kept Kimmy a very busy woman, but both she and Bill longed for more children of their own.

In 2009, shortly after bringing home a yearling friesian filly named Gracie, Kimmy took a break from training and competing to enjoy a third pregnancy, welcoming Evan to the world in January of 2010. Eighteen months later, the birth of Elise completed their family. Having spent over two years out of the saddle, she was thrilled to start Gracie not long after delivering Elise. In 2012, Amazing Gracie and Kimmy began successfully competing with USDF and have continually qualified for championships. She has also been fortunate enough to indulge her love of writing, having equitation articles she'd written published in "Riding Instructor", a national equestrian magazine. In Fall of 2013, Kimmy set her sights on judging and began the process of applying for USDF's "L" judging program. In late winter of 2014, she was accepted into a program based out of northern California chapter. The depth of the education she's received has been an incredible opportunity and, although the program is intense and highly competitive, it has allowed her to develop relationships with so many incredible women who share her passion and ambition. In September of 2015, she graduated with distinction, making her a candidate to pursue USDF's "r". She greatly looks forward to the experiences this chapter will continue to bring forth.

Words cannot begin to describe Kimmy's gratitude for the blessing that is this horsey life. To have spent her adulthood surrounded by all that she loves most, while helping others to realize their dreams of harmonious horsemanship is all she could have ever asked for. As God's plan over her life has been so much better than any that Kimmy could have thought up herself, she optimistically awaits what He has in store for her future :-)

About Kimmy

Harmony Farms

Improvement through dressage for all breeds