kimbio

KIM HOFFMAN BIO

Growing up in Nebraska, at the tender age of 7. I was hit with the horse bug and haven’t
recovered since. When my dad was a very young man, he broke and trained Percherons.
I first learned to ride horses with a friend of the familys stubborn Shetland Pony named
Trigger. My dad said that if I learned to ride Trigger real well that I could ride one of their
Quarter Horses Thunder or Joe. It wasn’t long before I had that pony going through his
paces. I was a quick learner and soaked up every bit of knowledge regarding horses. I
would read every training manual and horse care and riding book before I would do my
school studies. I bought my first horse at the age of 12 years old when I asked my dad if I
could get a horse. He stated Honey if you come up with $200 I will match it and then we
will get you a horse. I worked a whole summer, saving my money from various babysitting
jobs, and by the fall I approached my dad and said I have my $200 where is yours. He was
dumbfounded to think I could come up with that kind of money back then. My first horse
was Laughing Sue-Cee a Tennessee Walker/Quarter Horse. I learned a lot on her and
she and I did Little Britches Rodeo,4-h shows together. By the time I was 15 years old I
wanted a little bit better show horse. So we bought a barely green broke Registered
Quarter Horse named Nebraska Clabber. I trained him in Western Pleasure, Halter,
Horsemanship. Between my dads help and training manuals Nebraska Clabber turned
into a wonderful show horse and companion. We won many trophies and ribbions.
Including 1978 Ponca Rodeo Queen and Miss Congeniality of the Centerville Horse
Show. The man I bought Nebraska Clabber from was so impressed with what I had done
that he wanted me to break and train a 2 yr old for him, so I did. Also a horseman my dad
knew wanted me to re-train a problem horse for him, so I did.
In college during the summer I worked horses for a man in Joplin, Mo.,
were I received my Stable Management Certificate.
In 1981, after marrying my city boy, husband we lived in St. Louis and had our 1st child
and worked on a horse farm as the care takers of 12 horses. Joe my husband was
transferred with his job to Parsons, Ks. where we had our 2nd child. He had a series of
various job transfers until we landed in Kansas City, Mo. and have been here ever since. I
wanted my children to have exposure to horses so I found a place that did therapeutic
horseback riding in Eastern Jackson Co. and immediately hooked up with them. 1986 I
bought a horse for my family Tailored by Tailwind where I taught my children how to ride
and show. Fast forward to 2003 at the time I was working for Sprint commuting 2+ hours a
day. I wanted something different, so I found a different therapeutic riding facility in my
area and contacted them. I became their volunteer Equine Manager, as they were just
staring out and didn’t have the funds to pay me. From 2003 to the summer of 2008 I was
in charge of 18 horses, training them for riding therapy, daily care, vet and farrier needs.
I also wrote processes and procedures for the horse program, and started the Barn
Buddy program which taught children how to safely be around a horse.
During that time I bought a Reg Quarter Horse Heza Cool Fred.
My husband Joe suffered a debilitating stroke in 2005 and renal failure, through
therapeutic horseback riding has regained his confidence, better balance, and speech.
He has gone from a rider with a horse handler and side walkers to an independent rider
and a safety spotter at a walk and trot. After he started riding therapy he wanted to start
showing his horse Fred, but there was nothing available for his skill level. Although, his
challenges are many, with the help of God, and horse Fred he is making great strides.
In Late 2008 Equestrians with Disabilities Horse Show Dreams was founded . Through all
this, Joe has been the catalyst for this organization. He has the desire and drive to learn
more about horses and riding.With limited prospects of him being able to show his horse, I
contacted the local horse circuits in the Kansas City area, to see if they would be willing to
help provide such an outlet for riders such as Joe. Pony Express Horse Circuit and
Golden Circle Horse Show Circuit has included EqD classes in their class list for 2009 and
beyond and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

God is good!