Blue Star Farms owner and trainer, Kristin Jacob, has been passionate about horses since she was 5 years old. From an early age, Kristin Jacob has competed on the A-rated hunter/jumper circuit and has shown up through the Grand Prix level on the West Coast. She has competed and won ribbons, championships, and circuit championships at prestigious horse shows across the country including the Colorado Summer Circuit, HITS Thermal, HITS Arizona, and The National Horse Show and has piloted multiple horses to USEF Horse of the Year and CHJA Year-End awards and championships. degree in Geology from Sonoma State University and a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Although Kristin has enjoyed considerable show ring success, she has felt that a deeper understanding of the horse was missing from that world. In 2013, Kristin met exceptional horsewoman, Mindy Bower, who opened up for her an entirely new approach – one of true respect, understanding, and willing partnership between horse and rider. In addition to continuing her show career, Kristin has strived to learn all that she can from Mindy, and most importantly from the horse. It is Kristin’s goal to integrate the underlying horsemanship principles and philosophies with show jumping and to methodically build confidence, trust, and communication between horse and rider. There are very few people in the English disciplines who follow these methods and it is Kristin’s hope to be able to share this approach and philosophy with the Hunter/Jumper community. As a dedicated student of the horse, it is imperative to Kristin that she continuously collaborate with her mentors and take every opportunity to grow and improve her own riding and horsemanship. She continues to work with Helen Gould of Blue Cloud Farms, along with several other top Hunter/Jumper trainers who have helped to bring her along and have imparted to her their knowledge and experience at the higher levels of show jumping throughout the years. Mindy is in the process of handing down the extraordinary gift of horsemanship to Kristin, as her mentors have handed down to her, and it is Kristin’s hope to be able to pass on this gift to those who desire to better understand and deepen their relationship with their horse. Kristin also attends several Buck Brannaman clinics per year and encourages her clients to participate or audit. Kristin is open to working with any horse and rider but places emphasis on those who have ambitions to compete on the “A” Hunter/Jumper circuit.
