The Hands that Build the Sport: Unsung Eventing Heroes, ft. Karen Yates
Karen Yates has never been one to follow the beaten path. A lifelong horsewoman and passionate amateur eventer, her story is one of grit, generosity, and an unwavering love for the sport. Though her introduction to eventing may not have been conventional, her contributions to the community have become nothing short of transformational.
Raised on Air Force bases without the benefit of structured training, Yates’s entry into the world of eventing was entirely self-taught. “I didn’t have an instructor until I was 32,” she says—by which point she had already spent five years actively competing. Without jumping lessons or formal coaching, she would simply show up at events and learn by doing. Her survival in those early days came down to two things: the boldness she carried into the saddle and the athleticism of the horses she rode. She trained every one of them herself, driven more by determination than direction.
Yates’s breakthrough came in 1993 when she competed in her first advanced-level event at the (then) Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “I never schooled any cross-country at all,” she remembers. “My horses saw the course for the first time when I got there.” The experience was a defining moment. Though daunting, it was emblematic of her entire riding career—rooted in experience, experimentation, and an indomitable spirit.
But as her ambitions grew, so did her awareness of the risks involved. She recalls the 1996 Olympic cycle, during which she competed with 45 pounds of lead on her horse—weight that ultimately contributed to a suspensory injury. That setback shifted her perspective. She began stepping back from the upper levels, prioritizing the safety and longevity of both her horses and herself.
Even as she turned away from elite competition, her love for the sport never wavered. Instead, it found a new outlet. In 2017, Yates launched a unique initiative at Copper Top Farm: the “horse party.” Aimed at introducing newcomers to eventing, the horse party was her answer to what she saw as a troubling trend. “I was running into young people who had never ridden out of a ring,” she explains. “I thought, this is not a good way for this sport to grow.”
Her horse parties were designed to be approachable and fun, offering small jumps and cross-country schooling in a low-pressure environment. It wasn’t just about teaching riders to jump—it was about giving them a taste of what makes eventing so thrilling. The concept took off. Riders of all ages and backgrounds began flocking to Copper Top Farm, not just to ride, but to become part of a welcoming, horse-loving community.
What sets these events apart is the environment Yates has built. “I wanted to build a place where people could get out and ride and gallop cross-country,” she says. “We built it for fun, but it’s also about giving people the experience they need to feel confident and excited about the sport.” She combines variety and challenge with a deep concern for safety, carefully crafting each course to match the skills of her riders. When she introduced a ditch-and-wall combo in one event, she worked with her mentor, Jim Graham, to make sure it wasn’t too intimidating. “We had some falls, but we did everything we could to minimize risk,” she says. “It’s all about building up slowly and safely.”
Her efforts have left a lasting impression. Many riders who first attended just to “try it out” have gone on to compete seriously in the sport. For Yates, that’s the real payoff. “It’s so nice when people send me thank-you notes, saying that they had the best time,” she shares. “If even one person gets excited and decides to pursue eventing, then it was worth it.”
Inclusivity and accessibility remain at the heart of everything she does. Whether someone is new to riding, bringing along a green horse, or simply looking to reconnect with the joy of the sport, Copper Top Farm welcomes them with open arms. And despite the costs and labor that go into hosting each event, Yates never charges a fee. “It’s all about giving back to the community,” she says.
That spirit of giving back is what defines Karen Yates. Through her grassroots events, she is not just keeping the sport alive—she’s helping it thrive. “I did it because I wish someone had done it for me,” she says. “I never had the chance to school cross-country before competing, and I want to make sure others get that opportunity.”
At Copper Top Farm, she’s done just that. Karen Yates has created more than a cross-country course—she’s created a community. And in doing so, she’s proving that the future of eventing lies not just in the big names and five-star finishes, but in the everyday riders who fall in love with the sport one jump at a time.
