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Stephens Saddleseat and Driving Clinic with Robert Gardiner



Robert Gardiner is a trainer of American Saddlebreds and Hackney for riding and driving at High Spirits Farm of Ashland, Missouri. High Spirits Farm is owned by Stephens alumnae Anna Marie Knipp who still actively shows American Saddlebreds in the driving division.

Robert Gardiner has earned multiple World’s Championship titles as well as championship honors at other large shows across the country. In 2008, Gardiner became one of very few trainers to win both the 15.2 & under and the over 15.2 Three Gaited Stake at the World’s Championship Horse Show with VHF Belle Epoque and Harlem’s Showman. In 2011, he became the youngest person to judge the World’s Championship Horse Show. This year, he trained the Junior Three Gaited Park Pleasure World’s Champion, Hot Apple Cider and the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure 14-17 World’s Champion and World’s Champion of Champions, Leatherwood’s Zenergy among many other top placing horses. Gardiner has also won Championship and Grand Championships this year at top horse shows such as Bridlespur Kick Off, UPHA Chapter V, Midwest Charity, Lexington Junior League, Central States, and Saint Louis National. Gardiner is the chairman of Chapter V of UPHA and puts on the UPHA Chapter V Horse Show and also the Superior Sales in Saint Louis in November.

A very versatile, successful, and well respected horseman in the Saddlebred industry, Gardiner has agreed to spend the day at Stephens helping students prepare for the Boone County and American Royal Horse Shows. Gardiner will help our horse and rider combinations by sharing valuable showing, shoeing, bitting, and training techniques than will help both riders and spectators continue pursuing a hobby or career in working with horses. Gardiner will also demonstrate how to fit a show harness to a driving horse and pony, an extremely valuable part of the process of showing in driving.

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