For trainer Karen Healey of Thousand Oaks, CA, 2007 was a very good year. Her students won an amazing amount of classes throughout the year, and she was honored at the California Professional Horsemen's Association (CPHA) awards dinner with the CPHA Special Achievement Award and she also received four leading trainer awards.

Healey's students won four CPHA equitation finals in 2007. Shelby Wakeman of Westlake Village, CA, won the CPHA Junior Medal Finals, while Yvette Lang-Einczig of Malibu, CA, captured the CPHA Adult Medal Finals victory. Tiffani Weeda of San Juan Capistrano took first place in the CPHA Foundation 21 & Under Finals, and Elizabeth Dickinson of Los Angeles was the CPHA Foundation High-Point Adult rider. Also awarded at the dinner was Hannah Selleck of Thousand Oaks, who was given the Dan Abbey Sportsmanship Award.

"We had an outstanding year," Healey acknowledged, "although it didn't happen in just one year. It took years of hard work to get these results. I have to thank Melissa Jones, Kasey Ament and Amanda Ballew for their work and support. I also have to thank all of my riders, their parents, and especially the horses, who really performed well all year."

She continued, "So much goes into winning a final. Just because you don't win doesn't mean you aren't trying just as hard! It's very rewarding when it all comes together. I've always had good kids, but just not this much depth in riders. The juniors, adults and jumpers were all so competitive at one time. I had a lot of luck."

In addition to her CPHA awards, Healey was also given a Distinguished Service Award from the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). Healey serves as the chairperson of the hunt seat equitation task force and sits on the trainer's certification committee, the officials' education committee and the open hunter task force.

For more information on Karen Healey Stables, please call (805) 370-1941.