Kami's Performance and Barrel Horses

Kami Donnelly is back. After taking a much needed rest and having 2 boys. I’m Back and ready to ride. Showing Quarter Horses and Paints for my Youth and into my Amateur career has developed by horsemanship and training ability. I could literally ride before I could walk. My roots are performance and horsemanship, but my passion is Barrel Racing.
For many years I was part of the very competitive Breed Show world. I learned how to handle my nerves and “Fake it till I made it”. This is something I always told myself with my young futurity colts as I was training them myself after school, while others had their colts in full time training with a professional trainer. Thankfully I grew-up on the family farm and got to ride and learn from one of the best in the business. My Mom Kathy Donnelly and Grandma Jackie Harke of Harke’s Quarter Horses. Through the years I have learnt how to properly take care of my horses and truly care about them. I believe this shows through with all the horses that I have trained throughout the years.
I love working with horses. This is something I know and something that is in my blood. Taking my riding into a new direction is always a little scary, but honestly as long as I have the foundation blocks in place I feel any horse should be able to perform any thing asked of him. I have taken on a few “problem” horses the last few years, and they have turned around in a hurry by going back to the basics and making sure the foundation is there. This is my philospy and something my mom and grandma taught me from a young age. Earn their Trust, Gain their Respect, Teach them the fundamentals. I am not mean to a horse, but I won’t let them walk on me either, they have to respect me. Once I have their respect I have found they tend to want to work and relax about it.
I don’t do a lot of work ON the barrel pattern. I go back to the basics and get them listening to me. I use drills and love riding my horses out in the pasture or even taking them on camping trips to the hills. It does wonders for their minds. If I get the chance I like to ride them amoungst the cattle and help move them when I can. If you have any questions for me please don’t hesitate to call or send me a message. If I don’t reply please try again. I may have missed it. I try to return all my messages.