Karen Young has been dedicated to educating young riders for over 15 years. Owning and showing Welsh ponies began as a teenager and has never ebbed. After receiving her BA Degree, Karen started training Paint Horses, in addition to training ponies and giving lessons, full time at ZW Ranch.
The 1990's were very successful. Several students were awarded YEAR END High Point Awards, not to mention Show Division High Points and Class Championships in English, Hunters, Western, Trail, Short Stirrup, Lead Line and Walk-Trot, plus numerous Halter Championships.
The common thead in training each discipline is a strong foundation in Classical Dressage. Although I don't show much in the Dressage arena, I use the principles and theories of several great Classicists. Horses and ponies are developed naturally, without gimmicks. Riders are started on a lunge line and often return to the lunge line to improve the seat. I treat each horse and pony as an individual and find the right discipline for that individual so they will have long happy healthy performance lives.

It all started with the purchase of Shiloh Tiger Bay, a Sec. D colt. Although a wonderful performance pony, he didn't live up to my expectations as a stallion, but narrowed my vision of what I wanted, in the breeding shed and in the show ring. Fortunately I happened upon an overweight, shaggy stallion who turned out to be my swan. Once his registration papers were found, there was no turning back. I was hooked on Welsh Ponies. Heather Hill Brass Tacks became the foundation of my breeding program. He possessed the kindest disposition imaginable. In 1992, Heather Hill Brass Tacks became the American National Performance Champion showing only in Western Pleasure. Brass Tacks was -

• CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE A/B 18/0
• CHAMPION HI-POINT SENIOR PERFORMANCE
• CHAMPION HI-POINT WESTERN DIVISION
• CHAMPION HI-POINT OVERALL

Unfortunately, Brass Tacks left us with siring only 4 purebred Welsh and 8 Crossbreds. A few to mention:

• KACEY MARIONETTE (f. 1988) Shown from 1993 to 1998 has amassed many Championships and Reserves in Western Pleasure, Trail, Hunters, & Stock Seat Equitation. Kacey Marionette also became respected in Dressage, receiving High Score Awards in Training Level Dressage. Now owned by Jordie Smith, Kacey is carring Jordie to many Equitation awards too.
  
  
• MAJOR MOTION (f.1990 1/2 Welsh) A wonderful big gelding out of a Thoroughbred type mare, Major Motion has consistently and confidently carried his young riders to wins in Hunters, Showmanship, and ribbons in Western and Trail.
  
  
• PIED PIPER (f.1991 1/2 Welsh) Registered AQPA Stallion, Pie received his Certificate of Excellence in Halter and has produced several wonderful foals for his owner. Pie also has a full sister that has been retained as a brood mare.
  
  
• TACKS BRASS STAR (f. 1991) A sweet gelding who just recently started showing. In 1999, Brass Star was AHSA Zone 10 Champion Welsh Pleasure Pony, 12.2/U.
  
  
• KC TOP BRASS (f. 1992 1/2 Welsh) Top Brass is proving he can go with the best in Endurance. This large Welara gelding has finished in the top in 25 & 50 mile Endurance Rides, all in a bitless bridle.
  
  
• CR TACKS RETURN (f.1993) This young stallion was shown only in 1998. At his second show, "TJ" was Champion English Pleasure. Now gelded, TJ is currently carring his young rider in Dressage (3rd 2006 CDS Junior Young Rider Championships 1994+later). "TJ" was used as a sire here and produced several wonderful foals, two fillies have been retained as broodmares, and a colt that is just starting his career in the breeding shed.
  
  

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