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Call Kim
925.876.8269
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I have known Kim for about 10 years. In all those
years we have taken horses to UC Davis and Oakdale for medical
 treatment,
as well as taking them for cattle penning. She has also worked
with my grandson on numerous occasions with his horse. Recently,
my granddaughter called and wanted to learn to ride a horse.
I have horses and tried her on several but none worked out for
her. I then acquired a grade mare that started out really wonderful
but then decided to become very aggressive. I was frightened
for Vanessa's safety and called Kim for help. She was kind enough
to take Lakota on and worked with her and Vanessa for two months.
In that time, Kim was able to work out the aggressiveness and
then worked with Vanessa so she was able to handle the mare.
I am very pleased with the results Kim has produced and no longer
fear for Vanessa or Lakota. She is great with horses and makes
them listen, which is very important.
...............Margaret Van Den Baard for Vanessa and Lakota
"Cowgirl Up"
"Yeeeeee, Haw!" Everyone has something they love in
life and life is loved at most when spent doing the things they
love. Horseback riding is my passion and every Wednesday and
Thursday I dive into my car and race to the barn. I'm greeted
by a very important person to me, Kim Bredehoft. She's taught
me everything I've needed to know from horse safety to being
an overall good person. From doing what she does today, I don't
hesitate to say I am truly inspired. She has taught me the valuable
lessons of listening, responsibility and knowing whose boss between
me and the horse.
Riding horses since she was young, Kim has experienced tons of
stressful situations and having the job of a horse trainer tops
them all. However, Kim has breathed the horse life since 6 and
she owns five beautiful horses today. She and her husband James
are animal lovers. Along with their horses, they have four dogs
and a bunny. She has done it all and seen it all, from barrel
racing to jumping and spooking horses to stubborn mares! Kim
is a very influential person to me because when working with
her she is very understanding and I can learn quickly. The things
she tells me about horses I can relate to real life, such as
letting horses get away with the things they shouldn't. It's
important for them to have consequences and that is the same
with me, so I've learned that it's easier to do what you're told
the first time asked.
Kim teaches me arena skills as well as trail riding and riding
on the trail to me is a reward. There is nothing I love more
than the feeling of freedom which surrounds me as I gallop up
the dirt trail. I will always remember a specific day out on
the trail when we were walking side by side, talking about "cowgirl
skin". "Cowgirl skin" is referring to being a
tough girl, inside and out. This is very important because when
you don't have control of your horse, it's crucial that you're
spoken to in a tone that makes you realize how dangerous the
situation is. The tone of voice being a bit stricter isn't meant
to criticize and it's important that you have "cowgirl skin"
and can handle it.
I relate "cowgirl skin" to my personal life and have
learned not to let criticism get to me and I've learned to appreciate
the reason for a stricter tone. I feel that I have become a stronger
person with what Kim teaches me. I've become more intuitive and
responsible and I thank her for that. I feel that these are skills
that will carry me into being the best person I can be. No matter
what I have to face in life, I'll always have "cowgirl skin"
to help me through.
I've known Kim since the beginning of 2007 and I really love
our relationship. She is really fun to be around and has great
energy. She treats her horses with a firm and loving hand, and
they respect and love her. I've learned how powerful that approach
is and how it impacts animals and people. I plan to bring Kim's
spirit to my family and the horse I hope to own someday.
...............Erica Damianakes
I bought Lady, a 4 year old quarter horse mare in
July of 2006. Lady was very inexperienced and green in every
aspect, a  blank
canvas. When she was trailered out to me, she was not only arriving
at her new home, but being weaned from her mother for the first
time. Kim began ground training Lady a few months after arrival
and by the middle of the second month, she was saddling her up.
Kim has extensive knowledge of horses and works with each horse
individually based on their personality and experience. Kim was
very patient and caring when training Lady as well as other horses
I've seen her work with. Because she had taken the time and so
much effort into training a horse with no knowledge or experience
at all, Kim rarely encountered any negative behavior from Lady.
She made an extra effort to work with me during Lady's training
with both myself and Lady. From day one, she treated Lady as
one of her own and I trust her judgment and opinion with anything
horse related. She is very compassionate about what she does,
has a positive, bubbly personality and I don't know anyone who
could have done a better job with my mare. I am very glad to
have met her and learn her techniques on horses. Now that blank
canvas is no longer blank and I have a push-button horse that
I can do just about anything with and I couldn't be happier!
...............Jen
Kim is a wonderful teacher and adult influence in
my daughters' life. She has made her a safety conscious
rider who can show a horse who's boss. Kim keeps giving her opportunities
to grow and learn more when she is ready for the next challenge.
My daughter is learning the fine points of riding and all about
caring for horses. Working with Kim has taught her important
life lessons about responsibility, discipline, respect, being
conscientious and taking good care of things. Kim knows
her stuff and shares it generously with her students.
...................Amy Damianakes
Confidence Builder.....
At
age 50, after having been involved with horses most of my life,
I was in the market for another horse. I have always considered
myself a horsewoman and an experienced rider. It had been two
years since my confidence had been really shaken by a horse that
I loved and worked with, but realized that we were not a good
match for each other. I felt like a failure around horses.
For the first time in my life, I felt fear in the realization
of the kind of damage a horse can inflict upon a human, and while
I have always known what a horse is capable of, the fear was
something I had never felt before. Regardless of that, my love
of horses and riding would not subside, and in my search for
a place to keep a horse, I found Kim and Franklin Canyon Stables.
In researching the availability of stall space, one of the first
things Kim asked me was where I currently kept my horse. When
I explained that I was in the market for a horse, but looking
for a barn first, Kim suggested I consider sponsorship. We scheduled
a day to ride together, and it was all downhill from there.
I have ridden several of Kim's horses, which has done wonders
for my confidence, and I have been sponsoring Titan since he
came to Franklin Canyon about a year ago. To me, Kim has been
a teacher, a mentor, a cowgirl, and most of all, a cherished
friend. The relationships I have developed with folks at the
barn remind me of those I had with people at my first barn, more
than 30 years ago.
The kids and parents in Kim's program are all a pleasure to be
around. We have enjoyed many rides together, including camping
at Olema where we had a wonderful time. I look forward to many
more rides, camp trips and fun times. I owe this to Kim, who
took the time to foster the confidence of an "old horsewoman"
who was not ready to hang up her spurs.
...................Teresa Cleland
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