About Kelli

Kelli was born in Charlotte, VT and has been eventing for over 30 years. Her early experience came as a working student for Denny Emerson as well as training with equestrian icons such as Jack LeGoff, Carol Lavell, Jane Savoie, Jimmy Wofford and many others.

Kelli has always brought young horses to the top of the sport. In 1989 she won the USEA’s leading horse trophy with her own Macavity, and then again in 1994 with King’s Revenge. With Canadian-U.S. dual citizenship, Kelli began riding for Canada in 1995 and has been an asset to the Team ever since. The only Canadian rider to qualify two horses for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Kelli placed fifth in the team competition with Kilkenny and 18th in the individual with Amsterdam. Kelli started Kilkenny as a five year old and he was the youngest horse in the Atlanta Olympic at just 8 years old. Kelli and Kilkenny also jumped clear around the 1997 European Open Championships at Burghley and placed fourteenth at the 2000 CCI*** Blenheim International Three Day Event in Great Britain.

In 2005 Kelli finished second place at the 2005 CCI** Foxhall Cup riding Paris and the pair then traveled to Scotland to finish ninth at the CCI*** Bowmore Blair Castle International. Kelli started Paris as a five year old and did all of his training herself. In 2006 Kelli finished the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** which earned them a trip to the 2006 World Games in Aachen, Germany representing Canada. Paris was the youngest horse to compete in Aachen, just nine years old.

After selling Paris to international competitor, Piggy French, Kelli picked a select group of young prospects, Valentine, Veelion and Axel Rose to once again bring along to the top levels of eventing. In 2009 Kelli was ranked 13th in the US after winning the Bromont CCI* and placing second and third in the Poplar Place CCI** on Veelion and Axel Rose. In 2010 Kelli won her first three outings on Valentine and then placed 3rd in his first Advanced competition. This year Bromont once again proved lucky for Kelli winning the CCI** on Axel Rose preparing him to make the move to Advanced.

Also known as a successful coach, Kelli’s students have won numerous honors at the North American Young Riders Championships. With Kelli’s coaching Area I garnered team gold two years running with Charlotte Merle-Smith taking home individual gold and Kelli’s long-standing student Nathalie Bouckaert earned individual gold an unprecedented two years running on two different horses. Kelli’s horses have gone on to earn top honors for their new riders as well, with Young Rider medals going to Karen Nutt on Bijoux, Kraig Kulikowski on N’Gulia , Alex Small on Garry Owen and of course, Jenny Brannigan on Cooper.