Equestrian center offers horse jumping for both beginners and pros

"Stay tall," Maggie Kudrna shouted while watching one of her students approach a long, double-railed jump known as an oxer. "Stay quiet with your body. Breathe. Relax."

The student, 22-year-old Erin Broussard, and her Hanoverian warmblood practice horse, Sable, cleared the jump in one smooth, aerial motion.

"That a girl," Kudrna proclaimed.

Recently relocated from Reno, Kudrna owns and operates the Clover Leaf Equestrian Center, located on a ranch off Old Foothill Road.

The center focuses on English hunt-seat style of riding and jumping, offering lessons to beginners and serious competitors alike.

Since the age of 12, Kudrna has been competing in horse shows. Since her early 20s, she's been making a profession out of both competing and training others, most recently as coach for the University of Nevada, Reno's, equestrian team.

In fact, Broussard, who placed eighth nationally last year in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, is one of Kudrna's students who now commutes from Reno.

"I had a large indoor facility in Reno, with about 65 in training," said Kudrna. "I don't want that big of an operation again."

She now has about 20 students, a lot who followed her from Reno.

"All my customer base was there," she said. "I was worried I'd have to start from scratch, but I was surprised how many followed me here."

However, not all of Kudrna's students are professional riders.

"We have 8-years-olds, 14-year-olds, young adults, and mom's that ride, too," she said. "We offer basic lessons for people that will probably never go to a horse show but just want to ride and have a good time jumping."

But competing is still a large part of her operation.

"We travel and try to go away to one big show a month," she said.

Minutes later, Kudrna was coaching not only Broussard but two other students, 21-year-old Annie Montgomery and 21-year-old Sarah Redmond.

"Don't roll your shoulders," she told Montgomery. "You feel the difference? That was your best one."

Then it was Broussard's turn again.

"I think of staying on the horse when I'm in the air," Broussard said. "I think of getting the right distance."

She grinned when asked about her favorite part of riding.

"The horses," she said.

Kudrna said horse jumping involves a lot more than meets the eye.

"It's not just running and jumping around," she said. "It's very technical. It's all about landing and counting steps. I love every minute of it."

Clover Leaf Equestrian Center is located at 1285 Old Foothill Road in Gardnerville. The center is open Monday through Saturday. Call (775) 848-7433 for more information.