Growing up on a 100 acre horse farm in rural Maine, Katherine Poulin learned at an early age the values of hard work, determination and commitment. This was an everyday part of her life as both of her parents, Michael and Sharon Poulin were self employed as horse trainers. Kate always had available a variety of ponies and school horses to play, practice with and care for. Local horse shows with showmanship, equitation and jumping classes provided a fun opportunity to compete. Helping in the family business taught her such skills as managing a stable, maintaining a farm, veterinary and farrier skills and breeding. At the age of 5, Kate's family started traveling to Florida for the winter dressage show season. This involved moving 25+ horses, all their equipment, the Poulin family and pets. Needless to say this was a huge undertaking.Kate played a big part in making these trips and gained a lot of knowledge and skills in handling horses and being organized. Both her parents are highly respected trainers, competitors and instructors. Michael was a member of the 92' Olympic Bronze Medal Team on the famous Graf George that he trained from the age of 4 to age 12. An FEI “I” judge, as well as an FEI Young Horse Judge, Michael has won numerous national and international awards on many different horses. He has served on many USEF and USDF committees for dressage. Sharon is also a USEF “S” judge and a successful FEI competitor. Kate's parents have been her primary teachers throughout her career. In 1990, Michael Poulin acquired a 13.2h 10yr pony from a mutual friend. His name was Grey's Flag, also know as Blaze. The story that came with him was that he was purchased at a slaughter auction and quickly trained to be a children's jumper. But Blazes cocky attitude didn't make him suitable for small children which he tossed regularly. Blaze had also been suffering from 8 months of Lyme's Disease. Kate and Blaze became a very successful team, winning many blue ribbons from First through Third level. He “wowed” the judges with his steady fluid rhythm and expressive extended trots. In 1993 Kate and Blaze were invited to perform a Pas de Deux with Mary Herbst and Calypso at the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey and the Washington International Horse Show. They made an adorable sight, pigtails and ribbons on matching chestnut ponies. Another Blaze highlight was winning the Balcarres Trophy for the open Third level division at the Ox Ridge show in Darien, Conn. In 1994 Kate receive her final scores for her Bronze medal that she had earned on Blaze. 1995 started a new step in competition for Kate...... FEI. This was also the year she earned her USDF Silver Medal at the age of 16. Herb Commander is another professor in her life. “Herby” was bred and raised by Dee Muma of Riverhead, NY. Dee was also a part owner of Graf George. Herby came to the Poulin's for training as a scrawny, cold backed four year old Thoroughbred. Dee Muma sponsored Kate by letting her use Herby to compete in the FEI Young Riders tests. At this point Herby was ten years old and already had six years of training from her parents. They qualified to be on the Region eight team in 1996,and the Region three teams in 1998 and 1999. Every year she placed in the top twelve and won two team gold medals. They were fourth place in 1998. In 2000 Dee Muma and Kate's father sponsored her with another hot horse named Winter's Impression, also known as Index. Kate was very successful with him in the show ring winning several CDI-W's and qualifying for the 2000 Region three Young Rider's team. They went on to place 11th individually and won another team gold medal. Kate's sister Gwen didn't have a horse to ride in the Young Riders division that year so Kate loaned her Herby. Gwen and Herby were individual silver medalists at the 2000 NAYRC! Brilliant Too, 15.1h Dutch/Thoroughbred stallion, was started under saddle in 2001 by Kate. Also known in the barn as Zuel, he was bred and raised by the Poulin Family. In 2004 and 2005 they became a successful combination, winning regional and national awards at First, Third and Fourth level. In 2006 they debuted at the FEI level. Kate and Zuel went on to win the Zada Cup in Florida and then Prix St. George, Intermediare I and Intermediare I Freestyle at the Paxton CDI-W in Ohio. The icing on the cake was becoming Reserve National Champion at the Intermediare I championships in Gladstone New Jersey that following summer. All of their successes of 2006 grabbed the attention of Practical Horseman Magazine. Their interview of Kate resulted in a five page article and in giving her the front cover of the September issue Not only a seasoned competitor, Katherine also has been very effective as a demonstration rider for different levels using several horses at USEF Judges forums, North American Dressage Trainers Club symposiums and most recently the 2006 New England Dressage Association Fall Weekend. At the '06 NEDA Fall weekend Kate was personally invited to train in Germany with Klaus Balkenhol. The clinicians she has ridden with include Dr. Volker Moritz, Linda Zang, Hilda Gurney, Ingrid Klimke, Klaus Balkenhol, Jean Bemelman, Mariette Withages, Natalie Lamping and Christoph Hess. For the past ten years Kate has been riding in yearly clinics with Dr. Volker Moritz and she also had the opportunity to ride with the late Franz Rochowansky. During all these years of competition, Kate had the good fortune to train many other horses from basic backing of stallions to seasoned Grand Prix horses. She was one of the first recipients of the Dressage Foundation's Young Rider Olympic Dream program: an all expense paid trip to visit European training centers and the European Young Riders Championships. She was also selected to participate in the Hilltop Farm's Young Horse Trainers symposium in 2005. Currently Kate resides in Deleon Springs Fl. were she has developed a strong student clientèle helping them achieve their goals such as USDF Medals, National and Local Awards and developing a better partnership with their horse. At any given time Kate will have several horses in training from young stallions to seasoned FEI horses. Kate is invited on a regular basis to teach clinics throughout the country and enjoys working with students of all levels and ages. The range of educational opportunities that Kate has had is vast...... and it has been absorbed, appreciated and passed on to her students. Her dedication and passion for showing quality and correctness in all her work, whether training, teaching or horse care , is evident in everything she does. Most people that know Kate speak of her strong work ethic, her passion for the horse and her dedication to the preservation of Classical Dressage. Kate makes no secret that one of her goals is to represent her country internationally, but her first priority is the art of Classical Dressage.