We are a mighty team made up of staff and horses
Click each name to find out more
Our Staff
Karin Schmidt
Founder
Karin Schmidt is the owner of Legacy Stables and founder and executive director of Karin’s Horse Connection. With her vaulting club A...
Grace Peterson
Owner & Program Director
Grace Peterson Owner & Program Director Grace started working for Karin as a Riding Instructor in the fall of 2014. In the spring of 2016 she...
Leoni Baier
Owner & Administrative Director
Leoni Baier Owner & Administrative Director Leoni inherited the love of horses from her mom, Karin. Growing up, she tagged along to the stables...
Lisa Groeneveld
Office Administrator
Lisa Groeneveld Office Administrator Lisa came to Legacy Stables as a beginner Leisure Rider in 2014. One month of lessons turned into several and...
Miriam Hamilton
Riding Instructor
Miriam has had horses since the day she was born and was riding before she could walk. Growing up on a farm she knows how to drive tractors, fix...
Claudia Herrmann
Head Instructor
Claudia Herrmann Head Instructor As a teenager, Claudia worked in a German barn in exchange for lessons. After college, Claudia became a certified...
Melinda Muzzey
Head Vaulting Coach
Melinda Muzzey Head Vaulting Coach Melinda grew up in Germany and moved to Holland MI with her family when she was 16. In Germany Melinda started...
Kim Dittenber
Vaulting Coach
Kim Dittenber Vaulting Coach Kim and her family had gone horseback riding at another barn in the fall of 2015 and loved it so much that they...
Celeste Fisk
Stable Manager & Riding Instructor
Celeste Fisk Stable Manager & Riding Instructor Celeste was raised in Oregon and never grew out of her love of horses that she had from a young...
Paige Goebel
Riding Instructor
Paige Goebel Riding Instructor Paige Started riding when she was 10 ( she thanks her grandma for that, she wanted to go on an African safari on...
Kaitlin Leonard
LS Office Manager & Instructor
Kaitlin Leonard LS Office Manager & Instructor Kaitlin is originally from Louisiana and move to Michigan post-college to experience all 4 seasons!...
Diane Soyza
Riding Instructor
Diane Soyza Riding Instructor Diane began working with horses while she was in college, earning her bachelor's degree in animal science with an...
Kris Runnels
Stable & Instructor Assistant
Kris Runnels Stable & Instructor Assistant Kris is a mom of 5 and has loved horses her whole life. She finally got the chance to start riding...
Emily Slenk
Stable Assistant
Emily Slenk Stable Assistant Emily grew up watching movies and reading every book about horses she could get her hands on but didn’t start riding...
Shea Jackson
Riding Instructor
Shea Jackson Riding Instructor Shea started riding when she was 7yrs old. Her main focus was in jumping, but she also rode western and went on...
Erika Gallant
Office Assistant + Instructor
Erika Gallant Office Assistant + Instructor Erika started riding in her early teenage years alongside her mom and horse-training friend. She took...
Heidi Snyder
AVC Office Manager
Heidi Snyder AVC Office Manager Heidi is a homeschool mom to her kids Jude, Hazel, and Nona (12, 12, and 11). She loves to travel, read, and be...
Sarah Nelson
Instructor
Sarah Nelson Instructor Sarah grew up a horse crazy kid spending every summer at horse camp. Her college summers were spent as a camp counselor...
Kelsey LaValley
Stable and Instructor Assistant
Kelsey LaValley Stable and Instructor Assistant Kelsey is a junior at Caledonia High School and has been riding at Legacy Stables for about 5...
Ellie Ramey
Assistant Instructor
Ellie Ramey Assistant Instructor Ellie has been riding for 6 years and has done a lot from showing and 4-h to just trail riding. She would love to...
Stephanie Kramer
Assistant Instructor
Stephanie Kramer Assistant Instructor As a child, Stephanie loved horse camp and trail riding and always wanted more time with horses. After...
Madden Meroney
Riding Instructor
Madden Meroney Riding Instructor Madden has been riding horses since as long as she can remember. She showed in 4H for 6 years and now she can be...
Anna Herich
LS Office Assistant
Anna Herich LS Office Assistant Anna has been riding horses for as long as she can remember! She used to do 4H and loved the western classes...
Our Lead Volunteers
Lead Volunteers
Sara Miller
Lead Volunteer
Sara Miller Lead Volunteer Sara has been with Legacy Stables since Fall 2021. She was initially drawn to Legacy because she was looking for a...
Jan Schrotenboer
Therapeutic Volunteer
Jan Schrotenboer Therapeutic Volunteer Jan fell in love with horses at a very young age and got her first pony at 8 years old. She enjoyed many...
Ron Zaagman
Vaulting Coach
Ron Zaagman Vaulting Coach Ron Zaagman is a three-time American Ninja Warrior, who loves all forms of exercise! Ron is married and a father of 3...
Our Horses
Click the Horses' name to find out more
Zephyr
Zephyr Zephyr is a 9 year old Sooty Brown Quarter Horse who came to us through a former rider! Zephyr lived with his mom for 6 years which is uncommon
Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear YOGI BEAR is a Belgian Horse. He is just as sweet as he is huge! Yogi is used for vaulting, riding lessons, and therapeutic riding.
Windy
Windy WINDY is a Paint Horse. Windy had an accident as a foal that left her left ear crooked. Karin says this may be how she got her name because
Wally
Wally WALLY is a black miniature horse who joined our herd in June 2024. He was hesitant about his new home at first, but he warmed up quickly!...
Trademark
Trademark TRADEMARK, or "Marko" and his brother Siggy found their place in our herd after coming all the way from Kentucky! While Marko is still...
Stella
Stella STELLA is a draft cross mare who came to Legacy Stables in the winter of 2021. She was very insecure and shy when she came, but is quickly...
Sprinkles
Sprinkles SPRINKLES loves littles kids! It is her destiny to be used for KinderPony lessons and give so many children their first riding...
Snoopy
Snoopy SNOOPY is a Shetland Pony. He is often the first contact many kids have with a horse. Snoopy is used for KinderPony rides and he helps all...
Snickers
Snickers SNICKERS is a stocky pony who came to Legacy Stables in winter of 2021 and everyone instantly fell in love with her sweet, talkative...
Signature
Signature Signature, or Siggy, and his brother Marko found their place in our heard after coming from Kentucky! Siggy is still currently in...
Romeo
Romeo ROMEO is a Welsh Pony. Karin rescued Romeo from a backyard where he was all by himself without the company of other horses. The owners were...
Relax
Relax RELAX came to Legacy Stables in the summer of 2019. He is very sensitive and intuitive to people’s feelings and their body language. He and...
Pippa
Pippa PIPPA is so eye catching with all of her polk-a-dots!! She is a super friendly pony who loves kids just as much as they love her! Pippa is...
Peppino
Peppino PEPPINO was born at Legacy Stables on Mother’s Day, 2019. His favorite thing is to play with the giant soccer ball. We are excited to...
Peanut
Peanut PEANUT is a Miniature Horse. He has been with Karin since 2011. Peanut is the sweetest, best behaved little buddy anyone can ask for. No...
Nikodemus
Nikodemus Niko, short for Nikodemus, came to us from Canada and is a Canadian Warmblood! Although they are different breeds, he is Habakkuk's twin...
Nemo
Nemo Some people like to say it's not you who finds a horse, but instead the horse finds you. That's exactly what happened with Nemo! Someone...
Mogli
Mogli MOGLI could be the little brother of Diamond because he has the same Blue Roan color. He is a tall pony and can be ridden by both children and
Maree
Maree MAREE is a Quarter Horse. She was a boarder before Karin became her owner. She is super gentle and mellow and has a very smooth trot. She is a
Luna
Luna LUNA is a Miniature Donkey. She’s been with Karin since Spring of 2013. Luna’s job is to be cute! She is used for absolutely nothing except...
Juniper
Juniper JUNIPER, aka “Juni” is a 10 year old Paint horse. She joined our herd in August 2024 and settled into her pasture quickly. She met her...
Journey aka Trip
Journey aka Trip JOURNEY'S (aka Trip's) name has a special meaning as it was chosen during a time when Covid-19 hit and turned all of our lives in...
Jabulani
Jabulani JABULANI is a Canadian Sport Horse. He came here young and kept growing and growing! At almost 18 hands, he is the tallest horse we...
Howdy
Howdy HOWDY is a Palomino Quarter Horse Pony. He is very good at standing still forever so you can take your time while brushing, hugging, and...
Finnick
Finnick Finnick is a registered Quarter Horse with The American Quarter Horse Association and stands at 14.3 hands. With a background in reining...
Dory
Dory Dory is a Quarter Horse/Appaloosa mix! Her coloring is Paint. (Did you know that a "Paint" horse can describe either the breed or color of a...
Dolly
Dolly DOLLY could be Daisy's twin sister! She is a 15.1 hand, Percheron, Quarter Horse, Appaloosa cross who came to us from Wisconsin. She has a...
Daisy
Daisy DAISY is a Percheron crossed with a pony. Daisy would rather be getting attention from people than playing with the other horses - she is so...
Charley
Charley CHARLEY is a Morgan Horse. After riding hundreds of horses, Charley was the very first horse that Karin ever owned. She bought him on...
Caspian
Caspian CASPIAN is a Thoroughbred/Percheron. He has been with Karin since he was 5 years old and when she got him he was green, which means he was...
Amigo
Amigo AMIGO is a 16hh Quarter Horse. He has such a sweet face that matches his friendly personality. Amigo is used in our Riding Lesson program.