Kim Sturgeon « Eqxpressionists

Kim Sturgeon

I live on a small farm in Ravenel, South Carolina with my husband (Van), our three horses (Shoki, Puck and Tempo), our two dogs (Crab and Sandy) and our cat (Umbra).

I am a community college fundraiser by profession, but I love to nurture the unique and powerful connections that can develop between humans and animals. I approach my horse training and my artwork (pet portraits) as creative expressions of these loving relationships.

My love affair with horses started in early childhood and took bloom each summer at horse camp in Florida where I learned to ride, muck stalls and groom. As a young adult, I continued to develop my riding skills through the equestrian program at St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC) where I earned a B.A. in Political Science. Horses and riding took a temporary back seat as I continued my education at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with a Masters in Public Administration.

Shortly after moving to South Carolina in 1998, my husband and I discovered Parelli Natural Horsemanship and became avid students, ultimately completing Level 3 of the PNH program with our horses, Shoki and Puck. In 2006 my husband Van, who is also an accomplished dog trainer, began incorporating Clicker Training into our work with the horses. I was amazed by the increased levels of enthusiasm, confidence and creativity the horses showed as a result of positive reinforcement training, and I committed to becoming a dedicated student of Clicker Training as well.

Today, I focus on the common principles found in various humane training methods as well as the science of Operant Conditioning to develop individualized training programs for every horse (and owner/rider) I work with. I am also studying both classic and current dressage sources to learn more about developing proper biomechanics while nurturing emotional balance as well. But far and away, the most influential teachers in my life today are our three brilliant horses: Shoki, Tempo and Puck.

Meet the horses:

Shoki – elegant, sensitive, forgiving

Tempo – exhuberant, confident, commanding

Puck – focused, precise, playful

Contact Information:

kimsturgeon@bellsouth.net