Kalena Walter

With over 25 years in the horse industry, Kalena’s knowledge covers all facets of a true horsewoman from managing, to riding, to showing to teaching. She is deeply passionate about helping riders build horsemanship skills both in and out of the saddle along with building confidence to achieve their goals both at home and in the show ring. Kalena attends both local and rated shows in Ohio and surrounding states coaching riders and riding young horses in all rings with much success. Kalena creates a consistent program to match horse and rider needs to ensure proper well-being and success. Also, for those ready to take the next step, Kalena
has various contacts from over the years to aid in searching and finding suitable horses and ponies for those looking to lease or buy.

Originally from the Chicagoland area, Kalena spent her youth as a working student for several well known area hunter/jumper trainers learning proper quality care of horses and gaining valuable experience catch riding horses and ponies of all kinds. She also assisted in teaching lessons and breaking out young horses and ponies as well as showing both client and personal horses and ponies in the various Illinois circuits in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings.

Kalena attended Midway University in Midway, KY where she was captain of her hunt seat and soccer teams; graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Business. Since college, Kalena spent time between Wisconsin and Kentucky working for various farms grooming, riding, and teaching. Notable employers include Carrie Dahmer, Otis Brown, Patty Stovel and Ashley Watts. Her last 10 years were spent at Liftoff Equestrian in Versailles, KY developing and executing a very successful lesson and show program for children and adults. The programs ranged from first lesson and show experiences all the way through to the bigger heights of the hunter/jumper rings, as well as KY Medal Finals experiences. She also helped run CANTER KY which assists in repurposing and adopting retired racehorses to new homes and careers. Marriage and longing to be closer to her family brought her up here to us at River Hollow Equestrian in 2024 and we are so excited to watch the program flourish under her care!