Klaas Stiksma - Associate Trainer, Jumpers
Klaas is a graduate of the prestigious Dutch Equestrian School at Deurne, earning high honors and degrees in both professional training (instructor) and equestrian management (’93 and ’96 respectively). Over the next six years, Klaas achieved increasing success as a trainer and rider at some of Europe’s finest stables including Nico Wouers van den Ouwdenwijer Farm, Dalhoeve Breeding and Show Stables, Egbert Schep Stables, Wijam Laarakkers and Joan Scharffenberger, and Herman Seiger Breeding Stables. He has placed in numerous international competitions and trained Olympic bound horses including Royal Discovery and Russell (Nic Skelton). Klaas spent the next eight years in Sweden training students and taking on the role of lead equestrian instructor at the Karlfeldt School in Avesta Sweden.
In 2008 Klaas moved to North America, beginning with a successful season at HITS Ocala, where he began working with Ketcham Farm. Klaas brings this extensive experience in training of young horses and students on up through top competitors, to the team at Ketcham Farm. His disciplined approach to training and development ensures that both horse and rider achieve continuous improvement, enabling a steady progression toward their highest level of proficiency individually and as a team
Klaas provides training, lessons and clinics at Ketcham, and leads the team in local, regional and national show jumping competitions. He works with the team of trainers at Ketcham to provide the full range of hunter, jumper, dressage and equitation training to the aspiring young riders and horses, up through serious dedicated equestrians at all levels. Utilizing Ketcham’s unparalleled equine therapy facilities and pool, Klaas also works with the Ketcham team in the rehabilitation of horses requiring therapy to regain their competitive strength and form.
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John Harris - Ketcham Equine Therapy Pool Coordinator
John has been an integral part of the equine therapy center and pool long before it became part of the Ketcham Farm Group. A longtime favored facility for veterinarians throughout the central New Jersey area - particularly for standardbred care, the facility underwent a dramatic renovation in 2009, and now services the needs of the show jumping, standardred and thoroughbred and polo industries, veterinarians and individual equestrian ownners. John in a familiar role is responsible for coordinating all activities at the pool and throughout the facility.
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Photos to follow
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Jose Alejo-Guzman - Lead Groom
Jose has been a show groom for over 20 years, providing grooming services for show barns throughout the Northeast. In 2004, Jose was recruited as lead groom by Toby Carlson at Ketcham Farm in Fort Salonga, New York. Now, in addition to his ongoing responsibility at the farm in New York, he has also assumed the lead groom role at the larger Ketcham facility in Allentown, New Jersey. As lead groom, Jose is responsible for all equine support at the Ketcham Show Barn, as well as for all equine services for the Ketcham team at competitions throughout the country.
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Hayley Carlson – Owner / Rider
Hayley Carlson is the inspiration and passion behind Ketcham Farm. Hayley rode as a young rider and returned to her sport following college. She has spent the past few seasons developing her abilities as a jumper rider. Aboard her number one horse, T. Niralda, Hayley finished 2008 leading the standings in the WIHS league and third in the standings for the NAL adult jumpers. Hayley and “Tino” went on to finish fourth at both finals. She began preparing for the 2009 season by showing to a fifth place finish in the amateur owner classic at the national horse show at Syracuse, NY. Hayley spends much of her time in the saddle helping produce the farms younger and upper level jumpers. Hayley is a very involved owner who loves to learn any piece of horsemanship that may enable her horses to thrive on quality care.
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Toby Carlson – Owner
Toby is the owner of two horse farms – both named Ketcham – as well as a series of successful earth products construction and recycling companies across the NY/NJ region. While not a rider himself, Toby has applied his knowledge of construction, soils and earth products and successful project management to the creation of a footing’s and ring construction service for the show jumping industry.
When not at work, Toby is in every corner of the farms operations. He lends his expertise to construction, mechanical and business facets of the farm. His fun and supportive personality adds to the farms upbeat atmosphere and success. Toby takes the occasional riding lesson and is often seen practicing his posting around the farms grand prix field.
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