HIGHLIGHT | 9-YEAR-OLD DUTCH WARMBLOOD | DOUBLE OAK, TX
Meet Hans, the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding known in the show ring as Highlight. Hans has a beautiful bay coat and a little star on his forehead that is hidden by his lovely forelock. Hans and his owner Kylee train under the expert guidance of Lauren Eisele and Brandon Howard at Homeward Farms.
Kylee has been riding Hans for over two years. She vividly remembers the day she found Hans at a show in St. Louis, Missouri, where her barn was competing in September 2021. She went to the show to try horses and says, “Once I tried Hans, I instantly knew he was the one! I could not stop smiling and was so excited”. Since then, Hans’ personality has blossomed. He is now the friendliest and cuddliest horse at the barn.
One of Kylee’s favorite memories with Hans is competing in the children’s hunter challenge at Capital Challenge in 2022. “I feel like this was one of our defining moments as a pair because our first few months of our partnership were a bit rocky. But, through trust, hard work, and confidence-building, we ended up reserve champion!”, she shares. This achievement marked a turning point in their journey, showcasing the strength of their partnership.
Hans has a personality that Kylee describes as being like a puppy’s. “He is the sweetest horse there is and does not have a mean bone in his body. Every time I get him from the pasture, he always walks up to me with his ears perked,” Kylee says. Hans’ favorite treats are apples and bananas! He would be thrilled to receive either one as a snack and would also appreciate attention and snuggles from anyone who passes by.
In addition to his sweet nature, Hans has an impressive show record. Before Kylee bought him, Hans was champion at Junior Hunter Finals in 2021. With Kylee, he was reserve in the Children’s Challenge at Capital Challenge in 2022 and placed 10th overall at Junior Hunter Finals in 2023.
Kylee’s passion for horses began in fourth grade after reading a book that sparked her interest in riding. She started taking lessons, and her love for horses has only grown since. Now, with Hans, she enjoys the special bond they share and looks forward to many more successful competitions.
Homeward Farms Instagram
Karinda K. is a Houston, TX based equine photographer that travels around the United States photographing equestrians and their horses. Karinda specializes in Outdoor Horse & Rider Portrait sessions that bring to life the magical relationship equestrians share with their horses, Senior Portraits, and Fine Art Black & White Background Portraits for those that want a piece of art featuring their very own animals.
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Portraits for Charity was an idea Karinda dreamt up to help give back to families impacted by Childhood Cancer in memory of her husband’s sister Jessica. With the help of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show family, Karinda has raised over $30,000 for Candlelighter’s Houston since starting this project.
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If you are interested in having Karinda attend your event and host a Portraits for Charity day, send an email to equine@karindak(.)com.
Need to Contact Karinda? Email us at equine@karinda(.)com or call us at (8 3 2) 598-8715
Information shared in this blog is based on information collected at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, if for any reason this information is incorrect and you would like your horse’s blog post updated, please notify us via email.
