Sabra Zay is a grey Thoroughbred owned by Katharine. The pair trains with Cathy Strobel at Southern Breeze Equestrian Center in Fresno, TX. Sabra is a 14-year-old mare who was bred by Marie Hopkin at a small family farm in Louisiana. She was race trained but never actually raced. Her sire is Catniro and her same is Sensational Cat. She has the famous Storm Cat on both sides of her pedigree. Storm Cat is known for having very athletic and sensitive offspring. People typically either love or hate Storm Cat offspring, but once you figure them out they can be so much fun to own and ride.
Katharine shares, “My most favorite – and the most famous – story about Sabra is how I got her. I had another Thoroughbred mare before her who wasn’t working out. My dad had just passed away. My job was driving me crazy! I was spending a lot of money, on top of student loans to pay off, on a horse that was not a good match for me. A nice family in Waller, TX, responded to my Craigslist ad about my mare for sale, asking if I’d be willing to trade for another Thoroughbred mare. That Thoroughbred mare was Sabra! The family said they’d taken Sabra because a family friend could no longer care for her, but she wasn’t working out for them. She did NOT want to be a once-a-month, weekend trail horse. I went up to see her, and she was tied to a telephone pole in the middle of their farm. I rode Sabra in their big open field, and though she didn’t really steer, she was kind and willing. We traded horses (with my trainer’s stamp of approval on Sabra), and the rest, as they say, is history. Under trainer supervision, I’ve done all the training riding on Sabra, from her first circles to her first trot poles, x’s, then real jumps, then courses, and then horse shows! She looks so incredibly different now from when I first got her, complete transformation, a true diamond in the rough. I got SO lucky with her.”
On the ground, Sabra is kind. She loves having her head held, her face brushed, and her LONG forelock brushed and braided. Under saddle, she’s sensitive, forward, and brave — all the traits people love Thoroughbreds for. She comes ready to work every day and is so consistent, no matter the season, weather, anything. That saying about when a mare determines you’re her person and gives you her heart – it’s so true and Sabra is the epitome of the best of Thoroughbred mares.
“I’ve accomplished every goal I could ever have imagined with Sabra! She took me from showing locally at 2’3″ to A-rated shows, showing and winning at 1.0m. I love how reliable and trustworthy she is. Friends who have ridden her have said she’s the most confident horse they’ve ever sat on. She makes you feel like you can do anything. I’ll never own another horse like her. Sabra is my once-in-a-lifetime horse, and I’m so very lucky to own her. Craigslist unicorns do exist!”
Katharine has owned Sabra for 8 years. She got her in 2013 when she had just turned 6.
This exuberant mare loves Nature’s Valley Oats & Honey Granola Bars.
The pair won the 2018 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Week 2 Thoroughbred Jumper Champion! She’s also placed year after year in the GHHJA final standings.
“I started riding at Whipple Tree Farm in Richmond, TX, with Diane Gallatin as a birthday present when I was 8 years old. I lived in California for several years, riding trails on Arabians. When we moved back to Texas, I rode at Hermann Park Stables (before it became Sam Houston Equestrian Center) in Houston, before moving to Southern Breeze Equestrian Center. In college, I rode for the Trinity University Equestrian Team at Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio, TX. I bought my first horse in 2011 and had her for almost 3 years before getting Sabra in 2013. My favorite part about owning horses is the relationship you build with your horse. Riding – and even just being at the barn – is such a great mental break, a way to relax and destress from work and adulting.”
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. Karinda accepts a limited number of private clients each year, if you are interested in having her photograph you and your horse or an equestrian in your life, you can reach the studio by sending an email to equine@karinda(.)com or calling (832)598-8715.
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. During the 2021 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Karinda photographed around 140 Horses, Dogs, and even Goats, and was able to donate $10,000 to Candlelighter’s Houston. These are the stories of the Horses, Dogs, and Goats that were photographed at the show, these stories complement a photographic book that Karinda is printing and donating to Texas Children’s Hospital featuring Portraits of each and every animal she photographed.
The Waiting List for Pin Oak 2022 is now open, click here to join: https://equine.karindak.com/pin-oak-2022-wait-list
If you are interested in having Karinda attend your event and host a Portraits for Charity day, send an email to equine@karindak(.)com.
