Kip Ply Performance Horses

About Me

Just the facts: Born in Little Rock, AR, I have followed in my father’s footsteps becoming a Little Rock
Firefighter in 1996. In 2003, I was promoted to Engineer. Being an only child, and maybe just a little spoiled,
my parents strove to cultivate my love for horses - hoping to keep me occupied and out of mischief while
growing up. It was at the local horse shows that I met my future wife, Sara. We have been married now for 8
years and have no children unless you count our German Shepherd dogs.

My friends describe me as honest, dedicated, and hardworking; my wife says that I’m a work-a-holic. I enjoy
showing NRHA, AQHA, as well as doing ordinary ranch work. For fun my wife and I socialize with our horse and
non-horse friends alike and are quite the movie buffs. Working with my Border Collies is also a source of pride
and enjoyment for me. Whether with cattle or sheep, their remarkable instincts never cease to amaze me. I
have been fortunate to meet and work with Border Collie trainers Jim Geurin and Patrick Shannahan. They
have both really been an inspiration to me.

I love my second job of starting and training horses. Horses have always been a big part of life. In my younger
days they were never anything more than just for trail riding or fun. As I became older, I started to notice the
difference in the way people ride. I saw how training methods can affect a horse’s response. When breaking
out 2-year-olds, I like to get them ‘brand-new,’ before anyone has spoiled and cluttered their minds. A clean
slate is much easier to work with…for the horse and myself.

In 1997 I started training professionally. I enjoy working with stallions - with so many different opinions on how to
train a stallion I consider them quite a challenge. But my clients will tell you that a stallion left in my care will be a
changed animal when I am finished with it. The end product shows that the program I use really works. We
owned two stallions, Suga Boy Dustalor & Docs Fifty Pines which were quiet, well-mannered, and willing to do
what was asked of them. They were hauled and shown extensively. Many of our friends and fellow show
contestants did not even realize that I was riding a stallion. Stallions are a big responsibility and certainly not for
everyone. Sadly we lost Suga Boy Dustalor in 2003, and sold Docs Fifty Pines to a friend in 2006.

I have always respected Reining and Working Cow Horse events and have been blessed to work with some of
the nation’s top trainers. After meeting my wife in 1998, Sara urged me to learn more of the technical side of
riding - to have more finesse, if you would. A horsewoman herself, she enjoys riding Western Pleasure and
dabbling a little in reining.

Meeting NCHA & NFQHA Judge Bill Black through some mutual friends has proven very fortunate for me. He
and his wife own the Cross 9 Ranch in Indiana. Bill has encouraged me to learn all his techniques. I felt I was
on the right path, headed into an abundance of knowledge, and yet yearned for even more. NRHA Judge Randy
Cutbirth was another person who was a big motivator in my life. Then through Pleasure Trainer and good friend,
Betsy Taggart, I have been able to meet and ride with renowned Reining Horse Trainer Shawn Flarida. Shawn
is quite a guy and I liked him right from the start. If I had a problem with a particular maneuver, he’d just say, “try
this,” “keep trying, you’ll get it.” Shawn generously shares his knowledge and is always ready to lend a hand.
He sticks with the facts and does not sugarcoat things. I have a deep respect & admiration for his dedication to
the Reining Horse. With the help of many knowledgeable horse people I have come a long way down the
pathway, and yet I feel I have still got quite a bit more to learn before I reach the end of the trail.

Kip’s wife Sara also raises and shows German Shepherds. To find out more information, click HERE.


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		Kip Ply Performance Horses PO Box 366 Redfield, Arkansas 72132 501.681.1482 or 501.397.5214 All rights reserved. No reproduction or copying of any kind without the express permission of the website owner!