Karen Evans Mundy grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Her love for riding and showing horses started at a very early age. Even thou Karen’s grandfather, had World Champion Tennessee Walking Horses, her love for English, Over Fence horses, grew because her oldest sister showed Hunter/ Jumpers. After attending a Summer Riding Camp at age 8, she was hooked. From then on, all Karen talked about, and wanted, was horse of her very own. Finally, Karen and her sister Jan, received their first shared horse. A 2 year old Appaloosa mare. After discovering, this was probably not the best choice for a kids first horse, the mare was sold. Karen, later begged and begged her parents for another horse, and at the age of 12, she received a hunter/jumper large pony.

After showing the large pony for a few years, she outgrew the pony and received her first “horse”, to continue showing, and as faith would have it, the new horse, just happened to be a registered Quarter Horse named Wallady. And that is how it all got started.

Karen’s new “Quarter Horse” mare, just happened to be leading the TN Quarter Horse Assoc. point standings in Bridle Path Hack Hunt Seat, (now called, Hunter Under Saddle). She told her mother she would like to go to an AQHA show to see what it was like. While attending the show, Karen was just amazed at all the events that were offered. She thought, “I can show in all of these other events, and still jump too”. She knew that AQHA, were the shows she wanted to compete in……..and, her love for the All Around events began.

Karen has been very fortunate to have many great trainers to help her over the years. First and foremost, she was blessed enough to have had the opportunity to ride and show her last year in Youth, with the Greatest All Around trainer of his time, Tommy Manion. Karen, still to this day, credits Tommy’s instruction and training, for much of the success she has had. Sandy Vaughn, is another trainer that Karen has worked with for many years, and credits her with much of her success over the many years. “Sandy taught me not only how to ride, train, and prepare my horses to show, but also how very important it is, to take extremely good care of my horses day in and day out”.

Since 1974, Karen has been showing on the AQHA Circuit and has been very fortunate to have had many great horses. Most of the horses Karen has shown, were bought at weanlings and yearlings. She always got a lot of satisfaction, in raising the babies, doing most of the training herself and showing them and the having the success she had always dreamed of. Early in Karen’s show career, the AQHA World Championship Show started awarding an All Around Amateur. She remembers, it was that award that she had the goal of winning. In 1992, that goal and dream finally happened, and it was just the beginning of what is now in the history books, as Karen and her horses have won 8 AQHA World Show All Around Amateur titles, on 5 different horses.

Karen’s most notable horses are:

NICE N SWEET – 1979 Reserve World Champion, many AQHA High Point Awards

SKIPBAR DELUXE – 1982 AQHA High Point All Around Amateur, and several individual High Point awards, Reserve All Around Amateur QH Congress.

HES A HONKY TONK MAN – 1992 AQHA World Championship Show All Around, 2 time Reserve World Champions,
1991 AQHA High Point All Around Amateur, many individual high point awards.

ALL IN SILVER – 1994 & 1995 AQHA World Championship Show All Around Amateur, 1995 AQHA High Point All Around.

PLAY MY SONG – 1999 & 2000 AQHA World Championship Show All Around Amateur, 5 time World Champion, 1999 AQHA High Point All Around Amateur, many individual high point awards, two time all around amateur at the QH Congress.

GIFTED CIRCLE – 2002 AQHA World Championship Show All Around Amateur, 2 Time World Champion, 1992 AQHA High Point All Around Amateur.

ASK ME FOR DETAILS – 2003 & 2004 AQHA World Championship Show All Around Amateur, 7  time World Champion, Many AQHA High Point Awards.

THE ARTICLE – 2 Time World Champion, 2 Time Reserve World Champion, All Around Open Horse, QH Congress, Reserve All Around Amateur QH Congress.

Over the years, Karen has won World Championships or Reserves, or, Congress Championships or Reserves in the following classes:

WORKING HUNTER SHOWMANSHIP
HUNTER HACK HORSEMANSHIP
EQUITATION OVER FENCES WESTERN RIDING
HUNTER UNDER SADDLE TRAIL
HUNT SEAT EQUITATION PLEASURE DRIVING

Karen has won the all around amateur at the AQHA World Championship Show, a record 8 times on 5 different horses.  She has had 19 World Champions, and 22 Reserve World Champions.  won 6 AQHA High Point All Around Amateur Awards, and numerous individual awards.  Been All Around Amateur at the Quarter Horse Congress twice, and won the QH Congress All Around Open Horse.

Karen  decided that after a long and very successful show career as an amateur, it was time to give up her amateur card and to share her experience with others. Her years and years of showing and winning on a national level, has given Karen a lot of experience and knowledge, and she defantly knows what it takes, to be at the top, for many, many years.  Her goal is to help riders, become the best they can possibly be, and achieve the goals, they have always dreamed of.

E-mail Karen here.

E-mail Don here.