Welcome to Klarmond Farm
We emphasize eventing skills, trail riding, and starting young horses. Cowboy Dressage is taught in detail, as is cross country and stadium jumping. We also train you how to train your own horse, thus eliminating the “middle man” between you and your horse. Located next to 850 acres of public land, trail riding is available for training young horses and just for the fun of riding. Klarmond is halfway between Lawrence and Ottawa and just 15 minutes west of Gardner. Lessons for all ages are available, as is training and boarding.
Klarmond Farm is located just east of Baldwin City, Kansas on 74 secluded acres surrounded by the Douglas County State Lake area. We have an indoor arena that is 72’ x 144’ and an outdoor arena that measures 90’ x 200’, plus 2 60’ round pens available for training. We offer stall boarding with full care and generous turnout, and pasture boarding on 30 acres with free choice hay available at all times. Beautiful trails are available for riding without trailering. Come by for a visit and find your new horse home here!
What is the History of Klarmond?
Nan and Jim were married in 1973 and have spent their lives together as musicians. They joined the Kansas City Symphony as founding members in 1983 where they played French Horn for 25 years. In 1996 Klarmond Trakehners was started and a barn was built to acomodate stallions, mares and foals with room for 20 stalls, a 72 x 144 indoor arena, and a 90 x 200 outdoor arena. Six months after the barn was completed, the German stallion Polarmond and three quality mares were added to the breeding program. Many beautiful foals followed, along with many shows and new friends made. Several clinicians became regulars at Klarmond, including Heather Blitz, and more recently Harry Whitney. In 2008 Nan and Jim decided to retire from orchestral playing and decided to board horses for friends, then for the public. Nan wanted to teach something besides “riding lessons” in the usual way. She had listened for years to trainers complaining of being able to train horses well, only to send them home to owner/riders who didn’t understand how to ride them. After discovering the wonderful teachings of Harry Whitney (www.harrywhitney.com) and spending years learning how to apply them to her own horses, Nan decided to offer to teach people how to be their own trainers, thus eliminating the “middle man”. Her program has been extremely successful in bringing horses and riders to a common ground of understanding, respect and affection. Many beginning trainers ranging in age from 9 to 65 have since come to Klarmond to be the first human to sit on a horse’s back and train them to the point of attending their first cross country schooling, horse show or going on their first weekend trail ride. Nan’s extensive jumping background has also led to the teaching of young riders active in the local Pony Clubs, as well as beginning through intermediate Dressage students. Cowboy Dressage is the latest discipline to be added to the list of activities riders are able to actively pursue at Klarmond.
Nan’s Riding Background– teachers include Bev Chester, Becky Douglas (now Becky Holder), Jana Wagner, Joy Casody, and Heather Blitz. She has shown Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, and received her colors from the Fort Leavenworth Hunt. Nan has raised and trained fine Trakehner horses for 20 years. Her main “horse sense” coach has been Harry Whitney for the past 20 years. Nan began riding in earnest at the age of 24 with Bev Chester (Showjumping Chair of US Pony Club) at the old Somerset Stables in Olathe, KS, where she rode and competed in Hunter-Jumper for 10 years. When Dressage got her attention, she started riding with Jana Wagner regularly and had Jana show her Trakehner mare Fricka successfully for 3 years. Nan has hosted many Heather Blitz(www.heatherblitz.info) dressage clinics at her farm. Nan’s last instructor was Joy Casody, who trained her own horse Kouros to Grand Prix, and was responsible for introducing Nan to Harry Whitney.
Another highly influential instructor of Nan’s is Becky Douglas, now Becky Holder(holdereventteam.com). Becky was a fabulous instructor at a young age, and helped Nan greatly with her jumping skills, especially while Nan was an active member of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt.
Harry Whitney– perhaps the most influential teacher for Nan has been Harry Whitney. Nan searched for years to find a feeling of closeness and deep communication with horses, and finally found answers to her questions when she started working with Harry Whitney 15 years ago. Harry’s insight with horses is incredible, and he has given Nan many thoughts to build her own life around with horses and their owners. Harry is one of the few remaining students of Tom Dorrance, and got his start working his parents’ cattle ranch. The horse has always been his teacher. Nan has had several students, some as young as 9, start horses with her and giving them the thrill of being the first one to sit on a horse’s back. She has also helped many others of all ages and ranges of ability and experience learn to introduce horses to being ridden safely.
Another highly influential instructor of Nan’s is Becky Douglas, now Becky Holder (holdereventteam.com). Becky was a fabulous instructor at a young age, and helped Nan greatly with her jumping skills, especially while Nan was an active member of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt.
Harry Whitney– perhaps the most influential teacher for Nan has been Harry Whitney. Nan searched for years to find a feeling of closeness and deep communication with horses, and finally found answers to her questions when she started working with Harry Whitney 15 years ago. Harry’s insight with horses is incredible, and he has given Nan many thoughts to build her own life around with horses and their owners. Harry is one of the few remaining students of Tom Dorrance, and got his start working his parents’ cattle ranch. The horse has always been his teacher. Nan has had several students, some as young as 9, start horses with her and giving them the thrill of being the first one to sit on a horse’s back. She has also helped many others of all ages and ranges of ability and experience learn to introduce horses to being ridden safely.
Breeding: Nan and her husband Jim have raised and shown high-quality Trakehner horses for 20 years. The great German imported stallion Polarmond stood at Klarmond for 10 years, siring many beautiful foals from top quality Trakehner mares.
Other Activities: Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation has become the latest endeavor at Klarmond Farm. We now proudly have 7 residents who were rescued from the kill lot who are now leading happy lives with new owners. Nan restores their health with a good recovery feeding program and free choice brome hay, then re-educates them to be suitable mounts for new owners who give them forever homes.
Nan has also been an active board member of the Longview Horse Park in Lee’s Summit, Missouri since 1998.