It’s funny the things you sometimes learn about yourself when you start showing horses. Some people learn to better accept criticism. Others become outgoing when they spent most of their life being shy.

Karen Carter, of Richmond, Virginia was surprised to learn just how driven she can be.

“I am super competitive, something that I did not really know about myself till I started showing (horses),” she said. “Growing up I remember a cartoon figure called Underdog who was actually a superhero. I get a kick out of being “under estimated” and then being able to follow with ‘now watch this!’”

Teamed with a 2013 sorrel gelding by Openrange named Mug Shott (Karl), Carter competes in American Quarter Horse Association sanctioned shows and National Snaffle Bit Association classes under the guidance of Donnie, Taft and Adrienne Dickerson, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

“Karl is an amazing horse, probably the best loping horse I have ever ridden. He is as sweet as he is talented…really like a big red dog,” she explained. “We’re focused on Western Pleasure, and you will see us hopefully at Congress, the World Show and as many of the major shows as possible.”

When she was looking for a new show partner Carter remembers telling Taft that she would consider any color but sorrel.

“Guess what,” she said. I got a sorrel, no chrome, no flash….that is until he starts loping. Karl loves to lope.”

And that’s important. Because Carter spent many years competing in Walk-Trot classes. Her first show horse was Its Fun To Be Good, an AQHA gelding by Good Version that she bought in 2006.

“He was black and stunning, and an ‘off the chart’ jogger,” Karen explained. “We showed in every Walk-Jog class at every open show we could find.  I remember asking Tim Greenleaf to just find me a trail horse, but I got talked into going to an open show and was immediately hooked.”

Eventually they branched out and showed in Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Trail, Halter, Hunter Under Saddle and even Hunter Hack.

“We had so much fun, but I wanted to show Quarter Horse shows, lope and compete well in Western Pleasure,” Carter said.

In March of 2012, Carter purchased Its A Good Investment by Its A Zippo Good Bar because “she was the most broke horse I had ever ridden.”

“She taught me Trail and Horsemanship and loped around pretty good,” Carter said. “I still own her and love to show her as my ‘plan B.’  She has her Register of Merit (ROM).”

But as the self-described Western Pleasure queen, Carter needed a more competitive loper. So, when the opportunity to own Mug Shott came along in 2015, she jumped.

“After years, and years of walk-trotting, I was in love with loping.  To this day my car’s license plate reads ‘I LOPE’ to remind me of just how awesome it feels to lope.”

It’s been a good match and since then Carter has enjoyed plenty of success in the show pen with Mug Shott. But perhaps the accomplishment of which she is most proud came at the 2017 Quarter Horse Congress where the team placed ninth in the Amateur Select Western Pleasure.

“Backing in the lineup, having my name called out and getting to lope up, with my friends in the stands… I swear I heard the angels singing,” Carter said.

Karen was also on cloud nine when Adrienne piloted Karl to a third place finish in the Level 1 Senior Trail at the 2019 Quarter Horse Congress, missing out on a Reserve Championship by just half a point.

“In 2020, something BIG happened, when Karl earned his AQHA Championship – the first horse to ever achieve this level of recognition within the Dickerson program,” Carter said. “Karl earned points in Western Pleasure, Trail and Halter to qualify for this title.  Not too bad for a little red horse – or Sweet Baby Karl – as we often call him.”

Carter truly loves spending all the time she can with Karl and at shows. But she also has a very demanding job as Director of Environmental, Health and Safety for Afton Chemical Company.

“My team and I work closely to support Afton’s global manufacturing and research sites ensuring that we operate safely, securely and in full compliance with all applicable regulations and corporate standards,” she explained. “I like to think that my team helps our business grow, supply products and services that help customers and  minimize impact on the environment.”

A graduate of Virginia Tech, Carter has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering as well as an MBA.

She met her husband of 33 years, Mike Carter, also a Chemical Engineering student, at Virginia Tech.

“He and I were senior design project partners,” Karen explained. “Mike has always been super supportive of my horse hobby. His mother and sister showed gaited horses and his dad even stood a stud.”

The couple have one son, Christian Carter, who is also a Chemical Engineer, a Virginia Tech graduate as well.

“Yes, it runs in the family – it’s in our genes,” Karen said. “We even had some of the same professors believe it or not.”

Amateur Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for an amateur profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.