Kari Klingenberg began her journey in Stanwood, Washington where she started riding at the early age of four. Driven by her deep love of horses and competitive nature, Kari successfully explored many disciplines from western pleasure to hunt seat pleasure as a youth showing Arabians under trainers Jeff and Melody Lee. By her early twenties, Kari had become the Lee’s assistant trainer and later apprenticed under cowhorse trainer, Sue Sultze.

Kari launched her own business in 2008 focusing on reining horses. For the next seven years, Kari Klingenberg Performance Horses grew and thrived in the Northwest. Kari credits her loyal and supportive customers in Washington for helping her develop into the trainer she is today. In 2015, Kari moved her operation to Scottsdale, Arizona, a hub for reining horse industry.

As her business continues to grow in the desert, Kari welcomes reining horses and riders of all levels and works to empower each competitor to succeed to the best of their abilities and achieve individual goals.In the show pen, Kari has proven her skill and dedication as a competitor in the Open. One of Kari’s crowning achievements was showing Mr Electric Spark for Team USA at the 2016 SVAG World Reining Championships in Switzerland. The friendships she has made with her teammates are life-long and the experience is one she will never forget.

Kari has had the pleasure of showing several great horses in addition to Mr Electric Spark throughout her career. The highlights include being NRHA Level 2 Derby Champion on Spook Whiz Jewels and NRHA Level 1 Derby Reserve Champion with Gunner Special Twist. Kari has also made the finals several times at all major AQHA, APHA and NRHA events.