About Us
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
...of equestrians riding out of barns across MD and VA. Most are adults with their own horses, and all train with Karen Bone. When we go to shows we help each other, root for each other, and make new friends along the way. Our goal is to be excellent and competitive at what we do while fostering a kind, supportive and inclusive environm
...of equestrians riding out of barns across MD and VA. Most are adults with their own horses, and all train with Karen Bone. When we go to shows we help each other, root for each other, and make new friends along the way. Our goal is to be excellent and competitive at what we do while fostering a kind, supportive and inclusive environment wherever we are. We invite you to come visit us at the local shows, or join us on a
regular basis.
Bravo! Equestrian Offers:
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
Riding lessons
Private, Semiprivate, group
Training
Flexible options & schedules
Coaching at shows
Per diem
Clinics
Private/group, intensives, series
Rider Retreats
Weekend, week-long camps
Trailering
as a service for students
Who is Karen Rae Bone?
Bravo! Equestrian is a unique network...
An accomplished perspective....
Karen is the owner/trainer/mentor at Bravo!Equestrian. She is a former National Examiner for the USPC and has an Instructor’s degree from Fox Hollow Equestrian Center, where she majored in retraining difficult horses. She has a broad equestrian background including CI*eventing, A-rated hunter shows, and galloping and rehabilitating race h
Karen is the owner/trainer/mentor at Bravo!Equestrian. She is a former National Examiner for the USPC and has an Instructor’s degree from Fox Hollow Equestrian Center, where she majored in retraining difficult horses. She has a broad equestrian background including CI*eventing, A-rated hunter shows, and galloping and rehabilitating race horses. She has been a teacher, trainer, vaulting coach and judge in Europe, as well as an equine vet tech here in the US. In addition she holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics, and has been a research scientist and an adjunct professor of biology.
An accomplished perspective....
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
An accomplished perspective....
Having learned from some of the world’s most respected equestrians including Karl Mikolka, Charles deKunffy, Linda Zang, Max von Bleucher, Maj Gen. Jonathan Burton, Tim Bourke, and Saumur graduate/French national jumper champion Maurice Honig, Karen’s broad background and years of experience give her a depth of insight and a large ‘toolb
Having learned from some of the world’s most respected equestrians including Karl Mikolka, Charles deKunffy, Linda Zang, Max von Bleucher, Maj Gen. Jonathan Burton, Tim Bourke, and Saumur graduate/French national jumper champion Maurice Honig, Karen’s broad background and years of experience give her a depth of insight and a large ‘toolbox’ of solutions that have already made remarkable transformations in scores of horses and riders.
.jpg/:/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true,m/cr=w:365,h:365)
what people are saying--
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
'As a saddle fitter, I have worked with Karen and her students over the past 5 years and I am always impressed that her students make the most tremendous amount of progress in their riding, horses fitness and horsemanship over the 6-8 months between saddle fittings! I will be scheduling a lesson ASAP! '
-Wendy Harrison,
Harrison Saddle Fit
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
...And the best Part? Bravo! Equestrian comes to you!
We make excellent classical training easily available and affordable. Have your lessons and training sessions right where you live. Make appointments and pay with credit, debit, Apple Pay or PayPal right here on our website. It's that easy
No trailering!
No hassles!
Photo Gallery
A luncheon lecture during one of Karen's Riders Retreats. What a beautiful way to relax, learn and make friends at the same time! Oh... and eat. Did we mention eat?!
Forward... straight...rhythmic...and accurate make the world go 'round!
Karen is a big believer in hands-on learning and developing FEEL. This pic is from 'How to improve your Contact' , one of her intensive, drill-down clinics.
Everybody needs a horse-show mom! Karen is there to make sure you are prepared, look great and get where you're supposed to be on time. She will also train you how to stay calm and focused., so you can ride your best. This young lady got a '10' at her first dressage show! (Click: 'Cheers, clapping hands, and confetti' now! This could soon be you!)
OK, we know they're not perfect all the time. So if needed, like here (read: all four feet off the ground), Karen will hop up in a lesson or clinic and help bring things back to blissfulness.
Look! It's a dressage theory lecture with Happy Harry (the horse), and Happy Helen! (That's you!)
Show More
Clinic Topics
Learn!
realize your dreams!
Learn!
The Progressive Principles of Classical Riding
o Training principles; How a rider affects a horse’s movement
o Improving Contact
o Develop Sitting trot
o Bend; Straightness
o Half-Halts
o Timing of the aids
o Lateral work
o Collection
The Progressive Principles of Jumping
o Developing Control
o Gaining Balance
o Ground poles
o Cavaletti work
o Gridw
The Progressive Principles of Classical Riding
o Training principles; How a rider affects a horse’s movement
o Improving Contact
o Develop Sitting trot
o Bend; Straightness
o Half-Halts
o Timing of the aids
o Lateral work
o Collection
The Progressive Principles of Jumping
o Developing Control
o Gaining Balance
o Ground poles
o Cavaletti work
o Gridwork
o Basic coursework
o Combinations
o Courses: Hunter
o Courses: Jumper
Cross Country Techniques
o Control, safety, equip
o Rating Pace
o Navigating Terrain
o Conditioning
o Fences 1
o Fences 2
o Water
o Course walk/ride
Grow!
realize your dreams!
Learn!
New Horse Toolbox
o Assessing a new mount
o Safety
o Have a Productive Plan
o Building Adaptability
o Tools
o Catch Riding
Retraining Toolbox
o Rider Requirements
o Assessing horse history
o Assessing Suitability
o Safety
o Horse anatomy/
o Physical development
o Horse psychology/
o Mental development
o Training Tools
Spoiled Horse Toolbox
o Rider Re
New Horse Toolbox
o Assessing a new mount
o Safety
o Have a Productive Plan
o Building Adaptability
o Tools
o Catch Riding
Retraining Toolbox
o Rider Requirements
o Assessing horse history
o Assessing Suitability
o Safety
o Horse anatomy/
o Physical development
o Horse psychology/
o Mental development
o Training Tools
Spoiled Horse Toolbox
o Rider Requirements
o Assessing Problems
o Safety
o Horse Anatomy/
o Physical Development
o Horse Psychology/
o Mental development
realize your dreams!
realize your dreams!
realize your dreams!
Horse Care/Horsemanship
o What does a horse need?
o What does a healthy/unhealthy horse look/act like? TPR
o Feeding principles
o Grooming
o Conditioning
o Foot and shoeing
o Tack, fitting and use
o Vet/first aid care
o Bandaging
o Braiding/show prep
o Longeing
o Trailering
o Stables/paddocks
o Management
Longeline Lesson Series
Horse Care/Horsemanship
o What does a horse need?
o What does a healthy/unhealthy horse look/act like? TPR
o Feeding principles
o Grooming
o Conditioning
o Foot and shoeing
o Tack, fitting and use
o Vet/first aid care
o Bandaging
o Braiding/show prep
o Longeing
o Trailering
o Stables/paddocks
o Management
Longeline Lesson Series
o Correcting position
o Developing independence
o Developing strength, suppleness, balance
Rider Retreats for adults
o 3-day weekend ‘camp’
o Week long ‘camp’
o Trailer in, stay nearby
o Ride twice a day, lectures, demos, hands-on practice,
video assessment, party!