High Spirits Farm

Written By Eva Mores – Horse Lingo, LLC
May 4, 2014

After having a conversation with both Anna Marie Knipp and Robert Gardiner, of High Spirits Farm, there is no question as to why they have made their mutual endeavor nothing less than a success.  Celebrating 100 blue ribbons out of 202 classes in 2013 with 84% of classes shown resulting in a top three finish is proof that the two have found what ‘works’ for them.  Anna Marie credits their good working relationship to the fact that they are both talkers; details are discussed, there are no surprises, and neither hesitates to communicate their point of view.  While High Spirits Farm has been in existence since the early 1980’s, recently Anna Marie has expanded it from 50 to 550 acres, making it home to 80-85 horses.

It’s Dan The Man

Anna Marie got her start in American Saddlebreds, as her mother was raised with them, although she never showed.  At a young age, her mother started Anna Marie in riding lessons and the rest is history.  When Anna Marie’s father passed away in 1980 and she had graduated from college, she and her mother were advised to begin High Spirits Farm as a business.  At that time, she never dreamed that her farm would expand to what it is today.  Anna Marie holds numerous memories near and dear to her heart, enjoying many alongside Jimmy Miller.  While there are too many to count, she says that she will never forget her first Louisville win with Tijuana Jubilee, winning 12 World Titles with Heartland Supremacy, and the more recent memories created with It’s Dan The Man, whom Anna Marie bought on a whim.  She states that everyone should have the opportunity to show a fantastic horse like him…as she enjoyed every moment of the year and a half that she showed him.  When Jimmy Miller passed away in 2008, Anna Marie quickly took over the management responsibilities for High Spirits Farm.  In 2011 Robert Gardiner joined the team and she has enjoyed returning to her American Saddlebred roots and the diversified experience High Spirits now has with a bigger barn and more customers.

Callaway’s Blaire

It was Callaway’s Blaire that brought Robert Gardiner into the picture in 2011.  Being a challenging mare, it was recommended that Anna Marie send her to Robert for training.  Having grown up in Virginia on his parents’ farm, Robert gained experience helpful for training rather tough horses at a very young age.  While they had a decent group of horses, he says their “outlawish” nature at times afforded him an invaluable opportunity to develop his training skills.  He started his training aspirations at the age of 14 and during his summers in college he chose to work for Rob Turner, respecting him for his excellent training skills and body language used to train horses.  Since Rob was known for his “Tattersalls experiments,” training tougher horses as well as young horses, working for him was attractive to Robert since it was much a reflection of his experience growing up on his parents’ farm.  When he graduated from college in 2001, Robert returned home and trained horses on his mother’s farm.  He then spent some time working for Margo Baird-Valentine, prior to starting Landmark Farms in 2005.  In 2011, after having sent Callaway’s Blaire to him and knowing that he was interested in making a career change, Anna Marie had the idea that he would be a good fit for High Spirits Farm.  Not thinking he would actually take her up on the offer, she invited Robert to come work for her.  Shortly thereafter, Robert showed up with Callaway’s Blaire and VHF Belle Epoque, worked them at High Spirits Farm for five days and they were off to The Royal!  VHF Belle Epoque won the Three Gaited National Championship and Callaway’s Blaire took Reserve in the Three Gaited Park National Championship, after winning the qualifier.  These two mares are now at home with stay-at-home mom aspirations.  Callaway’s Blaire is currently in foal, and Robert hopes to get VHF Belle Epoque in foal primarily for sentimental reasons, as she has been such a quintessential horse for him.

VHF Belle Epoque

Robert’s organized nature makes him a clear asset to the High Spirits Farm program.  He enjoys the management of the horses most…caring for them, keeping them sound, shoeing them, etc.  If all of that is done well, he says “the training is the easy part,” recognizing that looking after all aspects of a horse’s life is critical to their well-being and performance. He prides himself on being overly honest about the habits of the horses that he has in training, and although he may have a reputation for being able to ‘cowboy up,’ not all of his horses fit the bill of being difficult!  According to Anna Marie, Robert is highly prepared and the daily routine at High Spirits Farm runs according to Robert’s highly orchestrated plans.

Much credit for the smooth operations at the farm must also be given to Assistant Trainer, Juve Turrubiartes.  He has worked with Robert for 10 years, with a short hiatus when Robert first made the move to High Spirits Farm.  In 2013, when the number of horses and clients began to necessitate the need for additional staff, Robert and Anna Marie agreed to bring Juve to the team.  Literally the week he began, Robert needed an emergency appendectomy!  Juve picked up where Robert left off, and showed the horses successfully.  While they do things differently, they understand each other and have a great rapport.  Anna Marie states that there is never a momentum change between the two.  Juve mainly works with the yearlings and two-year-olds, giving them a solid training foundation.  He is also responsible for the training of the highly successful Hot Apple Cider – who had a nearly undefeated season last year with wins at Louisville, The Royal, and Midwest Charity.

Juve Turrubiartes & Robert Gardiner with clients at The Bridlespur MHSA Kick-Off Show

Both Anna Marie and Robert speak highly of the congenial group of people that are a part of the High Spirits Farm family.  The clients are comfortable with each other.  They all are unique and have a life outside of the horses, allowing them to truly enjoy coming together with their shared interest in horses.  Anna Marie says they are just great people that you would enjoy socializing with outside of this business.  Robert recognizes that most of their clients have been around the business for a long time and have made an educated decision to place their trust in the program at High Spirits Farm.  Robert aspires to continue to make High Spirits Farm a “destination” for these clients as well as future clients.  He believes that keeping nice horses and a fantastic facility, as well sharing common goals and means of achieving these goals with clients, are key to creating an atmosphere that people appreciate.  Robert and Anna Marie have worked to develop a first class operation at High Spirits Farm, and while Anna Marie states “It isn’t about winning, it is about being in the hunt,” it is evident that the success of High Spirits Farm is destined to continue.

While the 2014 season is a story yet to unfold, the start of the season is accompanied by much excitement and anticipation.  Anna Marie looks forward to seeing the horses demonstrate their versatility, as a few are embarking into new divisions, and she expects thiswill result in some reinvigoration for the horses.  Robert looks forward to the stars of 2013 returning to the show ring: The Red Hot Kid, Hot Apple Cider, and Magical Promises (admittedly his favorite horse), to name a few.  He also looks forward to the young horses making their debut this season, including OneRepublic who is a half-sibling to VHF Belle Epoque.

UPHA Chapter 5 is a highly anticipated show for High Spirits Farm as well. Not only is it their first major show of the season, with plans to bring 16 horses, it is also a show that both Anna Marie and Robert are highly involved with.  Anna Marie, along with the late Jimmy Miller, has been instrumental in the production of the show since its inception.  Robert recently took on the role of Chairman, assisted by Co-Chairman Bob Brison.  Along with the show committee (Tonya Brison, Lori Baker, Anna Marie Knipp, Carol Carlson, Dawn Fire, Ann Rowland, Carla Pearman, Jan Burden, Don Schilling, Laurie Fowler, and Mary Zion), they have taken the initiative to reevaluate and evolve the show to become one of the premier spring shows in the midwest.  The past few years, the show has been held at Hale Arena at The American Royal Complex, an outstanding facility.  Last year, exhibitors enjoyed a new warm-up ring, a wider entry/extend warm-up area leading into the show ring, a more sophisticated look to the show ring, as well as the enthusiastic management by Tuffy Owens.  In true High Spirits style, the focus of the show committee is to put the needs of the horses first, demonstrated by the improvements made to the warm-up ring as well as the footing in the show ring.  Bob Brison, Robert Gardiner, and Tuffy Owens all physically played a role in the design and completion of these changes.  This year, the show will welcome a three judge panel (Melinda Moore, Tré Lee, and Tim Roesink) and expects to see a significant increase in horses.

Anna Marie Knipp and Robert Gardiner

Let the 2014 season get underway!  Sharing the same vision, Anna Marie Knipp and Robert Gardner are excited to see what their future holds.  As Anna Marie maintains the business end of High Spirits Farm, Robert continues to keep his focus on the horses.  Anna Marie has the utmost respect for him, his abilities, and outstanding work ethic.  She is very pleased with the place they are at, and with the horse business changing constantly, they continue to evolve and adjust to the climate.  It is this flexibility, ambition, and their absolute focus on putting the horses first that certainly will keep High Spirits Farm in the top ribbons in and out of the show ring.

 

 

 

A few fun facts…

When on the horse show circuit, what is your favorite restaurant?

Anna Marie:  “I’m a junk food queen!  I can tell you where to find the best hot dogs at any horse show!”

Robert:  “Jersey Mike’s – I find one at any show I’m at if I can.  I’ve probably spent $200,000 in my lifetime eating there.”

 

Do you have any songs that remind you of horses?

Robert:  “Bigger Than My Body by John Mayer reminds me of CH Cary’s Moonraker and Forever by Chris Brown reminds me of VHF Belle Epoque.”

 

What do you do when you aren’t showing horses?

Anna Marie:  “Working!  I was raised with my dad’s car business and in commercial real estate.  I manage office buildings, which is great because I can work from almost anywhere…even when away at a horse show.  I like to read, spend time in the sun, and enjoy being around people and friends.  I also like to shop!  Louisville is great for shopping…horses…clothes…”

Robert:  “If you are going to be happy in the horse business, you have to have a life away from the horse business!  I like to jet ski.  I jet ski every weekend at the lake.  I like to travel in the winter to Chicago and go on other get-aways.  I also have friends in town with businesses and restaurants that I enjoy spending time with“

 

What are your greatest career accomplishments?

Robert:  “Winning both the Under 15.2 and Over 15.2 Stakes in the same year at Louisville.  Also, judging Louisville.  I was the youngest person to judge at 33.”

 

What show rituals do you have?

Anna Marie:  “I’m not too superstitious but I do tend to wear the same shoes at certain places, stay at the same places, and I have a lucky necklace.”

Robert:  “I am a list maker.  I have to stay organized and I diagram the set-up for our help so I can send them ahead to get things in place, allowing me to concentrate on the horses.  I also try to keep the horses in their routine while at a horse show.”

 

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