Connelly-Hoefs Horse Search

Afraid of shopping in Europe? Afraid of dealing with unknown horse breeders, trainers, riders and veterinary clinics? Here is the solution: Connelly-Hoefs Horse Search, a partnership, based on respect, honesty and love for horses, between two equestrian professionals. American former USET member and international trainer Kathy Connelly and Dutch horse breeder and KWPN judge Toine Hoefs select, buy and find the finest dressage horses Europe has to offer. They search the continent for your dream horse, customized to your priorities, wishes, needs and budget.

Kathy Connelly and Toine Hoefs represent a unique partnership which started to look for horses 6 years ago. "I have been going to Europe for twenty years and felt like I was swimming with the sharks," Connelly reminisced, "I needed someone I felt confident with." Kathy Connelly met Toine Hoefs in Holland when she was looking for horses for her clients. "I was looking for an honest, knowledgeable person for myself and my clients. After talking to Toine, I learned we shared the same philosophy in training and in love for horses," Connelly said.

Toine Hoefs is a breeder himself, and he also selects horses and foals for his clients at various private owners throughout Europe. Toine has "an outstanding eye for young horses," Kathy stated. Toine and Kathy often buys foals together, which are then raised at Toine's barn in Erp, The Netherlands. Kathy and Toine love to find horses for people. "For us "a successful sale" means the happiness and success of the people afterwards. We're in it with our clients and friends for the long run."

Kathy and Toine have a long reference list of clients they are proud of. Their most recent references are: Tami Hoag's Feliki, Jodie Kelly's Manhattan, Mark Carter's Haydn, Laine Hill's Hertog, Mary Collier and Hyperion Farm's Riverdance, Silke Rembacz' Millennium, Diana Miller Howard's Koskoier, Al and Judy Guden's New Holland, Riverdance, and Sagacious to name a few, and many more. "Many professionals, for example Betsy Steiner, and amateurs come to us, because they feel protected from all the things that could happen," Connelly clarifies. "They get full disclosure and are helped with every detail, the vetting and the shipping process. We really care."

Kathy Connelly was a USET rider at the 1989 World Cup Finals aboard Enterprise. She was co-chef d'equipe of the American team at the 2000 CDIO Hickstead and coached the 2003 Young Riders' silver medal winning team in Australia. Connelly is the trainer of the 1995 North American Young Riders Champion, the 2003 Canadian World Cup Champion and 1999 Pan Am Silver medallist Shannon Dueck. She is a member of the USET-USAE-USDF High Performance Dressage Committee and also trained several FEI horses herself, including Mark Carter's Haydn, Bernd Schopf's Beethoven as well as Enterprise, who she bought as a young horse. Kathy Connelly is based in Harvard, Mass, 7 months of the year, and spends her winters in Wellington, Florida.

Toine Hoefs and his wife Ingrid started their own breeding barn in Erp, The Netherlands, in 1982 and are most proud of their two own bred licensed stallions: The Oldenburg Ex Libris (by Elan xx x Principaal) and the KWPN registered Juventus (by Dublin x Principaal). Toine has also been a member of the KWPN Stallion Licensing Committee for twelve years and judges breeding shows throughout Europe. Furthermore, he trained young rider Jodie Kelly to a team gold medal at the 1999 North American Young Riders Championships. Toine judged at the 2003 Dressage at Devon breed show and regularly travels to the U.S. for business, clinics and training sessions.

Visit Kathy and Toine's official website at: www.connelly-hoefs.com

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