Equestrian Trainer Spotlight: Kelly Van Zant Inspires the Next Generation of Equestrians

Kelly Van Zant's love for horses began in 1978 in Portola Valley, CA, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her mother rode as a child and had a love for horses deep in her heart, but she had to give it up to start working when she graduated high school.

"When I showed interest in horses, she was elated," said Van Zant. She began taking riding lessons at a place called Webb Ranch, which is still there to this day. At first, Van Zant was a very nervous rider, an experience that helps her today when she is teaching students who may be tentative or afraid. She had a fantastic riding instructor, Lyndal, who still teaches a few lucky students.

"I don't think she owned a watch," Van Zant says of her instructor. "Our lessons were sometimes the length of the San Francisco Giants baseball game, as she had a small radio on her saddle horn so she could keep track of her team." Van Zant benefited from seeing her trainer's love of teaching firsthand. Lyndal kept Van Zant safe and left her always wanting more. As the years went by, her mother became the nervous one when Van Zant began riding "tricky" horses at the age of 12.

At this time, Van Zant had two incredible mentors. "They were like grandpas to me." They were second and third-generation horsemen who "broke" polo ponies and played at a high level. Her mother paid Wes Linfoot to shoe her horses and Fay Humphries to board them, but their mentoring and education were priceless; Van Zant still talks about them almost daily. When she was 15, Lyndal asked if she wanted to start teaching some lessons, and Van Zant jumped at the idea. On August 14, 1985, she gave her first lesson. Wes would tell her that if you do something you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. "Other than in crazy weather, he was right."

Van Zant and her husband, Curtis, moved to the San Diego Country Estates with their Golden, Jesse, in August 2015. When they came down to the community in 2014 to look at houses, it was love at first sight. They bought their home in 2014 but had to wait a year because of work commitments. "It was the longest 485 days," Van Zant recalls. She did not know a soul here but was fortunate enough to meet the right people and began teaching beginner lessons and Pony Club at the IEC in 2016. Since then, she has started her own business with two of the horses she began with here, Tanka and Pal.

Sadly, Jesse passed away in 2019. Van Zant and her husband now have four dogs: Two Golden Retrievers named Wolffee and Journne, and two Boston Terriers named Wille and Whiskke.

"I adore teaching the beginners, building a strong foundation and always working on basics," says Van Zant. She met a mom who wanted lessons for her almost three-year-old daughter. Until then, she had only worked with 4 1/2 and five-year-olds through teens. Now, she has an entire group of 4–5-year-olds who all started just before their third birthday.

"I am the luckiest horse-crazy girl in the world to get to do what I love every day and watch these amazing young riders grow, love the horses, and accomplish goals in every lesson," says Van Zant. She also teaches horsemanship lessons for the different age groups once a month and celebrates birthdays during those times. Watching these amazing children form friendships and work together is just icing on the cake. She reaches out to Lyndal every so often and thanks her for providing such a wonderful background. She thinks of Fay and Wes almost every day and thanks them for shaping her foundation, teaching her the basics, and helping her to become a young professional.

"I wish my mom, who passed away before we moved here, could see this magical place and the awesome people in SDCE," says Van Zant.

With a deep love for both horses and her community, Van Zant continues to inspire the next generation of riders. Her passion for teaching children goes beyond riding skills. It's about building confidence, responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation for these incredible animals. As she nurtures young equestrians, she also strengthens the bond between people and horses, ensuring that her love for the sport leaves a lasting impact. Whether in the arena or the community, her dedication shines, making her not just a trainer but a mentor in a cherished part of the equestrian world.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Van Zant.