Today we’d like to introduce you to Katy Hill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started riding horses when I was 8 years old. My grandmother enrolled me in riding lessons as a birthday present, and it quickly became the one sport I stuck with season after season, year after year. It was the highlight of my childhood and such a meaningful part of my life.
As I entered adulthood, I still ride and owned horses, but I was not as involved as I once had been. I was busy building a career as an esthetician, working in skincare, and bartending on the side. I was constantly working and rarely had the time to slow down and truly enjoy being with the horses.
In 2019 and into 2020, the pandemic greatly affected both of my sources of income, and I found myself essentially unemployed and back at the barn. During that time, my love for the outdoors, and especially for horses, was reignited. I began brainstorming ways to spend more time at the barn, even after the world reopened.
At first, I thought I would try to find a job in the equine industry. Then I realized I could create one for myself.
I started by teaching just a handful of people, those who knew me through friends or family, and a few who took a chance on an ad I posted online. After only a week of teaching, I realized how much I truly loved it.
And now, here I am six years later.
Every morning, I wake up grateful for a career that brings me so much joy, second only to raising my son, Oliver. I have the privilege of being a safe place for so many horse-loving kids, and I have built a community where families feel at home with the horses and within my space.
I am deeply honored to do the work that I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am incredibly grateful for this journey, though I would not describe it as a smooth road by any means.
I began teaching at a 60-acre farm off Dogwood Road in Baltimore County. It was a private farm, not open to the public, so I was limited in how many people I could bring onto the property out of respect for the landowner’s privacy.
From there, we moved to Patapsco Horse Center, where I continued teaching while also taking on the role of instructor, and eventually Acting Program Director, for the Maryland Council for Special Equestrians. That chapter came to an unexpected end when the entire property was closed. Because it was state-owned, the lease was not renewed.
We then moved again to a smaller, “backyard” barn in Burtonsville, where we quickly outgrew the space, which is something I am truly grateful for. Still, it was difficult to relocate yet again after only a year and a half.
Most recently, we have landed at what is easily our favorite facility so far, renting space from and collaborating with the Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Center in Glenwood.
Having to relocate and essentially rebuild my client base each time has not been easy. Each move has come with anxiety, uncertainty, and the challenge of starting over. But we have been incredibly fortunate. So many supportive and understanding students, and the parents of those students, have followed us through every transition and every location.
Packing up and moving always brings unknowns, but we keep our eyes on the bigger picture: doing what is best for the horses and for the kids.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
K Hill Equestrian Education is a program built around accessibility. From our location and amenities to our horses and curriculum, the goal is to create a safe, welcoming place where everyone can enjoy the outdoors and experience the joy of horses.
We primarily serve beginner to intermediate riders, offering foundational instruction both in and out of the saddle. My personal goal is not only to teach people how to ride, but to inspire future horse owners and lifelong equestrians. I believe in teaching the full picture: from proper feeding and horse care, to creating safe environments in the barn and pasture, to understanding correct biomechanics in the saddle.
Horses thrive when communication is clear, and I believe the best partnerships are built when both horse and rider learn to understand each other effectively.
I also take great pride in teaching my students to take safety seriously, while not taking themselves too seriously. Horseback riding should be fun. It is real, humbling, emotional, and sometimes challenging, but it is also one of the most joyful and rewarding sports to be part of.
One of the most meaningful moments in my career was receiving a postcard from a student thanking me for hosting their birthday party. In their note, they called me a “dream maker.”
I strive every day to be worthy of that title.
How do you think about happiness?
Being outside with the horses and spending time with my family. I’m very family-oriented and feeling a sense of belonging is important to me, so I feel most at peace when I’m with my family, both two and four-legged alike.
Pricing:
- Individual Lessons: $80/hr
- 1 Month Lesson Tuition: $300, $75/hr
- 3 Month Lesson Tuition: $750, $62.50/hr
- Events: Birthday Celebrations, Barnyard Socials, Ladies Night, Etc.: Starting at $450 for 3 hrs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://khillequestrian.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khillequestrian?igsh=Mm9oNXYyOGhvcWg3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17L2yenVjk/
