While Kris Bloom was searching for a qualified replacement to fill her place at her training barn in Wisconsin she didn't realize that life was about to take a serendipitous turn and the training team of Bloom and Hansen would be born. Chris Hansen and Kris Bloom are two unique talents and the horse world is that much better since their meeting.

As the trainers for Horse Network's new horse and rider youth team, we have had the privilege of watching them work in concert solving training problems, complementing each others strengths at each step. Bloom brings to the team a keen intellect and a remarkable ability to see the 'details' without losing site of the big picture. Hansen uses his intuition and infinite patience to build a solid foundation and achieve consistency in his 'students'. They both bring a depth of knowledge and obvious devotion to their craft that is rare.

Horse Network: What was the earliest recollection you have that had to do with horses?

Hansen: I was 4 years old and some neighbors of mine raised ponies. I went over and rode every day with their son. They gave me a pony as a present and I had to beg my dad to keep it. My dad wasn't going let me have it but I was persistent. It was really my neighbors that helped give me my start.

Bloom: My earliest memory was holding the saddle horn in my two hands . I must have been really young. That saddle horn was the size of a Whopper. My mom would sit me in front of her and go riding on the trails. I remember crying from when we left the driveway until we got back. I must have thought we'd get lost.

Horse Network: Was there a person, book, film etc. that particularly inspired you?

Bloom: Gunsmoke! My Gunsmoke lunch box.

Hansen: The friend that I got the pony from was probably the most influential. It was from watching movies like 'The Magnificent Seven' and John Wayne films that we decided to dress up like cowboys and camp on the trail!

Horse Network: Was anyone else in your family involved with horses and were they supportive?

Bloom: I'd have to say my parents. They were always very enthused about horses.

Horse Network: At what point did you see the Equine Industry as a viable career?

Hansen: I didn't set out to do this as a career. I was interested in a lot of different things and couldn't decide. I ended up doing this because it is what I knew best.

Bloom: I was baby stepping towards it forever. It's all I knew. It's how I spent my recreation time. It was in my mid-teenage years that I began to think it might be a viable career. Two things, people starting paying me to give lessons and I was also at a developmental point where I knew I had to seek out good horsemen and learn more so I wasn't frustrated.

Horse Network: What do you consider to be the major milestones that got you to where you are now?

Bloom: I began giving lessons and I participated in some clinics. I worked with trainer Tom Pierson riding horses and cleaning stalls for a couple of summers. I went to college and majored in animal science with a horse emphasis. I then had two internships with Bob Loomis and a summer job with Tim McQuay. I was able to meet a lot of credible people in the industry at those places. After that I worked for myself contracting at a large boarding facility giving twenty to thirty hours a week of riding lessons in addition to three to five full time training horses . After that I ran my own 10 horse training barn. During these years I trained and coached AQHA and AJQHA World Show finalists and placers and a Congress Youth Winner. The next step was my taking a position as a trainer at Cold Spring Farm in Michigan which breeds and trains reining horses.

Hansen: In my teens, there was an Arab facility with 100 head near my house. I trained there four and a half years and ended up going to the University of Minnesota for animal science with a horse emphasis. I did my internship in Kentucky at Gainsborough Farm. While there, i started 2 year olds, exercised track horses, did therapy for lameness and cared for brood mares. I came back and finished college then went to work for Jim Fuller who is primarily a halter horse man. He stood Noble Tradition after showing him to 4 world championships. While at Fuller Ranch, I fit halter horses and assisted the breeding. I missed the riding however. At that point an instructor from college told me about a barn up in the Twin Cities where they did round pen work. There was a job available so I went to work there and I learned a lot. The trainer's name was Dan Ramberg. I really trusted his horse sense. His ideas always seemed to work out. I moved from there to a facility in Stillwater, Minnesota and had 15 to 16 training horses.

Horse Network: What do you feel is your greatest strength?

Bloom: I think my greatest strength is in teaching people to operate better with their horse. Bringing together horse and rider teams.

Hansen: I think starting two year olds. I like to see them progress from knowing nothing. I like to wait until they are two or older to begin working with them so they can take the pressure that will be placed on them.

Horse Network: Is there a particularly memorable moment that you've had in your career?

Bloom: There are flashes that occur. They're hard to reach for, especially the ones that are particularly magical. I can think of two. My gelding that I showed from 5th grade through when I was 14 years old. He was a horse that I got in that pre-teenage time when I was just a kid with a horse. He and I were in a groove together. A level that we were so together I just knew when we showed that we were the best. Another memory was during my internship at Bob Loomis Quarter Horses when we were qualifying horses for the World Show. They had a Great Pine stallion in the barn and I was told that I could go ahead and prepare him as I saw fit. At that time I was mainly a saddler, 2 year old rider, and head groom of the show barn but I had a chance to pack my show clothes and show this horse. I was third out of twenty-five.My ride beat the horse we were trying to qualify.

Hansen: I've had a lot of those moments. There was a paint stud that I rode by Gold Standard that I got because nobody else wanted him. He was tough. A lot of people said he wouldn't be anything. I was able to bring him along, show him and get a superior put on him. I was really happy about that. I have won some Futurities and been Top Ten at the paint horse World Congress. All those rides are memorable to me.

Horse Network: Do you have a moment that you consider your most frustrating or disappointing?

Bloom: Gosh, my most disappointing moment was when I was showing in eleven and under on my gelding. I was doing pretty well on that circuit. I was in a horsemanship class and was doing my pattern flawlessly and at the end realized that I totally forgot to back up. I completely forgot to do the maneuver. Because of that mistake, it appeared I wouldn't win the All-Around that day. I was so bummed out that I had made a mistake. I was plenty aware of how I failed myself. I just needed to have people let me work through it and accept that it happened. It was not the end of the world.

Hansen: I had a mare, Sonnys Rose Tattoo. She was also very tough to get broke, but she got there and we won a lot together. I took her to the World Show and of all the horses that I rode, I thought that she would be the horse I would do something on. We got there and she got sick. Very sick. She was too sick to be shown and spent 2 months at a veterinary clinic recovering.

Horse Network: Describe your ideal horse. The type of horse you like to work with.

Hansen: One that's perfect I guess! Actually, for a pleasure horse, it needs to be low minded and good legged. I'd prefer it was not dull-minded but calm and intelligent. As for movement, it needs to be more deep with the hock and flat in the front.

Bloom: You like a horse that's got that little personality but that's not too busy. I like a horse that shows a pleasant, alert expression as it works.

Hansen: Yeah. A horse that you can reward or be friends with but it doesn't try to get in your space. Horses like this accept reward because they're looking to give respect. I don't like a horse that has to have its lips on you. That type of horse has difficulty in paying attention and learning.

Bloom: Well, it has to be suitable for the job it was chosen for. I like a horse that is designed to work. One that you think is pretty when you look at it. One that is strong, agile and balanced. One that feels easy to ride and looks easy to ride. As far as their mind, I like a horse that is confident but not pushy, and a horse that is middle of the road as far as intelligence.

Hansen: I think a horse to a certain degree can ride like its personality. I've had ones that show no expression whatsoever, and they ride like that too. They really didn't like being around people.

Bloom: A dull horse is not inspiring to watch. They don't draw your attention.

Hansen: Sometimes, if they have that little extra personality they have that extra try.

Bloom: A horses mental and physical design will affect its attitude as it works. If they're a little bit physically inadequate they are going to have a mental expression that relates to how they feel about their job. So if they feel that. 'Hey this is easy', they are going to have an easy, confident, 'I'm cool' expression. You're going to feel like, 'Wow, that's a cool horse, I'd love to ride that horse.'

Horse Network: Is there a particular behavior in a horse that you find completely unacceptable. Something that would make you pass him over if you were looking for a horse.

Hansen: If a horse is dishonest.

Bloom: Lack of respect. Ears Pinned. Spoiled.

Horse Network: How would you describe a 'dishonest' horse?

Hansen: A dishonest horse losses it without a good reason. when a trainer has ridden a dishonest horse long enough, it is easy to say 'you can't count on this one'.

Bloom: A dishonest horse is mentally unstable. You can't count on a mentally unstable horse. Some horses you can get a feel for when you've had them long enough that their minds can crack sometimes. Those are the ones that you can never trust. It feels like you're dealing with a roulette wheel. Good horses don't make you wonder what they're going to do.

Horse Network: You are the trainers for the new Horse Network youth team Amanda and Lady ('Imperials Bit O Pine'). Describe where you see them starting and what potential they may have.

Bloom: Amanda is a rider who has limited experience showing. Not high mileage. She is someone who has been exposed to riding and has been conscientious about doing the right thing around her horse. She is a thinker that perhaps has felt a feeling of lacking control. On the positive side, she gets extreme inspiration from these horses. She draws a wonderful energy in feeling things go right with her horse. So she has a pliable future in terms of instructing her. She's very moldable. She needs to learn how to feel control through smarts and position so she can relax. Her alert conscientiousness and positive attitude will give her an edge over a more casual indifferent person that is less concerned with making a good presentation. She will have what it takes once she gets her skills in order to have that extra flair to make a good showing. You have a horse with a reining background. She has good breeding. She's pretty, she's a good enough mover and with that extra element of expression. Our expectations are high for the two. Our expectations are broken down into very reasonable attainable goals. The most wonderful thing here is Amanda's willingness to leave the time line open on the end and leave it adjustable whenever needed. Good things will come because of that. There's planning. There's organized thinking. Productive, smart decision making that isn't totally based on a time line. Things will happen when they are supposed to happen and it will be worth whatever amount of time it took.

Hansen: Lady is nice and handy. We'll bring her along slowly and not sacrifice quality and balance while slowing her down. She has some real concerns rooted in her past but I think she can overcome them. As a horse makes progress it can be better than you thought or worse than you thought. Consistency above all is what we'll be working toward.

Horse Network: How do you feel you compliment each other as a training team?

Hansen: Kris helps me in areas of appearance in a horse show. Refining the look for a show. She's a second set of eyes. She helps me refine the picture to be more competitive. I'm often in a training frame of mind and she helps get me into a showing frame of mind. I can get a horse to do what it's supposed to. Kris helps keep the horse sharper longer by having a fresh eye.

Bloom: Chris is a really helpful training support for me. He is better in a lot of areas and really earns my respect. He has an incredible amount of patience and physical stamina.

Hansen: Kris is particularly good at rejuvenating an older horse. She picks out the things to work on that will make the biggest difference. I really appreciate getting feedback. Everyone benefits from the observations and suggestions from someone that you respect.

Horse Network: Thank you! Our visitors will look forward to updates on the progress Amanda and Lady will be making under your guidance.

Visit Kris Bloom's web site for more information or to contact Bloom and Hansen