Karen Owen

Mounted Police Senior Riding Instructor, Also International Three Day Event Competitor

Mounted Police Senior Riding Instructor, Also International Three Day Event Competitor

About Karen
– Karen was an Australian representative in Three Day Eventing 1999 in the Trans Tasman in NZ (, when she had a 3 month old baby). She was the first nursing mum on an Australian team and was short listed for the Sydney Olympics.

Karen is a Retired Sergeant and Senior Riding Instructor for the NSW Mounted Police (34 years), led the Police Musical Ride for the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant.

Karen has also been awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM) – Australia Day Honours list 2014. Karen is also an Instructor and SSTA.

Karen is a current Volunteer in Policing (VIP) as an instructor and a consultant for the NSW Mounted Police. She also is a current licensed Race Horse Trainer and track work rider.

She owns and manages a Warmblood and Thoroughbred stud with her Veterinarian husband Adrian. Karen has also provided expert opinion and evidence in Coronial, Supreme Court and Work Cover equestrian matters.

Karen’s first Boss of the NSW Mounted Police, the late Sergeant Don Rowland was an excellent horseman and a big supporter of hers. In a very traditional male dominated work place he gave her the chance to be the first of two females to perform the Police Musical Ride and to tent peg. Karen also become the first female instructor and horse trainer in the oldest continuous Mounted Police Force in the world and she was the first female Sergeant in the NSW Mounted Police. The riding skills and horse training experience she gained during her early years in the Mounted Police contributed greatly to her success in the Eventing world.

To Listen to Karen Owen on iTunes – Click Here

Or Listen below

Karen’s Favourite Inspirational Quote
– When nothing goes right go left.

Who Has Inspired Karen
– Sergeant Don Rowland
– Matt Ryan
– Stuart Tinney
– Heath Ryan
– Robert Stewart

About This Episode
– Karen discusses becoming a police officer and riding for the Mounted Police and the selection criteria for the horse to be in the Mounted Police.

Time Stamps
01:17 – When nothing goes right go left.
02:08 – A horse mad little girl,who had riding lessons at Ryde Pony Club
03:36 – Karen’s journey through working with the Police Force to competing
05:26 – Shortlisted in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics
06:40 – Core skills to be a Mounted Police person
08:32 – Love working with horses
09:27 – How Karen decided to join the police force
11:06 – How Sergeant Don Rowland inspired Karen
12:34 – Riding ‘Antiga’ (Bradman) inspired Karen
13:40 – Winning her first competition Two Star Locinvar, going to New Zealand
14:54 – Working in the Mounted Police
15:59 – Training within Mounted Police – riding as a team, riding a variety of horses, learning about horses
19:22 – Horse selection criteria for the Mounted Police
24:03 – Farm near Wingham, dressage, low level eventing, training racehorses
25:33 – If you want to anything with horses, remember it is a lifestyle
Contact: see details below

Karen’s Contact Details
Phone: 0419 610 864 or +61 419 610 864
Email: adrianjo1@bigpond.com

Music
BenSound.com

When Karen is a return guest on Horse Chats, what question would you like to ask her?
(Please leave comment below)