Kami, the owner and primary instructor, has been riding for over 35 years, and teaching or learning to teach for most of that time. She began riding at Oldfield School in Maryland, which had a strong Eventing program, lots of clinics and trail rides, and a pony-club based stable management program. In addition, she has a degree in elementary education and experience with handicapped kids, as well as over six years’ experience as an assistant with Theraputic Riding. She has also taken courses in TTeam Touch for horses, and Centered Riding, toward instructor certification.

Thumbs Up Riding School has been in Alachua since 2010, developing the facility on 40 acres and a string of lesson horses.