Karly began riding horses when she was five years old.
She grew up showing American Saddlebreds with Mercer Springs Farm in Princeton, West Virginia,
under the direction of Smith, Alexandra, and Sandy Lilly. Each is a World's Champion trainer and rider individually, in addition to the countless World's and National champions produced under their stable banner. Mercer Springs Farm is one of few stables to have won a World's Grand Championship in all three divisions. Smith is also the author of Saddleseat Horsemanship, and served as United Professional
Horsemen's Association President and American Saddlebred Horse & Breeder's Association President.
In the show ring, Karly has partnered with WGC CH Yes It's True,
WCC CH Desert Supreme Kid, WC CH Kentucky Proud, WC CH Perfect Offering,
WCC Deputy's Heir, Lexington Grand Champion hunter Vamoose, and more.
Karly also has experience with AQHA shows, reining,
dressage, jumpers, hunters, and cross country.
Karly currently rides with High Caliber Stables in Greensboro, North Carolina
under the direction of Mary & Evan Orr. As a pair, they won the United Professional Horsemen's
Association Young Trainers of the Year Award. Mary trained and rode WGC CH Our Charming Lady (BHF) to multiple World's Grand Championships, and Evan served on the Board of Directors for ASHBA and as President of the American Saddlebred Horse Association of the Carolinas. They have trained countless World's and National champions, have produced multiple World's and National champions in their breeding program, and have produced several Academy National Champions in their large riding program.
Karly graduated with Honors from Wake Forest University, which was ranked #5
University in America for undergraduate teaching her graduating year. She completed two degrees -
one in Studio Art, covering graphic design, digital art, photography, drawing, painting, and more.
Her second degree was in Communications, covering marketing, advertising, creative writing,
rhetorical theory, qualitative & quantitative market research, filmmaking, and more.
She also took computer science classes in coding, website design, user experience,
and user interface from industry-leading tech professors.
After college, Karly worked for and learned from EP & Co., a top advertising agency.
While there, she worked on elite national advertising accounts such as Chick-Fil-A, Disney XD,
Denny's, Voya, and more. She was engaged in both the creative and strategic side of marketing,
including graphic design, copy writing, market research, strategy, publishing, and managing.
Karly graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with awards including
the CALI Award of Excellence in Litigation Strategy & Planning, the Gismondi Fellowship,
and the Equal Justice America Fellowship. In addition to the standard course of legal studies,
she pursued specialized education in Intellectual Property Law, including top-level courses in
Copyright Law and Trademark Law that supplement her design work.
Karly is actively licensed to practice law.
Karly founded Saddlethreads in 2019, and has been a force in equestrian design since 2014.
Karly is a seasoned veteran in the equestrian design industry, with a portfolio including
magazine ad design, digital ad design, logo design, website design, photography, fine art, and more.
Karly is most known for her work developing Saddlethreads from the ground up, but her work
has also been published in National Horseman, Saddle & Bridle, Horse World, Saddle Horse Report, The International Show Horse, HORSE Magazine, Horse Illustrated, EQUUS, and US Equestrian Magazine.
Karly has contributed countless hours of volunteer work over years with the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeder's Association, including multiple years on the Marketing Committee, invention and development of
the ASHBA ProShop by Saddlethreads, graphic design for ASHBA social media, website, printed materials,
national magazine publications, and nation-wide ASHBA promotions of the American Saddlebred horse.
Karly's fine art has been displayed in The American Saddlebred Museum, Hanes Gallery, Brainerd Gallery, Federation Gallery Australia, Sawtooth Gallery, Brainerd Gallery, Bowling House of Art, and Start Gallery.
"I chose to study hard and bring the best back home to the horse industry.
My passion is here, with people who are passionate about the horse.
My goal for my career is to create excellence in equestrian deisgn,
and put that to work for horse trainers, breed associations,
stable owners, publications, veterinarians, farriers - any and all
equine-based business owners, to elevate our industry and take us forward.
The future of business is online, and our industry's graphic design
is the first impression that most potential new horse industry clients will see.
Let's make it world-class."
Karly's combination of extensive experience, top education, understanding of the show horse industry, and genuine industry connections come together to make Saddlethreads the perfect choice for you.
Work with a designer, a team, and a business you can trust.
