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By all accounts the sport horse industry is alive and flourishing in the Pacific Northwest. Top trainers and instructors can be found from Bellingham to Ashland, from British Columbia to Boise, and many points in between. Upper-level dressage horses, eventers and hunters can command prices in the six figures, and this year, Washington state boasted not one, but four Olympic Eventing contenders.

But it wasn’t always so. Thirty years ago, few horsemen in the northwest had more than a vague understanding of what dressage was, or that eventing, an equestrian sport open at the Olympic level to military officers only, had, in 1952, been made available to civilians as well.

One of those few, someone who’s been around since those early days, is trainer, Keith Schramm. A native of southern California, Schramm grew up riding Saddlebreds, and at age 14 became National Youth Champion. He moved to Oregon for college and rode on the University of Oregon equestrian team while pursuing his bachelor’s degree. After he received his master’s degree from Southern Oregon University in the mid-‘70s, a job offer brought him to Portland; soon afterwards, his lifelong love for horses brought him to Lake Oswego Hunt Club.

Keith had discovered jumping during his days at the U of O, so when Julie Hook arranged for a representative of the United States Equestrian Team to come and talk to club members about the up-and-coming sport of eventing, he was intrigued. The presenter was Jack Le Goff, and that weekend changed Keith’s life. As he listened to the former Olympian speak of the USET’s desire to produce horses and riders who could compete against the world’s best, Keith knew, beyond a doubt, that this was what he wanted to do.

Fortunately, his interest in the new sport coincided closely with his acquisition of a young Thoroughbred gelding. The bay colt Tyzack turned out to have both the athleticism and aptitude required for the upper levels and it wasn’t long before the pair was cleaning up at all the top competitions on the west coast. Soon there was nowhere to go but back east.

“It was so different then,” Keith reminisces. “No one had any money so we scrimped and saved, shared expenses whenever we could.” He pauses and laughs. “We were like gypsies, going from event to event, exercising horses for people—anything to help pay the bills. It was great fun.” Their efforts paid off and, in time, Keith and Tyzack found themselves heading for the USET Selection Trials for the 1984 Olympics. Things were looking good until Tyzack took the proverbial “bad step” coming off the trailer, damaging his suspensory ligament. The Olympic dream was over, but not Keith’s love of the sport or of the horses.

Over the years he has continued to ride, train, teach and compete. He operates his Alderbrook Farms out of Lake Oswego Hunt Club, and at one time or another, he’s been President, Vice President, and Manager at LOHC. He’s been a full-time instructor and trainer since 1990 as well as the driving force behind the Hunt Club’s Summer Horse Trials, now in its 18th year. He also judges, designs courses and is an AHSA-approved steward.

His favorite aspect of his horse involvement, though, is working with students. “I love teaching,” he says. “It’s all about getting a horse and human together, working with them through some hard spot, until one day—it all comes together.” His students benefit from that passion. “He’s a gifted teacher,” says friend and student, Kim Hixson. “He stresses the camaraderie between horse and rider, and has the marvelous skill of laying a very solid and progressive foundation—he doesn’t skip pieces…He develops thinking riders.” Many of his students have gone on to success in the eventing world, among them Kim’s daughter, Jenni, who received her “A” pony club rating under Keith’s tutelage and is now eventing her horse Wyatt at the Preliminary Level.

In looking back over the years, Keith realizes many things have changed. “In some ways, things are a lot different,” he says. “You used to be able to buy a young Thoroughbred off the track and have a good chance of turning him into a serious dressage contender. Not anymore—at least not at the upper levels. They have to have the talent and a good mind. The quality of the horses has gone way up.”

“People’s expectations seem more intense, too,” he adds. “Sometimes there’s a lack of perspective, of patience—we have people arguing over stops at Pre-Novice! But there’s no teacher like experience.” And experience, as we all know, takes time. But involvement in the competitive horse world is still good, and he’s quick to acknowledge that he himself was pretty impatient in his earlier days.

The competitive streak that made him a national champion in his teen years and later led to his eventing success has followed Keith into his current, expanding endeavors. He sells real estate and also does some acting in commercials and industrial films. But three years ago, a big change came about when Keith was encouraged by fellow horseman Cynthia Bayles to return to an earlier love—competitive running. (Cynthia herself holds records in both the 800 and 1500 meters!) Never one to do things half-way, Keith jumped with both feet into US Track & Field Master’s competition. He hired a personal trainer and began studying the science, art and craft of physical excellence. Again, his efforts have paid off.

“I’m running faster now than I did in high school,” says the 54 year-old, “and I feel great.” So great, in fact, that in 2003, Keith was fourth in the 1500 meters at the National Track and Field Championships in Eugene, and has set his sights on the 2005 World Master’s championships in Alberta, Canada. After that, if things go well, it’ll be on to Spain for the European World Championships.

Involvement in Masters competition has made a huge impact on Keith’s attitude about life and aging. “We have it all wrong in this country,” he explains. “We think by the time you’re 50, you’re pretty much done for. I believed that for awhile and it was depressing!” The trip to Eugene for the 2003 Championships changed his attitude forever. “There were two 99 year-olds racing each other—and they weren’t shuffling, they were running! I thought, if those two guys can be running at 99, I’ve got no excuse!”

This willingness to change, to continue learning and growing, is a philosophy Keith hopes to follow throughout his life. “Things turn out the way they’re supposed to,” he says. “Even Tyzack’s bad step off the trailer. At the time it was terrible, but if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have come back to Portland. I wouldn’t have gotten married and had a son—and I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

Between raising his son, riding, running and the occasional acting job, Keith’s days are full, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I am so excited about living,” he adds. “I’ve never felt as good as I do right now, and if I can just keep riding and running, I’ll be happy.”

[Learn more about Keith Schramm at www.alderbrookfarms.com]