At a young age, Kay Altheuser’s parents gave her a Christmas present she’ll never forget…horseback riding lessons. That present eventually lead to a full-fledged career as a horse trainer and over the years her passion for horses has grown even stronger. She says, "There’s a sense of companionship…the horse doesn’t talk back. It’s a nice warm fuzzy thing."

Today, Kay trains horses and riders at Leone Equestrians in Sacramento. Her students range in age from 5 years old to 60 years old. The classes cover the full spectrum of horseback riding from walking, trotting, cantering, and jumping. Some of her students are simply sharpening their skills while others go on to compete in statewide horse shows. Kay says there are countless benefits for people of all ages. She explains, "I see in some of them a huge boost in confidence and physical improvements. They’re stronger and healthier and they learn a sense of responsibility."

Kay has worked at Leone Equestrians for the past ten years and she puts in ten hours a day, six days a week. So, you may be wondering if she has any spare time at all. Well, she does have a little and that’s when she focuses on another favorite hobby. Every Monday evening, Kay sings her heart out with the Sacramento Choral Society. The chorus is composed of 140 people from all walks of life. Together, they practice show tunes and other classics in preparation for local sold-out performances. Kay attributes her love of music to her parents as well. She says, "My father was a choral director and a voice teacher. Both of my parents played the piano."

Although singing and horseback riding may appear unrelated, Kay believes there is a strong connection between the two. She explains, "A lot of people have found that if they have the radio playing in a barn, the horses stay a little quieter. As you’re riding around and cantering, you need to feel some sort of rhythm and you need to stay on beat. That translates into music and the choir."

Kay also encourages her students to sing along. This relaxes the horses and the riders before a lesson. So, guess what I did before getting a few riding tips? You guessed it …I sang along or at least tried too! Take it from me, this relaxation technique worked wonders!

For more information about the Sacramento Choral Society, visit this website:

www.sacramentochoral.com.