Color Horse Art
Middle Way Equine.com
With Karen Sholten Maas | FJORD HORSES | EQUINE BODYWORK | JUDGING | WANT ADS | TRAINING
"The Middle Way becomes on it's deepest levels an attitude that seeks to find the delicate,
infinitely subtle point of absolute equilibrium between all extremes and polarities."
                                    
   - - from "Many People, Many Faiths" by Robert S. Ellwood, Jr.
News from the North...

Things have changed since my last site update, and my life took a sharp turn that has required many changes.

I was badly injured in an auto accident in June of 2010, which happened while I was trying to get back to work after several injuries and surgeries had side-lined me for a while. As I was unable to maintain my breeding stock, they were sold, with the exception of Luna and Gandalf.

Kjor Elianna is well and happy and in foal to OF Tresko for 2012, and now lives with Misha Nogha in Oregon. Misha is a good soul who sends me Elianna photos and reports regularly on how much she loves the EllieBellie.

Elianna's filly, DunDarling Glorianna, has been sold to new owners in Idaho.

Annedahl and her grey colt, DunDarling Erdahl, were sold to Corgi Hill Farm in Minnesota, where Anni is currently in foal for 2012 to our RT Gandalf's sire, MVF Erlend.

DunDarling Glinda and DunDarling Serendipity now belong to Gunn Johansen and are both back in Michigan. They are an absolutely stunning pair of grey full-sisters, and as Gunn hauls for lessons now and again, I get to play with them!

I am in physical therapy, and am awaiting the next surgery that I hope will have me up and running again. I plan to be able to start judging again in July 2012. Some more miniature horses have come into my life, and I am looking forward to more time in the cart as summer of 2012 begins, with saddle time coming.

My dearly cherished AQHA mare, Classic Cadence, (Classic Country x Twilight Katie), passed from this earth at the much too young to die age of 19. I miss her more than I can say.

The good news is that Gandalf has been a good boy at the stallion station, and we have plenty of quality frozen semen for breeding to approved mares. Gandalf babies win, in hand and in performance!

Karen

Snort Pic
Darkly Dangerous
(aka Snortli)
NMAWHC Year End Champion Stallion
(photo by Terri Petterson)
"From Beginning to Zen"

The Middle Way is the median where all disciplines overlap, the source from which they originate. It is the center point from which the trends swing. The Middle Way is where Saddleseat meets Western meets Dressage meets Hunter meets Natural Horsemanship. This invokes balance, centering and grounding of both the horse and rider. The techniques and methods utilized by practitioners of the Middle Way are hallmarked by respect and affection for the horse. An essential component of this method is understanding the biomechanics of the horse.

Karen Sholten Maas, of Traverse City, Michigan, USA, is a full-time judge, trainer, instructor, and equine bodywork practitioner. She has been working in the horse industry since 1976, and has judging credentials for a wide variety of national breed organizations. In addition to breed shows, she also judges draft horses, hunters, dressage and 4-H events. Karen is an Approved Test Administrator for the Classical Dressage Riders Association to Level Six. Her diverse experience has lead to a client base that includes working with Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Paso Finos, Arabians, Appaloosas, Norwegian Fjord Horses, Warmbloods, and Quarter Horses.

Norwegian Fjord Horses

Karen and her husband, Al, breed and raise Norwegian Fjord Horses at their farm in Michigan. All of their homebreds have won multiple show and year-end championships...despite the time limitations of a very busy schedule of judging and training for her clients! Stallion InformationMares • Foals • Breeding and Sales

Gandolf photo
K. Maas and RT Gandalf
Luna Photo
K. Maas and Rads Luna
photo by Gunn Johansen
Tonka Photo
DunDarling Tatonka
Bosal Horse Art
K. Maas and Classic Cadence
Integrated Equine Bodywork Therapy

A synthesis of traditional massage technique, passive and active stretching, the principals of equine osteopathy and the healing energies of Reiki are coupled with structured exercise to promote a more comfortable, balanced athlete and as an aid to the healing of injuries.

Halter Horse Pic
Classic Bar Frosty
Judging Services: Karen S. Maas, Horsemaster

Karen has worked to develop and maintain judging credentials for a variety of breeds in which she has a particular fondness and special interest. Her goal is to always improve her knowledge and understanding, and to share that with the breeders and owners of the horses she judges or works with. She also strives to have a positive impact on the standards by which breeding and performance stock is selected, within the traditions of those breeds. Her commitment to excellence in all areas of breeding, horsemanship and horse husbandry make her an asset to the entire horse community.

Carded with: ABRA, AMHA, NFHR, POAC, PtHA, USEF, CDRA, Dressage, Draft, Driving, certified 4-H judge for MI, IL, and IN.

FJORD HORSES | EQUINE BODYWORK | JUDGING | WANT ADS | TRAINING

This site is updated regularly. Please come back for more expanded information, additional services and events.
If you would like more information now, please email: Middle Way Equine Services. Thank You!

copyright 2012 | updated 3/7/12
this site created by Cyndy Shaw, graphic designer cptshaw@freeway.net

PHOTO CREDITS:
Banner at top of page (left to right): K. Maas and Son of a Dun (aka Bobby), 1989 NMAWHC Year End Champion Working Hunter Over Fences.
K. Maas and Classic Cadence (aka CeeCee); 1996 Grand Champion Mare, ABRA Congress Warm-Up under both judges.
K. Maas and Cimmarron, 1985 LSAAM High Point Tennessee Walking Horse.
K. Maas and Son of a Dun (aka Bobby), NMES High Score Dressage Champion (photo by M. Kaiser).
Dawn Schwartzfisher Bickham and Vin Reisling, winner of the Buckeye Morgan Challenge Saddleseat Equitation (photo by Linda Quillen Wollaber)
K. Maas and Son of a Dun (aka Bobby), NMAWHC Year End Champion Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunt Seat Pleasure.
K. Maas and Classic Bar Frosty (aka Buddy), 1998 MBHA Futurity Reserve Champion Stallion.
Dawn Schwartzfisher Bickham and Woodvalley Signature, winner of the Buckeye Morgan Challenge Classic Pleasure Driving (photo by Linda Quillen Wollaber)
Banner at bottom of page (left to right): Spinner on Scottie, Rads Luna and Annedahl, Charlotte Lefdal and her New Forest Pony Rosa, Gandolf and Luna.