Elvenstar Founder, Head Coach, Instructor
Regional Show Director, Trainer, Coach
Our Philosophy
Good horsemanship requires compassion, respect, patience, a sense of responsibility, a desire to learn and a positive attitude – attributes which are important in any walk of life.
James Hagman
Elvenstar Founder | Head Coach | Instructor
James Hagman is the Founder, Head Coach and Instructor of Elvenstar. As founder, he not only laid the foundation, but also presented and developed each aspect of the business.
His systematic teaching emphasizes the art of communication between the horse and the rider. He has a passion to his teaching style that is very positive and enthusiastic. Building confidence and poise is a top priority. Jim’s training and coaching excellence has played a role in a long list of successful riders including top placings and wins at the most successful competitions in North America.
With an extensive and varied horsemanship background from Western to dressage, Jim has been trained and mentored by some of the world’s elite traditional and professional horseman. Additionally he works with many of the most world class trainers in North America, Europe and Latin America.
He has been featured in many national magazines including Practical Horseman and the Chronicle of the Horse amongst others. He is also a part time coach at Stanford University.
CONTACT JAMES HAGMAN
Main: (805) 529-2800
Fax: (805) 857-5519
james@elvenstar.com
Kay Altheuser
Regional Show Director | Trainer | Coach
In 2000 Kay joined Jim Hagman and the Elvenstar team. As Head of Elvenstar’s Regional Program, Kay has helped to coach students to victories in the USEF Medal and Maclay finals, Zone 10 Medal Finals, LAHJA and SFHJA Medal Finals, Jr Hunter Finals, and numerous championships from local to national levels. Kay has taken several Elvenstar riders through the the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program since its inception in 2008, coached numerous students to wins in the LAHJA Horsemastership competition, and is very involved with the equestrian community.
Currently she is President of the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association (LAHJA) and serves on the USHJA Zone 10 Committee.
Kay is a United States Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer and holds a national “R” license for judging hunters and equitation with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
Background
A native of southern California, at the age of 15 Kay began as a working student for Liz and Lew Helms at the Los Angeles Children’s Riding Center. Through Lew Helm’s contacts, her outside influences included Jimmy Williams, Clyde Kennedy, and Gene Lewis. Within a few years she was teaching lessons, riding, competing successfully on the “A” circuit, and for the ensuing ten years was head instructor at Ahead With Horses, a riding program for the disabled.
Kay studied Animal Science and Journalism at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, where she was the captain of the intercollegiate equestrian team as well as manager of the intercollegiate horse shows held on campus.
She spent two decades working for many of the top trainers in California including Jane Shaw, Mike Neilsen, Victor Hugo-Vidal, and Mark Mullen, as well as ten years with Rudy Leone at Leone Equestrian in Sacramento. As a part of the Sacramento equestrian community, Kay served as Vice President with the Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper Association (SAHJA) for several years and is also a SAHJA approved judge. Through this extensive experience, over the years Kay learned the intricacies of successful breeding, training and competition programs.
Contact Kay Altheuser
Main: (805) 529-2800
Mobile: (805) 857-5456
kay@elvenstar.com