ABOUT LAKE FOREST FARMS

Head trainer Cindy Devore Kuhn comes from a long line of equestrians, starting with her grandfather, then mother (a national champion), and siblings. At age four she began riding at the prestigious Oak Brook Stables in Oak Brook, Illinois. This 10,000-acre facility hosted world-class horse shows like the Pan American Games, the US Equestrian Trials, the World Cup, and the Oak Brook National Horse Show itself. 

 

At age seven, Cindy was invited to join the Oak Brook “A” show team. While there, she won multiple Illinois state championships in the 13 & Under, and 18 & Under, divisions, riding her crowd-favorite young mare, Nickles Worth. She also garnered an Illinois state championship in the First Year Green Hunter Division, where for the first time she competed against professionals.

 

Cindy graduated to the national show circuit at age ten. Under the guidance of renowned trainer Rickey Harris of Stonehedge Farm, she won championships at many of the country’s most competitive shows including those at the Grosse Pointe and Bloomfield Hills Hunt Clubs and at the Chagrin Valley, Lake Placid, Devon Horse Shows as well as the famous Wellington International Horse Shows held every winter in West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

At age twelve, after showing in various national hunter/jumper finals, she qualified and was invited to compete at Madison Square Garden for the first time in the 18 & Under Junior Hunter division. Because of MSG’s limited space, she was one of only 30 riders chosen from among 10,000 applicants. 

 

After several more years on the national show circuit, Cindy returned home to help manage her family’s equestrian business in Barrington Hills, Illinois. There she took up buying, selling, and riding horses as well as teaching students. Still competing at age sixteen, she qualified four of their clients’ horses in the national “Indoors” finals. She made history as the youngest rider in the 75-year history of the Washington International Horse Show to become both First Year Green Champion and Grand Hunter Champion against such legends in the sport as Rodney Jenkins, Bernie Traurig and Leslie Burr to name a few.  

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After college, while living in Chicago and Lake Forest, Illinois, Cindy continued in the horse business by judging, giving clinics, teaching students of trainers away at shows, and “catch riding” when needed. In 2015, her family moved to Silicon Valley where she found a warm reception in the local equestrian community. 

 

Known for her keen eye for a horse’s athletic potential, and for her ability to get the best out of her students, Cindy’s proud her horses and students have proved themselves time and time again by winning multiple state championships year in and year out.