During the October 14, 2026 USAWE Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved the recommendations from the Licensed Officials Committee to advance Kelly Krambs from “L” judge to recorded “r” judge, effective immediately. Recorded “r” judges are eligible to officiate over USAWE licensed competitions up through Intermediate level classes (Level 1 to Level 5). Congratulations Kelly!
Kelly is based in Paso Robles, CA and has been a lifelong equestrian. She grew up riding an array of breeds and disciplines including Gymkhana, Western Trail/pleasure, English pleasure, Hunter/Jumpers, Natural Horsemanship, and after college pursued developing her partners in Dressage and now Working Equitation too. She has been a successful competitor on self-trained horses, and earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals on a horse she developed from a 9 month old foal, and her USAWE Bronze and Silver medals on her current mount, Relic. She has been awarded State/Regional/National championships in both Dressage and Working Equitation with scores up to 84% at Level 5 in WE in 2020.
Professionally, Kelly has been a veterinarian for nearly 30 years. She focused the majority of her career in small animal emergency medicine which allowed her to pursue her passion of training and competing horses on the side. She has worked as a USEF and FEI Permitted Treating veterinarian at numerous equine competitions in a wide variety of disciplines across the State of California for many years previously. During that time, she also had the fun opportunity to observe and meet top equestrians and their partners just before their major wins in their sports…. including riders such as Debbie McDonald with Brentina and Gina Miles with McKinlaigh, and the WEG USA Gold Medal winning vaulting team members and horses, as well as several other teams.
Kelly was first aware of the sport of Working Equitation in 2011/12 after seeing videos of the sport and traveling to Spain. However, it was not until about 2017/18 that she was first introduced to WE in the USA after a friend suggested that she come watch a local show hosted by WE trainer, Katrina Sanders. From that moment, Kelly was hooked! She witnessed the many benefits of the training phases and horsemanship skills needed in WE, that is the very essence of the sport, and how the sport itself can be utilized to develop healthy partnerships amongst horses and riders in any discipline. Kelly has been volunteering and further educating herself in the sport of WE since the Licensed Officials seminar in San Diego in 2019. She is excited to now represent USAWE as an “r” judge, and looks forward to growing together with the sport of WE in the USA and its influence and growth across the globe as well.