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Returning from a riding lesson.
go for a trail ride. “It really is something that can feed your soul,” Everson said. “You’d be surprised how many moms bring their kiddos out here during the day, just to feed carrots to the horses and see the animals. It’s something fun that is not an expensive outing – you can come have a picnic out here and just enjoy some fresh air.” Everson dedicates her life – “24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” she said – to ensure that Sunset Trails Stables runs successfully. Her father, Glen, has entrusted a great deal of autonomy in allowing her to run the business, as she handles everything from website management to payroll to replacing light fixtures and fixing plumbing issues. “Working at Sunset Trails, you learn so much more. It’s not just teaching horse riding lessons or supervising camp,” Everson said. “You’re learning about problem solving, customer service, public speaking. You’ve got to think on your toes, and you’ve got to be friendly when you’re in the nature of dealing with livestock.” But, Everson also emphasized, she has a dedi- cated team comprised largely of staff members who started in riding lessons as young children at Sunset Trails before advancing into employ-
life. She describes the history of horses and how it has evolved, saying that horses are still very useful and still serve a purpose in the 21st century, “at least in my life.” “Sometimes, I think it’s a bit of a dying sport,” Cairnes said, “but every now and then, people surprise me in wanting to know more about the animals.” A Lifelong Dedication: The Next Generation at Sunset Trails After graduating from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 2013, Everson returned home to run Sunset Trails, where today she is responsible for the daily operations and management, including the leadership of a team of horse riding instructors from ages 16 through mid-twenties. While studying at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Everson would be away from home and Sunset Trails for several weeks at a time, but upon returning home, she immediately felt at ease because of the nostalgic and peaceful sights and smells. She described the comforting process, especially in the fall, of taking a step back and turning off her phone to
The Relatable Bond Found Withing Horse Riding Kara Cairnes can certainly relate to Everson’s experiences: Growing up about five minutes away from Sunset Trails, Cairnes began riding at age 3. Now 21, she works full-time at Sunset Trails, teaching several horse riding courses. On a rare day of sunshine and 56-degree weather on a Saturday in January, Cairnes responded to a mother’s request to take her daughter for a trail ride. Cairnes described horse riding as an emotional outlet for life’s tougher days, as she can ride for several hours at a time and not worry about outside responsibilities. As she teaches Sunset Trails’ adult horsemanship class, Cairnes often hears from her students how they are fulfilling a childhood dream that they – at one time – thought had passed. As others get to know Cairnes, she said, she enjoys explaining to them why she rides horses and why she wants to ride for the rest of her
30 VINTAGEKC SPRING 2018
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