LEXINGTON, Ky. — Teresa Kackert, trainer at the Menifee-based All American Horses has been named Instructor of the Year by the Certified Horsemanship Association.

Kackert accepted the honor during the annual awards banquet, held Oct. 25 during the 47th Annual CHA International Conference at the Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel. This award is given to an outstanding CHA certified instructor who demonstrates exceptional professional, safe, effective and rewarding lessons for their students. Hundreds of Instructors from North America compete for this award. Their students from over the years send in nominations and their personal testimonies about their instructors and explain why their instructor should be awarded this prestigious honor. Kackert, a member of CHA for over 25 years, is at the highest level, the “Clinic Instructor,” for both Standard English and Western Clinics. She is also a Certified Equine Facilities Manager.

“I am so honored to receive the instructor of the year award for 2014 from the Certified Horsemanship Association,” Kackert said. “This organization has done so much to move our industry forward in such a positive and professional manner, I am privileged to be a part of it. Receiving this award was even more meaningful to me since this year is the Chinese Year of the Horse!”

She added that the actual award — a trophy belt buckle — was icing on the cake.

“I was ecstatic when I saw the award was a belt buckle, since winning a belt buckle has always been on my bucket list!,” she said. “I am excited to be part of CHA now and into the future as certified instructors continue to improve the quality of instruction and help to ensure positive experiences for everyone involved in our amazing industry. Thank you CHA and everyone who makes CHA the incredible organization that it is, for all the hard work you have done, and for bestowing such a prestigious honor upon me.”

Kackert’s diverse group of amateur and professonal students had sterling testimony of her, including:

“She is one of the most knowledgeable riding instructors I have ever known. She has an eye for seeing what we need to master so that we can keep making progress each time we ride. Her patient and subtle reminders while working with students are all part of her exceptional teaching abilities.”

“I have seen her give lessons to various age and experience levels of riders both in groups and individually, all the while keeping a calm, safe and positive learning environment. Her communication skills are clear and professional.”

“She is a consummate professional with excellent knowledge of both horses and people combined with an ability to clearly explain concepts to a variety of students. She has a great understanding of bio-mechanics of both horse and human and the ability to see something that is not working right and knows what solution it will take to fix it. Because she has ridden and trained so many horses, she has an innate sense to know what the student’s horse is doing and why and then help the student.”