Southern Blues Equestrian Center

Owners Christian and McKrell Baier provide multi-discipline training and excellent horse care with an emphasis on horsemanship.

Christian Baier

Born in Sweden, Christian attended the University of Agriculture in Flyinge and Stromsholm, SWE, and there earned a diploma in equine studies in 1996 under the tutelage of such masters as:

Kyra Kyrklund, Bo Jena, EvaCarin Oscarsson (dressage)
Peter Eriksson, Jens Fredricson, Sylve Soderstrand (jumping)
William McDonald (showing horses in hand)

Christian’s career after university began in a Verden, Germany stable specializing in training problem horses and continued in South Germany at a large stud farm for jumping horses. Over the course of his career, Christian has been a rider, trainer, teacher, and stud and riding school manager from Europe to Bermuda, and now here in the States.

Accolades:

1993-1994 Working student for Gilbert Bochmann; Lastrup, GER
1995 Completed Swedish Course Design Program
1996 Graduated University of Ag Sciences in Equine Studies
2004 Awarded International Equestrian Passport from British Horse Society
2008 Trainer of the Year, Bermuda; traveling internationally as the trainer for the Bermuda Equestrian Federation
2008 completed Aachen School of Course Design, Aachen, GER
2008, 2009 completed Aachen School of Course Design
2009 completed World Trainer's Forum program, Aachen, GER

McKrell Baier

McKrell is a native Memphian and received a BS from the University of Miami in Biology/Animal Science/Anthropology in 1999. As a professional horseman, McKrell has shown winning hunters, grand prix horses, and coached successful students around the country since January of 2000.

McKrell has received instruction and mentoring from some of the great horsemen of our time including, Melanie Smith Taylor, Joe Fargis, and Albert Voorn among many others. Learning from these many and varied professionals, along with her continuing education in equestrian arts and sciences, has helped shape her current theory and practices.

Currently working toward a license in course design, McKrell has assisted such prestigious events as the 2008 Olympic show jumping trials in Wellington, FL, Spruce Meadows, CAN and Masstricht, NED. She is currently the course designer for the Emerging Athletes Program being held at venues around the country to select and groom our promising young riders for future spots on the United States Equestrian Team.

Accolades:

1996-2003 multiple Grand Prix show jumping placings
1998 Individual 4th place North American Young Rider’s Championships
2008 Legacy Cup Hunter winner
2008,2009 completed Aachen School of Course Design
2009 completed World Trainer’s Forum program, Aachen, GER

Joe Fargis (USA) - "Great people!

Arno Gego, (GER) - "McKrell's and Christian's School is a most persuading example of how to bring the best from all continents together for improving equestrian skills."

Melanie Smith-Taylor (USA) - "Mckrell and Christian have the passion and desire to not only ride and teach well but to be complete horsemen."

Albert Voorn (NED) - “Dedicated people to do a good job.”

"Aachen show grounds with Frank Kemperman, General Manager CHIO Aachen"