Our Story
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Founded in 1992, the farm has provided a schedule of Horse Shows through the Spring, Summer and Fall months. Outdoor and indoor arenas are available along with boarding facilities. The Therapeutic riding program (Sunrise Center) is certified and has been featured in the news for its benefits. Come, see all that Sunrise Farm has to offer for the individual, the family and the horse. Sunrise Farms is located in St. Anne, Il on 65 acres. In superb rural surroundings the facility offers a successful training and sales stable of top show jumpers, hunters, and equitation horses. Under the management of Karen Hemza and Dorothy Ford guided by an experienced staff, you will find what you are looking for at our horse boarding facilities. Sunrise Farms is proud to say we are a hunter jumper boarding & training barn in Illinois. We travel to local and national horse shows. Sunrise Farms maintains an active teaching and showing program year round.
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Our Trainer / Karen Hemza
Karen Hemza
Karen began riding when she was 8 years old at Palos Trails in Palos, IL. Not only did this first lesson start her love of horses, but this is where her mom, Dottie, met Arnie, Karen’s future step-father. Arnie was a trainer at Palos Trails and Sunrise Farms for many years.
Arnie bought Karen her first horse, Soda Pop, when she was 8. She says that Soda Pop is the horse that had the most impact on her because he taught her to ride. Karen began teaching lessons at the age of 16 but started working at Palos Trails at a younger age saddling horses and leading trail groups.
Karen spent her younger years building her passion for riding, showing, and working hard at the barn. She has trained with Olympic riders such as Anne Kursinski, Joe Fargis, and more. She says that trainers Ralph Hill and Bill Coaster have had the greatest impact on her riding career.During her teenage years, she was proud to have been the leading rider on the Florida Circuit. Karen is proud of having trained several horses from that beginning that ended up doing high-level jumpers and Grand Prix's.
One such horse was her favorite horse she has ever ridden. She purchased Sherman, a grey OTTB, from a kill pen. He was naughty, difficult, and bucked her off often. She sent him to the cowboys to be broken and then resumed his training.
Sherman proved his worth by participating in Grand Prix's and the money from selling him to the Jayne family put her through college. Sherman was current Olympic level rider, Charlie Jayne’s first Grand Prix horse.
Her love of riding, training, showing, and horses led her to becoming a trainer. She recommends that anyone interested in becoming a trainer must make the decision between owning a barn or to be a trainer at someone else’s barn. Owning a barn requires more work and less riding whereas a trainer who does not own a barn might have more time to ride. Her willingness to work and desire to own a barn led her to purchase Sunrise Farms along with Dottie and Arnie Ford and her husband, Rick Hemza.
Karen began riding when she was 8 years old at Palos Trails in Palos, IL. Not only did this first lesson start her love of horses, but this is where her mom, Dottie, met Arnie, Karen’s future step-father. Arnie was a trainer at Palos Trails and Sunrise Farms for many years.
Arnie bought Karen her first horse, Soda Pop, when she was 8. She says that Soda Pop is the horse that had the most impact on her because he taught her to ride. Karen began teaching lessons at the age of 16 but started working at Palos Trails at a younger age saddling horses and leading trail groups.
Karen spent her younger years building her passion for riding, showing, and working hard at the barn. She has trained with Olympic riders such as Anne Kursinski, Joe Fargis, and more. She says that trainers Ralph Hill and Bill Coaster have had the greatest impact on her riding career.During her teenage years, she was proud to have been the leading rider on the Florida Circuit. Karen is proud of having trained several horses from that beginning that ended up doing high-level jumpers and Grand Prix's.
One such horse was her favorite horse she has ever ridden. She purchased Sherman, a grey OTTB, from a kill pen. He was naughty, difficult, and bucked her off often. She sent him to the cowboys to be broken and then resumed his training.
Sherman proved his worth by participating in Grand Prix's and the money from selling him to the Jayne family put her through college. Sherman was current Olympic level rider, Charlie Jayne’s first Grand Prix horse.
Her love of riding, training, showing, and horses led her to becoming a trainer. She recommends that anyone interested in becoming a trainer must make the decision between owning a barn or to be a trainer at someone else’s barn. Owning a barn requires more work and less riding whereas a trainer who does not own a barn might have more time to ride. Her willingness to work and desire to own a barn led her to purchase Sunrise Farms along with Dottie and Arnie Ford and her husband, Rick Hemza.
