I wanted to share my journey with UDJC and where it all began because I have had so many people asking- and I haven’t had a chance to sit down and share my journey with the organization.
Over the next several weeks will share more about my journey with UDJC over the last year and hopefully this helps all of you get a better idea of the organization from a different perspective.
Some of the best opportunities in life don’t start with a business plan — they start with relationships, conversations, and a shared vision for doing things better.
My journey to becoming the official photographer for United Dressage & Jumping Club (UDJC) is one of those stories.
It didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen by accident. It grew out of years of knowing the people behind UDJC, experiencing the challenges of horse shows firsthand, and believing that our industry was ready for something new.
Meeting David & Karoline— Before UDJC Ever Existed
Long before United Dressage & Jumping Club was a name on a show calendar, I met David Reichert when he and his wife, Karoline, first moved to Texas. As a matter of fact our meeting was a bit of a chance encounter. He had a meeting set up with another photographer, and that person didn’t show up to their meeting on time. He happened to see me sitting at my booth at Great Southwest Equestrian Center and walked up to introduce himself.
When he introduced himself, I actually knew immediately who he was, as he owned a tack company in Germany and one of my good friends who was living in Germany had brought some of their products back to the US…although at first I thought to myself, “There is no way this is who is sitting here right now, this guy shouldn’t be here in Texas.” I actually texted my friend in Germany to ask if this German guy talking to me was really THAT David.
I started out by doing photos for their company, training business, and of course his family. Over the years, I have even had horses in training with David, and taken lessons with him.
Through those experiences, I didn’t just know David as trainer — I knew him as someone who cared about horsemanship, rider development, and the future of the sport. I learned so much about the differences in the horse industry in the US vs Europe though conversations and watching horses go at horse shows.
And over time, I also heard something else.
Frustration.
The Conversations That Sparked a New Kind of Horse Show
For years, David talked openly about what wasn’t working in the horse show world in the United States.
The rising costs.
The high cost to produce young horses in the US.
The lack of accessibility for everyday riders.
The feeling that showing was all about how fancy your horse was and not being a good horse person.
We had countless conversations about what riders actually needed — shows that were professional but welcoming, competitive but supportive, and focused on rewarding the best riders.
Shows that could get more horse and riders in the arena more often.
At the time, they were just conversations.
Until one day, they weren’t.
“That’s Enough — I’m Changing Horse Shows.”
I still remember the phone call.
David called me and said something along the lines of:
“Karinda, that’s enough. I’m done complaining about horse shows. If nobody else is going to change them, I am.”
He went on to explain that he was creating a brand-new organization — one that would bring dressage and jumping together in a way that made sense, made showing more accessible, and brought back the joy of competing.
Then he said something I’ll never forget:
“If I’m doing this, you’re coming with me. And we’re doing photography differently at these shows too.”
In that moment, UDJC wasn’t just a show organization — it was a vision.
And I was all in.
From Idea to Reality — In a Matter of Days
Within the next week, I had copies of the very first UDJC rule book in my hands.
What followed were countless hours on the phone with David as he walked me through every detail of what he was building:
• How the shows would run
• How classes would be structured
• How riders of all levels would feel welcome
• How costs would be kept accessible
• How the experience would feel different from traditional shows
This wasn’t just another circuit — it was a complete rethinking of the horse show experience.
And from the beginning, photography wasn’t an afterthought. From that initial conversation I started talking to riders about what they truly wanted at shows- about what they wished horse show photography was.
I decided I wanted to create a photography experience that made all riders at UDJC shows feel like they have a private photographer documenting their journey in the arena at every show… riders didn’t just want the same old horizontal photo over the jump, they wanted something different — I also wanted to make reels coverage a standard thing at horse shows going forward and give all riders the opportunity to have those Instagram worthy clips to showcase their time at the horse shows.
Why Being Part of UDJC Means So Much to Me
Because I wasn’t brought in after the fact.
I’ve been part of this vision from the very beginning.
I’ve watched UDJC grow from an idea into a nationwide organization. I’ve seen riders try new disciplines for the first time. I’ve seen confidence build. I’ve seen friendships form. I’ve seen the joy return to showing for so many people.
And I’ve had the honor of documenting it all.
Being the official photographer for UDJC isn’t just a role — it’s a partnership built on shared values:
✨ Creating a positive show environment
✨ Making competition accessible
✨ Encouraging growth across disciplines
✨ Celebrating every rider’s journey
This Is Just the Beginning of the UDJC Story Series
This blog post is the first in a series where I’ll be sharing:
• What UDJC horse shows are really like
• The incredible venues across the country
• Why riders are falling in love with these shows
• Behind-the-scenes stories from the ring
• Where you can find upcoming shows
Whether you’re new to UDJC or have been showing since the beginning, I hope these posts give you a deeper look into what makes this organization so special.
Want to See the UDJC Experience for Yourself?
👉 View recent UDJC show photos
👉 Learn about pre-pay photo & reel coverage
👉 Browse upcoming show locations
