Nip/Tuck Actress Kelly Carlson Steps Up For LongRun

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing actress Kelly Carlson who portrays the character Kimber Henry on the TV series Nip/Tuck. Carlson is a classic Hollywood beauty and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Minnesota native has a beautiful soul to match. The star has been spending a great deal of time in Toronto of late and has stepped up as a volunteer for the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society. I was fortunate to catch up with Carlson at a stable just north of Toronto where Carlson is instructing a young rider, Amanda, on the finer points of flat work with LongRun graduate Young Heart.

Actress Kelly Carlson has been volunteering for LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society


Carlson is an accomplished equestrian having trained with the United States Pony Club as a youth. "I started riding when I was four. My mother had horses," Carlson recalls. "I started riding at Highland Hill Training Centre, which is a three-day eventing barn,” said Carlson. “That's when I joined the United States Pony Club, which is very big in Minnesota. It is a very strict organization, because you are riding competitively at that point."

A whirlwind career has seen Carlson graduate from the Minneapolis theatre scene to be cast in movies such as Made Of Honor, Player 5150, Paparazzi and The Marine. You may also have caught Carlson in episodes of CSI and CSI Miami. Though Carlson has smoothly transitioned into the world of acting, a love for horses has never left her.

A young Kelly Carlson had no trouble getting "air time"


While in Toronto, Carlson made time in her busy schedule to get back to her equestrian roots. An Internet search landed Carlson on the LongRun homepage and a short time later the actress was pulling on her boots and getting stuck into some stable work with LongRun Adoption Coordinator Sheri Van Sickle.

“Kelly just rolled up her sleeves and said ‘which stall do you want me to muck,’” revealed Van Sickle. “Kelly is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to horses, especially when it comes to anatomy and sciences."

Before long Carlson had agreed to sponsor LongRun horse Sabina Park for a year. Through Van Sickle, Carlson was introduced to an up-and-coming equestrian by the name of Amanda and the actress volunteered her services as an instructor.

"I have a lot of patience to learn and teach flat work," said Carlson. "I love jumping and I'm very good at it but I really enjoy the process of bringing up a horse for dressage and flat work. I'm not a patient person at all but for horses I have it."

Amanda and Young Heart pose with Kelly Carlson


Amanda, 17, has been riding since she was ten years-old. Her family adopted Young Heart through the LongRun program as it was an affordable way to acquire a sound horse with the necessary talents for eventing. "I just want to have a good riding horse who is happy and healthy," stated Amanda. "I was excited that I found something (jumping) that he wants to do. I don't want to push him into something he doesn't like."

As for working with Carlson, the youth's eyes lit up as she answered, “Kelly is so patient. I could feel myself and Young Heart relaxing as she was coaching. I'm more comfortable and it's easier to control him.”

The lesson was a sight to behold. With utmost patience, Carlson stood in the middle of a dusty training barn, twirling a whip and shimmying in spot, as she directed a rhythmic banter at Amanda on balance, breathing and body contact as the young rider endlessly circled the actress on Young Heart. "Keep your eyes forward and feel what you are asking him to do,” coaxed Carlson. “Eyes forward…stay back...and walk." As if on cue, Young Heart learned his lesson responding to Amanda's touch and geared down from a trot to a walk.

Kelly Carlson calls out the commands to Amanda


Following the lesson, Amanda and Carlson diligently groomed Young Heart before allowing the ex-racer a chance to graze and relax following the workout. Carlson is clearly impressed with Amanda's progress. "She has an incredible seat. A lot of people cannot organize their body. You have to relax your stomach, but keep your calves firm and your quads relaxed. Shoulders must be back and at the same time you have to pay attention to what the horse is doing. Amanda is very quiet on a horse. Good seat, good legs. A real excellent natural rider."

Kelly Carlson - Actress and Equestrian


Despite the compliments, there is still much work to be done. "My goal is for Amanda to become really strong in the flats," declared Carlson. "Anybody can get on a horse and clear a fence but it's the riding between the fences that is difficult. She needs to add a bit of dressage to her routine and get a better balance to be connected to her horse. They have to become a team working together and learn a language between each other."

What must not be forgotten in all of this is that Amanda is not the only one learning a new skill. Young Heart, like all of LongRun's horses, is a former racehorse. Young Heart's pedigree is a who's who of local racing. By Alydeed, a multiple Stakes winner at Woodbine for Kinghaven Farms, out of an Afleet dam named Light Powder, Young Heart raced nine times before being retired.

Now into a second career, Young Heart has become a much-loved member of Amanda's family. It is encouraging that the handsome, athletic horse now has a chance to prove himself in a new setting. Not all thoroughbreds can become Triple Crown winners, but each one deserves a chance at a productive life. LongRun is there to make sure that those ex-racers who enter their program are able to find a new career suitable to their talents.

To raise funds and awareness for the LongRun program, Carlson will be assisting with the organization of the Fourth Annual LongRun Gala Spectacular in Celebration of the 150th Running of the Queen's Plate. The event will be held Friday, September 25, 2009. The $250 ticket will provide supporters with a chance to rub elbows with Woodbine personalities and maybe learn a thing or two about horses from a Hollywood stunner.

Please click on the following link to learn more about the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.

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If you would like to hear more on this story, please visit the feature article published this past week in Down The Stretch newspaper.