Kelly Kraegel grew up in Southern California with little connection to horses, her only exposure coming from a neighborhood pony ride that came through for photos. Today, she is a respected trainer and owner of Cottonwood Creek Ranch in Oklahoma City, instructing future horse lovers with a focus on Morgans and American Saddlebreds.
Back to the Beginning
For her seventh birthday, Kraegel received riding lessons at a local ranch, an experience that would ultimately shape her future career. After moving to the country, she and her sister continued honing their skills and her family welcomed a couple of horses to their land.
She soon found her way into the world of showing, though the journey came with its challenges. “I started showing my Quarter Pony at local one-day shows in outfits made by my mother,” she said. Purchasing clothes for both sisters wasn’t in the budget, but that didn’t stop Kraegel from loving every handmade piece.
“My mom went on to make show clothes throughout my life for me and my clients before we lost her to cancer,” Kraegel said. “Those outfits still mean the world to me. I love competing in them and seeing my daughter wearing a piece of her too.”
Kraegel eventually acquired her first Morgan, with whom she started taking lessons from Mary Luedtke, and took every opportunity to be in the saddle. “Later on, the local feed store started handing out my number to people with problem horses that needed someone to work with them,” she recalled. “That’s when I discovered my passion for training. Not only was I working with the horses, but I had to teach the owners how to handle them when they went home. That, as turned out, was a much harder job!”
Over time, Kraegel expanded her skills and developed a program at Cottonwood Creek Ranch that she takes great pride in. “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be doing this at our lovely ranch with an amazing group of horses, clients, family, and staff,” she said.
A Trainer and a Mentor
Kraegel has since become a nationally recognized trainer, known for developing both horses and athletes to reach their full potential.
“My core philosophy hasn’t changed over the years,” she said. “I strive to help people understand their horses, realize their dreams, and maintain a supportive and welcoming barn family.”
Her strength lies in understanding how a horse works and feels.
“A good trainer can guide and mold a horse into its best self,” Kraegel explained. “A great mentor can pass along the knowledge of not only how to do that but, more importantly, why a specific approach is the best solution for a particular horse to encourage the best outcome.”
She emphasizes helping riders understand the reasoning behind each technique. “Once they grasp that, they reach a point where simply following instructions turns into making sound decisions on their own,” she said. Her goal is to create riders who can trust their own horsemanship and cultivate a genuine feel for their horses.
Developing the Next Generation of Talent
Throughout her career, Kraegel has mentored many that have gone on to succeed as both professionals and amateurs.
Ryne Swope began riding with Kraegel at age 13 and continued under her guidance into his adult career, eventually becoming her first assistant trainer.
“He stood out in so many respects,” she said. “He’s methodical with his horses and has always been hardworking. He’s also incredibly kind, and that kindness resonates with the people around him.”
In 2019, Swope began applying his skills working for David Rand at Rand Stables; and later was a trainer for the Green Family at Roadshow Morgans, followed by assistant trainer at Memory Lane with Jim and Jenny Taylor. More recently, Swope and Austin Cole launched their own training program at Cobalt Stables.
“It’s a pleasure to see him succeed,” said Kraegel. “His accomplishments are both earned and deserved.”
Cottonwood Creek’s lesson program manager, Madi Fitzgerald DeBee, also started riding and showing with Kraegel as a teenager, before working as a groom while attending college. Later, she joined the team as Kraegel’s academy instructor.
“Madi has always been a joy to be around,” Kraegel said. “But what stands out is her ability to be gentle and encouraging while still setting very clear boundaries with both humans and horses. Her willingness to learn is limitless, and she’s done an outstanding job building up our lesson program.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Kraegel has earned widespread recognition for her ability to connect with both riders and horses, placing horsemanship at the forefront of her coaching. She was named Horse World’s People’s Choice Instructor of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014. In 2016, she became the first professional to train both the ASB Open Western Pleasure World Grand Champion and Morgan Open Western Pleasure World Champion in the same year.
Despite these accolades, Kraegel credits her success to the students willing to work and learn. She believes strongly in tailoring her program to each individual’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” she said. “If it takes five different ways to explain something, we’re doing all five. Verbal communication, video, demonstrations, running alongside them, we do it all.”
At Cottonwood Creek, both sportsmanship and horsemanship are foundational values. Kraegel emphasizes the importance of recognizing the teams behind every successful ride.
“At the end of the day, I care more about building great horsemen than just champions,” she said. “But creating champions is much easier when everyone has the right frame of mind.”