Kathryn Hallowell "Kathy" Kusner (born March 21, 1940) is an American equestrian and Olympic medalist in show jumping.
[1] In 1961 at age 21, Kusner officially joined the United States Equestrian Team as the first woman member in 10 years.
In 1967, she brought a team silver medal at the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg and in 1968, she represented the United States for the Olympics in Mexico.
[4] 1967 also marked the year when Kusner applied for a jockey license through the Maryland Racing Commission but was denied because she was a woman.
"[2] At this time, Kusner was an internationally acclaimed equestrian but could not legally compete in American races without a jockey license.
Now a licensed jockey, she competed in races from Canada to Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Panama, South Africa, and what was then Rhodesia.
Although Kusner no longer competes, she continues to leave her legacy as a renowned equestrian by giving riding clinics all over the world.
[10] Her impact and work has had her featured in a variety of television shows, books, articles and a 2005 Library of Congress publication, Women Who Dare.