Chapter 02 · The Director

Karl Bauer

AQHA Director. Founder of North Jersey Equestrian Center. Twenty-five years building New Jersey’s largest equestrian complex from the ground up.

AQHA Director · NJECKarl Bauer

Karl Bauer founded North Jersey Equestrian Center in 2001 with a vision that had never been realized in New Jersey before: a single facility large enough, professional enough, and complete enough to host every level of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition and training under one roof.

What opened as an ambitious regional barn has grown into the state’s largest equestrian complex at 66,000 square feet — drawing riders, families, and competitive programs from across Passaic, Morris, Bergen, and Essex counties, as well as the greater New York metro area.

Karl’s appointment as a Director of the American Quarter Horse Association reflects a career defined by commitment to equestrian welfare and sport at the national level. His philosophy at NJEC has always been the same: build infrastructure that protects the horse, develops the rider, and produces results that speak for themselves.

“We built this facility for the riders who want to compete at the highest level — and for the horses that make that possible.”

Under Karl’s directorship, NJEC has become the regional destination for show-circuit families who want a barn that is serious about competition but equally serious about the day-to-day welfare of every horse in the aisle.

Founded2001 · Pompton Plains, NJ
AQHABoard Director
Facility66,000 sq ft · NJ’s Largest
CircuitNJ · NY · Tri-State Metro

Circuits Represented

  • HITS Saugerties — Hudson Valley
  • Devon Horse Show — Pennsylvania
  • Washington International — D.C.
  • Winter Equestrian Festival — Wellington
  • National Horse Show — Kentucky
  • Monmouth County Horse Show — New Jersey

Disciplines at NJEC

  • Hunter — all divisions
  • Jumper — Short Stirrup through Grand Prix
  • Equitation — all medal programs
  • Pony Hunter — Small through Large
  • AQHA — Western and all-breed programs

The facility

Come see 66,000 sq ft in person — walk the aisle.

Schedule a barn tour