our story.
Two middle aged women with a shared love of horseback riding and prosecco meet at the barn and become fast friends--its a tale as old as time!
...but its not the tale of Scope hosts Karen Tanner and Jen Barker.
Sure, they both love wine and are great friends. But Karen was dragged (kicking and screaming) into Jen's barn. Over the years, Jen trained Karen's horse crazy Kids, while Karen soaked up everything she could about literally the one sport that she previously knew nothing about.
Finally, much to Karen's delight, Jen asked how she could use exercise to improve her performance in the saddle. After a year of developing a workout plan and comparing notes about equestrian sports and mainstream sports, Scope was born!
Jen Barker
...the horse girl
Few people have a more diverse background in equestrian sports than Jen Barker. She has competed in the hunters, jumpers and equitation as a junior, an amateur and a professional. Over the last 15 years, Jen has trained riders at every level, from walk trot through the junior hunters and equitation, under the banner of her own business, Leaning Oak Farm.
As a member of the Clemson University equestrian team, Jen was the NCAA Division I Invitational Champion. She has galloped race horses, started thoroughbreds for the two year old in training sales, worked as a freelance assistant to several top hunter/jumper trainers on the East Coast, written for The Chronicle of the Horse and multiple other equestrian publications and stewarded countless NCEA Meets including their 2024 (and soon 2025) National Championships.
Equestrian sports may actually be part of Jen's DNA. Her dad, is the legendary Johnny Barker, who operates Eight Oaks Inc. alongside Jen's Stepmother Kitty Barker. The Barker's developed and campaign modern day hunter super star, Mr. Manhattan.
Parker Minchin, Jen's mom, became a world champion non-pro reiner after a successful career producing sport horses along side Jen's stepfather, Ed Minchin, out of their own Pine Meadow Farm.
As a member of the Clemson University equestrian team, Jen was the NCAA Division I Invitational Champion. She has galloped race horses, started thoroughbreds for the two year old in training sales, worked as a freelance assistant to several top hunter/jumper trainers on the East Coast, written for The Chronicle of the Horse and multiple other equestrian publications and stewarded countless NCEA Meets including their 2024 (and soon 2025) National Championships.
Equestrian sports may actually be part of Jen's DNA. Her dad, is the legendary Johnny Barker, who operates Eight Oaks Inc. alongside Jen's Stepmother Kitty Barker. The Barker's developed and campaign modern day hunter super star, Mr. Manhattan.
Parker Minchin, Jen's mom, became a world champion non-pro reiner after a successful career producing sport horses along side Jen's stepfather, Ed Minchin, out of their own Pine Meadow Farm.
Karen Tanner
...the jock.
If you've caught a glimpse of Karen Tanner toting the brush box to the ring, rocking a sundress and boots, don't be fooled by the demure horse show mom facade. Karen dabbles in the equestrian lifestyle, but HER passion is sports. After obtaining her masters of science in recreation resources from NC State University, Karen was hired by the school's athletic department, where she earned the title of head women's athletic trainer.
Karen went on to serve as the head athletic trainer for the WNBA's Charlotte Sting, and when she wasn't busy with the Sting, Karen worked as an athletic trainer for Team USA Oympics in women's basketball, nordic combined, figure skating and men's gymnastics.
As the athletic director at Columbia College (SC), Karen resurrected the floundering sports program, before leaving to spend more time with her growing family. But that didn't mean spending more time away from athletics.
While Karen's career had been on a rocket like trajectory, so had her husband's. Ray Tanner emerged as one of the country's greatest college baseball coaches--winning two NCAA Division I National Championships, while Karen and their kids cheered him on. When Ray was promoted to athletic director at the University of South Carolina, Karen embraced the unofficial role of first lady of Gamecock sports.
In addition to being a horse show mom, athletic trainer and the Gamecocks' biggest fan, Karen is an ACE certified personal trainer.
Karen went on to serve as the head athletic trainer for the WNBA's Charlotte Sting, and when she wasn't busy with the Sting, Karen worked as an athletic trainer for Team USA Oympics in women's basketball, nordic combined, figure skating and men's gymnastics.
As the athletic director at Columbia College (SC), Karen resurrected the floundering sports program, before leaving to spend more time with her growing family. But that didn't mean spending more time away from athletics.
While Karen's career had been on a rocket like trajectory, so had her husband's. Ray Tanner emerged as one of the country's greatest college baseball coaches--winning two NCAA Division I National Championships, while Karen and their kids cheered him on. When Ray was promoted to athletic director at the University of South Carolina, Karen embraced the unofficial role of first lady of Gamecock sports.
In addition to being a horse show mom, athletic trainer and the Gamecocks' biggest fan, Karen is an ACE certified personal trainer.