For show veterans competing on the Ontario “A” circuit, the familiar sights and sounds of the Caledon Equestrian Park become a part of everyday life during show season. The sheer size and chaos of the six-ring circus fade into the background and become as commonplace and routine as the evening commute.
But the hustle and bustle is truly exciting for newcomers who have never had the opportunity to experience that type of horse show. For 15-year-old Bermudian equestrians Riley Correia and Keira Whited, leaving the island and competing in Canada last summer was the chance of a lifetime. “They do have a really good program for hunters and jumpers in Bermuda, but there are not the various levels of competition, multitude of show grounds, or number of horses, riders, and trainers that exist in Ontario,” said Correia. “At home, we have one ring, one warm-up ring, and the same riders compete against each other week after week, year after year.”
For Correia and Whited, spending time competing at Caledon Equestrian Park and other venues across Ontario was a huge stepping stone toward achieving their dreams as equestrians. “It was such a different atmosphere – at my first show I was completely overwhelmed, because there were about five different rings,” Correia said. “It was an outstanding experience, one I am very grateful for and will never forget. I have learned so much throughout my summer in Canada, skills that will last a lifetime.”
This was both girls’ first time travelling internationally to compete — Whited spending three weeks and Correia spending three months. The pair trained out of Stonewood Equestrian in Pickering with Di Langmuir. Whited, who had multiple sponsors to help fund her trip, including the Bermuda Equestrian Federation, said, “I am glad I ended up at such a beautiful farm with such a great team.”
Langmuir has been traveling south to the Bahamas for four years to give clinics during the winter months, and also to judge in Bermuda. Because the weather is simply too hot there in the summer, she arranged for several of her island clients to join her in Canada to compete. “This gives the riders a taste of much bigger competitions, the type they just can’t experience in their home country,” she explained.
Correia and Whited were introduced to Langmuir through mutual contacts in the international equestrian community. “The biggest challenge was finding quality leases for the girls to step onto and literally jump right in. Kudos to the skills and riding experience both girls brought to the table; Bermuda may be a small nation, but has a very organized national federation that brings in top clinicians and puts on top-notch shows, despite being smaller in scale than what we’re used to here.”
Both girls competed in the one-metre junior/amateur jumpers on their leased mounts – Correia aboard Caroline Hawson’s Ceara and Whited aboard Katriina Ruotsalo’s Diamante. Correia finished reserve champion overall in the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association (OHJA) standings. “Di is an amazing trainer and I have learned so much from her,” Correia said. “Ceara was an incredible horse that had so much heart. She taught me a great deal and I am grateful that I was paired with such an exceptional horse.”
The Correia family has since arranged to lease a horse in Canada to keep at Stonewood so that Riley could travel back and forth this winter to train and prepare for the 2013 summer show season. “The key to our success will be communication between myself and her new trainer in Bermuda,” said Langmuir. “Luckily, her family is greatly supportive in helping her to live a dream.”
For Langmuir and the rest of the Stonewood team, the doors are always open when it comes to helping any rider achieve their goals. “I already have inquiries from riders from Bermuda, Nassau, Switzerland, and Britain,” Langmuir said. “I love that we are creating a “United Nations” of equestrian learning.”
