Lindsay began riding at Sunnybrook Stables in the heart of Toronto, which was at one point managed by her mother, Jennifer Kellock, aunt Sue Bundy, and godmother Ashley Holzer. The 22-year-old jokes that she was likely riding before she was born, as her mother is a dedicated horsewoman herself, once training alongside Holzer under the tutelage of Christilot Boylen.
Competitive genes run strong in the family. Lindsay’s 17-year-old sister, Jamie, and 18-year-old cousin, Hanna, event at the preliminary level and train with Jessica Phoenix; both are hoping for a berth on the North American Junior and Young Rider Championship team in 2013. Her 20-year-old brother, Jonathan, is also a competitive ski racer. “My family is very sports-orientated, and it’s amazing that we get to share our love for horses and sports together,” explained Lindsay. “It gets hard at times, because we don’t get to see each other that often, but we are all able to understand the time commitment and dedication that you need to make it to the top. We have an extra-special bond, because we are all pursuing the same dream of representing Canada at the Olympics one day.”
In 2005, after deciding to take time off from pursuing her post-secondary education, she began grooming for Jacqueline Brooks, who has become one of her closest friends. She is now Holzer’s head groom. “I have been in the thick of it all,” said Lindsay, who has attended two Olympic Games, the World Equestrian Games, one World Cup Final, and two World Dressage Masters competitions. “Grooming has exposed me to this sport at a level that I always aspired to achieve,” she explained of the benefits of working behind the scenes. “Grooming for Olympians was a privileged glimpse into what I hope to become. It really gave me an inside look at what it takes to get to the top of the sport. Nothing motivated me more than standing at the ring, watching the best horse-and-rider combinations in the world. I really learned to pay attention to detail and notice the small things that make a big difference, and that being successful comes not only from good riding, but also through understanding what your horse needs to perform at its best in the show ring.”
Through Holzer, Lindsay met Diana Rose, who has given her the opportunity to compete at the grand prix level aboard Eminence, a 17-year-old Dutch stallion. “Eminence and I have improved at every show. I am thrilled with our results and only hope to keep improving. I am going into it open-minded, as this is my first time at this level and I am learning as I go, with tremendous help from Ashley. It is so important to have people like Ashley and Diana supporting our sport and Canada’s up-and-coming riders.” In addition to her responsibilities on the road and at Holzer’s home base of Riverdale Equestrian Centre in the Bronx, NY, Lindsay will continue to compete on the international grand prix circuit in Wellington, Florida, and hopes to qualify for the under-25 division at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
Kellock finds herself in a unique position – able to make her living doing what she loves while surrounded by the people she loves. “I’ve learned you have to celebrate every success, no matter how small – whether you got your first eight on a test or your horse did a clean flying change. You are your horse’s coach, personal trainer, cheerleader, and biggest fan; never hurt them mentally or physically and treat them like you would a person. I can’t express how lucky I am to share my dreams with my family, and what it means to have such a trustworthy support system.”
