Whether involved in horses professionally or as an amateur competitor, sharing the sport you love with your children can be among the most rewarding aspects of equestrian sport. For mothers there is always a sacrifice of self in pursuit of raising a human who can go off on their own into the world as a well-adjusted, kind and compassionate member of the community.
To balance life, health, finances, relationships, and time in the saddle can be difficult at times, but here are the stories of a few mothers who have made sacrifices that have paid off ten-fold. While horses will teach responsibility, humility, work ethic and compassion, the most rewarding aspect of riding with your children may be the most fleeting of all moments in parenthood – time spent together.
Cheryl & Kassidy: Team Effort
Although she received help from many of the industry’s top professionals en route to wins as a junior in the Jump Canada Medal Finals and CET Finals at the 2015 Royal Winter Fair and being named the 2015 Canadian Junior Equestrian of the Year, Kassidy Keith, 24, says the never-ending support and guidance of her mother has been the biggest catalyst to her success. Kassidy grew up around horses in BC – her mom Cheryl Keith is a professional trainer and rider and was named the BCHJA Coach of the Year in 2016.
“I don’t think I actually ever asked Kassidy if she wanted to do this for a living,” says Cheryl, laughing. “She started riding sales horses and ponies for me when she eight years old, and by the time she was fourteen she had basically become my assistant.”
Cheryl and Kassidy ringside.
Kassidy acknowledges that having a professional coach as a mother and easy access to the horses opened doors for her early on, but there was no shortage of hard work. “I’ve always been so grateful for how hard my mom worked to support me and my dreams; we weren’t always financially stable growing up, but she always made sure I had something to ride at every show, She’s worked very hard to give me every opportunity for success. She has always put my riding before hers, and still does.”
After graduation from high school and the junior ranks, Kassidy moved southeast to gain valuable experience showing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, but in 2019 called her mom and said she was ready to come home. “It was her idea that we start a business, and I didn’t hesitate when Kassidy asked me,” recalls Cheryl. “I quit my job [at Queen Margaret’s School, where she had been head coach of the equestrian program for 19 years] and moved to Langley from Vancouver Island. We rented a barn, started with four horses, and we now have 30 horses and a great clientele.”
Kassidy, the 2021 MarBill Hill U25 Series Champion, says that the development of their young horses count as some of her proudest moments as a professional, and it’s a journey she is undertaking side-by-side with her mom.
“My mom always has everything planned out and we do a lot of goal-setting together, always planning for the next step. This has been really fun with the young horses, and the last few years we’ve had the opportunity to bring some amazing talent through the ranks. She always makes the young horses look so easy and every time I watch her ride or teach, I learn something new – she’s always inspiring me to get better. My proudest moment was watching her with our young horse, Fenelon WF, at the Royal West this year.”
There are unique advantages to working side-by-side with your daughter for so many years, explains Cheryl. “Kassidy seamlessly stepped into the coaching and riding role, and she instinctively knows what I would want her to do as she grew up in my system; it’s second nature to her. I’m so grateful to have been able to experience so much with her. Spending each day with her and being at her side to watch her succeed is the best reward.”
“I love running our business together,” agrees Kassidy. “We both do it because we love the horses and love the sport. I’ve been very proud to be my mom’s daughter on so many occasions and she has so much knowledge to share with me and everyone around her.”
Embracing the Horse Show Experience
Lindsay Sutcliffe (nee Smith) has been riding since she was five years old and started competing at age 11, and now shares her love of horses and showing with her two daughters, Beatrice and Madeline.
Co-founder of the famed Pommies cider company with her husband, Nick, Lindsay has been a regular in the show ring for the bulk of her life. After the requisite early start in the hunters, Lindsay transitioned to the jumper ring where she has been a fierce competitor ever since. After a brief hiatus when her treasured mare, Leica, was no longer able to compete, Lindsay came roaring back last year, winning with her new horse Keep On Smiling (aka Happy).
During the brief time she wasn’t competing, Lindsay was busy showing her daughters the ropes. Beatrice (11) and Madeleine (9) have both been riding and competing from an early age. Beatrice, who was the Small Pony Hunter Champion at The Royal in 2019 with Lexie, rides Navy Boy in the pony hunters and the derby classes. Madeleine started in the hunters but made a quick transition to the pony jumpers riding Classy.
Lindsay with daughters Madeline (left) and Beatrice, husband Nick and dog Coco.
The love of the horse and all that it entails are the primary reasons why Lindsay wanted to share her passion with her daughters.
“I love the sport and wanted to share it with them,” she said. “It goes so much further than just riding. It teaches them empathy, love of animals, responsibility, commitment, work ethic ‒ there is so much more than just riding. They learn to win, but it also teaches them how to lose. Being a rider teaches the girls all the right life lessons.”
With a family philosophy that focuses on the joy of riding without any pressure to perform, the Sutcliffe girls love competition.
“Going to horse shows is exciting for them. It’s less about the competition and more about being with their friends and experiencing the show together. Ticket day, pony day sleepovers, schooling – the experience is about the entire process. The time in the ring is a very small piece and there is no pressure for results in our family, it’s just about having fun.”
This pleasure in the process has led to some of the most rewarding moments for Lindsay.
“The smile at the end of the round. When Maddy gives her fist pump because she knows she’s laid one down. Seeing them arm-in-arm with their friends at the end of the day no matter who won or lost. They all compete together, but they are friends and support each other no matter what.”
Julie & Logan: Horses and Life Skills
Ontario amateur Julie McDonell (nee Watt) has spent the better part of 30 years leading the jog in the show ring. The three-time RAWF champion and fierce competitor in the Adult Amateur division has racked up numerous provincial titles, all while balancing her roles as a realtor and mom to her daughter, Logan.
This season Logan will be stepping up from the short stirrup classes to the medium pony division on her pony, Goldie Locks. A lifelong attendee of horse shows, now at the age of nine Logan has become self-sufficient around the barn and at the horse shows, which makesJulie’s balance of competing, her career, and her life somewhat easier.
Julie McDonell and daughter Logan. “It has to be fun and positive to keep them interested and focussed at this age.” (Mackenzie Clark photo)
“Now I think she understands showing a bit better, and to be honest she is a tough critic,” Julie says. “It was hard to compete when she was really little, but now she is independent and it’s really fun – she even warmed one of my horses up at WEF this winter.”
Of course there are ups and downs when watching your kids learn to ride, and Julie admits that the nerves can sometimes take over. As a parent she understands that there will be some rough times ahead, but believes that the rewards of learning horsemanship are worth it, no matter the end result.
“It has been really rewarding seeing her improve and get more comfortable on horseback. I am definitely super-competitive and it is sometimes hard for me to stay out of her way and not give my opinion – I have to make sure I don’t interfere when her trainer [Dee Walker] is coaching. It was nerve-wracking watching the first few shows, as I just wanted it to be positive for her. It has to be fun and positive to keep them interested and focussed at this age. I am a ‘kick on and go’ hard love type mom, I won’t let her quit when things get hard – it’s just all part of life with horses.”
Julie is modest about her own decades of competitive highlights, instead appreciating the chance to introduce the sport to her daughter and spend time together. “It has really been amazing to get to share my love of horses with Logan,” she says. “From her first time on a pony, to the first jumps, to the first show, it has been truly a gift to share this with her.
“I love that Logan is learning horsemanship and that the horse’s welfare comes first. I think it’s an important life skill to learn to care for animals. I think you learn a valuable lesson when an animal gives everything they can give to you, and they don’t expect anything in return. My hope is that she will want to spend more time at the barn than at the mall!”
Raewyn, Olive & Juniper: The Joy of Ponies
Raewyn Robbins is another amateur rider who is no stranger to the pony ring. She started competing at the age of ten, and almost immediately began winning. With numerous national titles and five RAWF championships in the pony hunter, junior hunter, and adult amateur hunter divisions, Raewyn is another competitive mother whose focus has shifted from the ribbons to the rewards of introducing her children to the joy of ponies.
Raewyn with Olive and Juniper.
Her daughters Olive, 8, and Juniper, 6, have been around horses since birth and according to Raewyn have had the best teacher: Raewyn’s own first pony, Greystar.
“Greystar was this incredibly gentle soul who taught many, many little girls to ride over the years,” explains Raewyn. “I am so thankful that my girls got to spend the time that they did with her, and she really taught them everything about what it means to just love a pony – she was the best teacher I could have asked for and I’m so thankful that she was the one to instill them with the pony bug.”
Even with so much success in the show ring, Raewyn says that being a pony mom comes with a unique set of show nerves that are difficult to prepare yourself for. “Being a pony mom is incredibly hard and I definitely get incredibly nervous,” she laughs. “Not only for their safety, but also because I just want them to have fun with it and be happy with themselves.”
Olive will be stepping into the Children’s Pony division this summer with her pony Penelope, while Juniper will be in the walk/trot ring until she feels ready to try the cross-rails with her pony Princess Lily Fae. “I’m happy for the kids to take it slow,” says Raewyn. “I think the number one benefit of young kids riding is the responsibility that it teaches them, and at the end of the day I just want them to feel like they worked hard and are proud of what they have been able to accomplish.”
Dee & Sam: Pro/Parent Balance
Sam Walker joined the family business in a professional capacity at Forest Hill Farm in Caledon, ON, after a stellar junior career at home and south of the border. His many high-profile wins include the ASPCA Maclay Finals, CET Medal Finals, NAYC, and George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships. Now with multiple FEI wins under his belt, Sam’s debut for Team Canada came just before his 18th birthday in the CSIO five-star Nations Cup in Wellington, FL.
A fixture on the circuit for three decades, his mother Dee Walker has worn many hats in the industry: professional rider, coach, and judge. She runs Forest Hill Farm in Caledon, ON, alongside husband Scott Walker. Dee and Scott recognized exceptional talent in their son from a young age, and Sam began riding at the age of four.
“Riding came so naturally to him and his love for the horses was also incredible, but he had an exceptional amount of balance, strength, and an intuitiveness for many sports,” recalls Dee. “We never pushed the riding and showing until he let us know that this was ‘his’ sport, I think he was ten at the time.”
Dee notes that as she watched her son develop as a competitor in the bigger equitation classes she always tried to watch as a professional first, and as a parent second. That changed as he started to jump the bigger Grand Prix classes.
“In his first Nation’s Cup appearance on the Canadian Team, I was definitely nervous as a parent first and professional second,” recalls Dee. “As a mom, I want all my students, including Sam, to cross the finish line safely first. As a professional, I want them all to get a good result! It is hard to separate the two sometimes.”
Dee says that watching her son train and compete is a tremendous blessing as both a parent and trainer. “I know he has all the ability, desire, work-ethic and an amazing team behind him. Now that Sam is a professional, it is such an incredible reward as things come full circle – the student becomes the teacher! Scott and I will continue to do whatever it takes to help Sam follow his dreams. I’m sure there will be ups and downs as there always are in life. But the good outweighs the bad always.”
Sam with parents Dee and Scott at The Royal. (SSP photo)
Sam recognizes that getting to experience the highs and lows of the sport with his family is an incredible privilege. He is quick to credit his family for providing him with the foundation that has helped him along his path, and credits his mom for her role in his development.
In the end he says there’s nothing like the support and encouragement of parents at the gate. “I’m so grateful to work with my family every day and my mom is the most important piece of our puzzle,” says Sam. “My mom is for sure the wizard that makes all of our horses go so well. The professional achievements that she accomplished while at the same time being my mom and raising me are absolutely amazing. She is always smiling and bringing joy to our team and if I’m every having a bad day or not feeling confident, I know my mom will always cheer me up. She has been such an amazing role model my whole life, and I am definitely her biggest cheerleader. I am always so proud of her and I feel so fortunate to know she is behind me and always has my back.”
