Keltey Heathcott: A Natural Progression

The 17-year-old Calgary native has had numerous successes at the 1.15/1.20m division, most recently winning the $5,000 St. George Jumper Derby at the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Mid-Summer Classic II.

Keltey began riding at age ten, inspired by her mother, Sydney, who took up riding and competing at the ripe old age of 38 and became a regular competitor at Spruce Meadows. Keltey’s initial lessons on Mickey, a school horse, soon led to her getting a pony of her own – Love’s Potion. By 2007 she was winning pony hunter, equitation and pony jumper classes at shows in Alberta and Manitoba while her mother competed alongside in the 1.15m jumper division. (Bob, her father, is supportive but decidedly un-horsey – “the official horse-petter” according to Keltey).

Keltey is now exceptionally well-mounted with two very competitive jumpers. Nick of Time, who is owned by her aunt Linda, is a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding. Silhouette SM, a nine-year-old Hanoverian mare, belongs to Spruce Meadows. Keltey says the two are polar opposites. “Nick of Time is pretty cheeky, but also lazy. Silhouette is really hot. They’re complete opposites. It took me a while to adjust.”

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Helping her adjust is Spruce Meadows’ riding master, Albert Kley, with whom she recently began training. Keltey describes his tutelage as “awesome. He’s different than all the other coaches I’ve had. He’s really good with me – he’s helped my riding so much.” She also credits Silhouette for having a big impact on her skill set. “I got her just after my old horse, George, passed away, She didn’t have very much experience – she’d just shown in some little stuff – but she’s actually taught me how to ride. Everything I’ve learned up to now has probably been taught by Silhouette. We’ve come a really long way together.”

Not surprisingly, Keltey names Spruce Meadows as her favourite show venue “hands down.” She also regularly travels to Thunderbird, RMSJ and Edmonton to compete, and in spite of already having years of show ring experience under her saddle, she admits that she does get rattled on occasion. “When I’m at shows I like everything to be perfect, and if it’s not, I get pretty upset.” She considers her aunt her mentor. “She’s been really supportive of me,” she says gratefully. But she also draws motivation from top riders such as Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, as well as some of the younger up-and-coming riders like Jenna Thompson. “I find them pretty inspirational,” she says.

Showing at a major international venue such as Spruce Meadows allows Keltey to rub elbows with a lot of the top pros, which she truly enjoys and appreciates. As we went to press, she was about to get some international experience of her own when she was invited to travel to Germany to compete in the German Friendship Games on a borrowed horse.

The busy teen admits she has little extra time for hobbies or sports – “Riding takes up all my time.” She is poised to enter Grade 12 this fall, so post-secondary education is on the horizon. “I do plan on going away to school, but I might take a year off to ride first,’ she said. While she still hasn’t nailed down her university courses, the show ring is definitely on her long-range radar. ‘I’d be lost if I couldn’t ride.”