Written by founder Emma Mabry
Sixteen year old Katherine Kinnison from Salt Lake City, Utah owns two horses. She owns and shows Eagle in the Big Equitation classes, and Sultan in the 1.20 meter jumpers. Kinnison currently lives in San Marcos, California. "My favorite thing about showing is that feeling when you're beautifully turned out and have reasons to be confident in you and your horse. Competing against yourself and trying to do better each time is humbling and disciplinary; which are two aspects that I love." When asked if Kinnison sees herself being around horses forever, and having a career based around them. she responded that she could not imagine her life without horses. "Whether it's riding, training, showing, grooming-whatever-I'm in it for the long haul." Her riding goals are to be the best of her abilities. "My dream is to go to the four medal finals- and do it well. I also dream of competing in young riders, Grand Prixs, and hopefully the World Cups." We asked Kinnison who her riding inspirations were and she responded that they vary right and left. "Of course, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, and Kent Farrington are at the top of my list. Other riders such as Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Bernie Traurig, and of course, George Morris, inspire me on a daily basis." Her advice to anyone that has hopes of riding and showing as much as she does is to "not be afraid to get dirty, work hard, and ask for help. We've all been in the same spot, so we should be able to help each other." Kinnison got into the sport ten years ago. "I first sat on a horses back when I was three. I knew then that horses were the thing that I loved. I'm not sure what made me want to start, but whatever it is, I'm glad it did."
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Written by Emma Mabry
Devyn Looney is a thirteen year old rider from Connecticut who seasonally goes to WEF. Her trainer at the moment is her mom, who had been an equestrian all her life. Devyn has twelve ponies and they are all family owned but she has three special personal ponies. One pony is named Coco, she is retired but Devyn rides her for fun; she used to be an A/AA circuit champion. Devyn's family bought Brooke a year and a half ago; Devyn shows her in the Large Ponies at WEF. Pie is her moms horse but Devyn rides him and shows him at smaller shows for fun, and experience. "I have been riding since I could walk but probably even before then! I've never second guessed my rider life. I was born into riding & it stuck with me hopefully for forever! My mom has been a huge inspiration, along with my trainer Rose Marry Bertin, who's my trainer in FL! Riding has been my dream since I could remember," says Looney. "I have had a competitive drive since I was a tiny schooling kid, & being around big shots in the industry helped me strive to be the best. I love showing because I can show I can be the best & beat the best. Also it is very fun, & a great experience," mentioned Devyn. Devyn wants to be just like her mom. "She teaches children how to ride & to grow a bond with horses for young schooling children. I want to take in serious children that want to do this for a living & help them make a path for a career full of success. But before that I want to be a name known around the show grounds, that is successful!" Looney's riding inspiration is McLain Ward! "I know Mr. Ward personally & he is sweet & kind to everyone & anyone, along with a good track record of wins!" Devyn mentioned she wants to eventually become a jumper. Before that she will finish off the larges. After that she will start showing a horse in the equitation, and then hopefully in the jumpers! Devyn's advice to other riders is, "to dream big and work hard because riding comes with a price and so does success! Working hard and dreaming big doesn't mean having a perfect pony, but it's making the pony look perfect whether it is or not!" Written by founder Emma Mabry Ava Furbee is a fourteen year old rider from Powhatan, Virginia. She trains with Bet Poarch and recently started to train with Lisa Hammershmidt. As of right now she owns one pony, Capstone's Keep It Simple, or Kippy. She also frequently rides horses/ponies that arrive at her barn and she works with a two year old that is a future Large Pony Hunter prospect. This past year she showed Kippy on her local show circuit in Pleasure Pony and the Children's Pony Hunter and Equitation divisions. Ava mentioned how her riding career started, "My mom, who doesn't ride, randomly signed me up for a lesson one day since I loved animals so much! I was actually super scared at first, but as soon as I put my little feet in the stirrups I knew that's where I was meant to be!" "I can't choose just one thing that I love about riding and showing, because I love everything about it all. I love how rewarding it is to accomplish something with your horse, I love the friendships you make, and I love everything that goes into the sport. I love the stall cleaning, the bathing, the wrapping, and anything else that involves being at the barn around my favorite animals." Ava definitely sees herself riding for the rest of her life, and she plans to pursue an equestrian career in addition to owning another business. "This 2016 show year I am going to start the rated shows with my pony in the Medium Greens. I want to qualify and attend USEF Pony Finals. I would also love to qualify for WIHS. This is my last year on Kippy so I plan on making it a good one! At the end of the year we are going to buy a horse, most likely something green. My main long term goal is to do the Big Eq. I love the equitation and competing in the Medals and Maclays would be an awesome experience. I would also really like to try many different divisions! I've never done the jumpers, or even ridden a jumper, so that is definitely something I would love to try out. I want to ride as many different kinds of horses I can!" said Furbee. Ava's riding inspiration is definitely Lillie Keenan. "I really look up to her because of her positive/can do attitude and how she always gets the job done in the ring. The fact that she attends Harvard University while traveling to Europe between classes to compete also amazes me and is another reason why I look up to her so much." Ava's three words of advice are, never give up! "I've heard a couple equestrians say when riding has it's lows, they're really low, and when riding has it's highs, they're really high. I find that statement totally true. This sport has it's way of making you feel like you'll never be good enough and then the opposite! No matter how many times you get put down, or put yourself down, never give up on those dreams of yours! It really is worth it in the end." |
AuthorEmma Mabry is a Hunter/Equitation rider from Sonoma County. Archives
November 2016
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