In many a way, Foothills Farm is that gathering place for horse folks across northern Ontario.
Earliest this month, Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa served as the venue for the 2024 Trillium Championships, with the Northeast Region sending just shy of 30 riders to the event.
Foothills head coach Cathy Inch was guiding about 20 or so of these participants, about a dozen who are located in Greater Sudbury and ride regularly at the Chelmsford facility, and another seven or eight strewn across the north.
Among the latter grouping is Sault Ste Marie native Rosa Pedlar, the third year high-school student who captured both the equitation classic bracket aboard Leggs, but also finished first in the 1M Jumper division.
"The equitation class is always a prestigious class to win - and winning one of her jumper classes as well shows versatility," said Inch. "It's impressive to be poised and do well in equitation and go fast and do well in the jumpers."
Leah Blanchette was as steady as she typically is, earning a first place ribbon with Dark and Stormy in Adult Equitation (O/F) and placing second in Adult Amateur Hunter (3') and Adult Equitation on the Flat.
Little Current native Bronwyn Cooper enjoyed a great deal of success with the Northern Legacy (Katrina Ruotsalo) of Classical, emerging as champion in 2'9" Adult Amateur Hunter and reserve champion in 3'3" Trillium Hunter.
The simple truth is that an overwhelming majority of the riders representing Foothills and the Northeast Region returned home with at least some ribbons, including Krysta Lapointe (Charleston): 3rd in 2'6" Adult Amateur Hunter and 3rd in 2'6" Adult Metal.
One of the more memorable results of the weekend for Cathy Inch came in the form of her results with ES Quantro, a horse that she had competed with on the Grand Prix circuit several years ago before the animal eventually made his way out to Western Canada.
On the urging of long-time groom Michael Montreuil, Inch would help bring the horse back to Ontario, with Avery Belanger guiding him to victory in a short stirrup event while the local head coach rode him to a champion's crown in the 2'3" Open Hunter classification.
"Ricky (his barn name) is not a hunter - he's a jumper," noted Inch. "But he had a very successful season. He is happy and loves doing his job with this kid (Avery Belanger)."
Rougly six weeks before they gathered in Ottawa, many of the same folks were at Foothills for the annual Rick Smith Memorial Horse Show.
Among that group of familiar faces was Shauna Riley, a 37 year old rider from Astorville who trains regularly with Cache Creek Stables and northern equestrian mainstay Amanda McCartney.
Competing in the 0.75M Jumper event with her horse Sullivan beneath her, Riley shared the interesting story of how to two came to partner when she made the trek to Chelmsford back in July.
"One of my friends asked me to go to Northern Legacy (for a show), just to camp for the weekend and have fun," said the woman who has always benefitted from a family connection to horses ("my grandparents had Belgians - my dad got Clydesdales in my mid-twenties and we would do sleigh rides").
"I was there to spectate and hold horses, just enjoy it," added Tiley. "Amanda (McCartney) had Sullivan for sale and asked me if I wanted to ride him in the "Gamblers Choice" division."
"I got on this horse, jumped the course and we were fine. The next week was another Northern Legacy show and we did the Gamblers Choice again and I got first place. Eventually, we worked it out and I bought him."
"He is the reason I show."
In fact, it was only through her son's interest in riding that Riley made her way back to an environment that she had come to know in her youth, to a certain extent, lessoning on and off.
"I would go and ride once a week when I didn't own my own horse," she acknowledged. "Knowing that I have a show to work towards, that I have goals, I now have to ride this many times a week or do these types of exercises to prepare."
"I don't want to feel unprepared when I get there."
