Including a pair of national championships by Grade 12 rider Kassidy Keith, the first few months of the 2015/16 school year brought with them some incredible success for members of the Queen Margaret's School equestrian team, at competitions across North America.
In November, Keith and her mount, Wallabee, won both the Jump Canada Medal and CET National Medal in Toronto. In the first competition, she easily handled the jump course and was sitting third going into the flat phase. A strong showing there got her into a four-person ride-off that she finished in top spot, earning the national title and the Leslie P. Usherwood Memorial Trophy.
"I've come so far from last year," Keith said. "To win felt amazing. It pumped me up for my performance in the CET Final the next day."
The two-day CET final featured 15 riders from across Canada, competing in three phases: flat/gymnastic, jumping, and Final Four, with the highest cumulative score winning. Keith sat second after the flat/gymnastic phase and had the highest score in the jumping phase, earning a berth in the Final Four, which in turn led to the national title.
"The courses were tough, but I really enjoyed them," she said. "I'm thrilled beyond words to win the CET Medal, but it wouldn't have been possible at all without the support I received each and every day. I'm proud of my outstanding partner Wallabee, and we share the win with my mom [QMS head coach Cheryl Keith] and our incredible support team."
It takes a lot of background support in order for a rider to make it to the national championship level, QMS equestrian programs director Jodine Buydens explained.
"Few people outside of the equestrian community understand that Kassidy's journey was only made possible because of tremendous financial, emotional, physical and technical support from a large volunteer group," Buydens said. "Head coach Cheryl Keith and John Turner of Thumbs Up Farm worked tirelessly with Kassidy throughout the season to prepare for these finals. Family friend Kate Heikkla was pivotal in helping Kassidy remain organized and strong while on the road for over a month, and [Duncan dentist, QMS grad and Wallabee's owner] Dr. Jolene Benham entrusted Kassidy with her best friend, Wallabee. The Queen Margaret's School and B.C. horse show communities, went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. We are truly, truly grateful to everyone for championing Kassidy and helping her achieve such amazing results."
Keith's fall tour began in Calgary when she and three other QMS riders — Christine Coels, Kyra Westman and Tianna Jerome — competed at the Royal West Horse Show in October.
"We were really excited that four members of our team were able to show at the Royal West," Buydens said. "It is expensive for riders to travel from Duncan to Calgary with their horses and gear. When they arrived, each one of these girls put everything they had into their performances. I couldn't be more proud."
Jerome and her horse, Piccadilly, placed second in one of the 1.00m junior amateur jumper divisions, and Westman and her horse, L.L. Bean, earned reserve champion in another junior amateur jumper division. Meanwhile, Coels and Te Amo won the championship in the .9m junior amateur jumper and had good results in the hunter and junior amateur derbies.
"I felt well-prepared and happy with Te Amo," Coels said. "We had a really exciting experience and I enjoyed cheering on my teammates. Everyone worked so hard."
Keith and Wallabee had top placings in the junior hunter classes and won the Greenhawk Junior Amateur Hunter Classic, capping it all off with reserve champion in the Rocky Mountain Jumping Medal.
"It was a busy time for the team in Calgary," Cheryl Keith said. "The perseverance of our riders shows in their results. I'm thrilled."
Kassidy Keith and her support crew drove from Calgary to Lexington, Kentucky for the ASPCA Maclay National Finals. Keith was among 153 riders — and only three Canadians — vying for the title. She and Wallabee made the first cut thanks to a flawless opening ride, but ended up just missing the top 30.
"The competition at Lexington was like nothing I've experienced before," she said. "I learned so much and took that with me to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto."
The Royal Winter Fair was Keith's next stop, fulfilling a dream she'd had since childhood. There, Keith won the junior hunter stake and was reserve champion in the junior working hunters, and became the only junior rider to compete in the hunter derby finals, finishing ninth and 10th in a field of professional riders.
"Competing in the same arena as some of my idols was unreal," she said. "I tried to keep calm and remain focused."