Page 51 - 2307_full

FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JULY 2011 49

Maddy competing one of her many ponies

Maddy shows off her top pony skills with Tobasco

Sidelines: Do you have a secret for being a great pony rider?

MD: I don’t really think I have a secret; I just try to understand each horse’s rhythm. I guess a secret would be learning to ride the corners and if I have a bad trip to not let it mess with the rest of my day.

Sidelines: You have ridden so many ponies, do any of them stand out as special?

MD: All of the ponies are very special, but some that stand out are For The Laughter, Enchanted Forest, Tobasco, Better Than Good, Elation and Brownland’s Mr. Mack. There really are a lot more that are special.

Sidelines: Do you own any ponies?

MD: I own Brownland’s Mr. Mack and we lease him. But we always have a lot of horses and ponies because my mom buys and sells horses as a business.

Sidelines: You have had so much success at Pony Finals, will

you go again this year?

MD: Yes, I will go again. It will be my eighth time at Pony Finals.

Sidelines: How many ponies do you think you show during a weekend?

MD: I don’t count the number of ponies I show; I’m just grateful for every ride I get. If I had to give a number I would say I show between 6 and 12.

Sidelines: You compete both ponies and horses. In which divisions do you show horses?

MD: I started doing juniors when I was 10-years-old and now I do juniors, the Big Eq classes and the children’s jumpers.

Sidelines: What are your riding goals?

MD: To go to the hunter derby fnals and the medal fnals,

Sidelines: How do you spend your free time?

MD: Mainly doing schoolwork and playing some tennis.

Favorite Things:

cream e Class in school: Art Candy: Reese’s

orse: Welsh 9

avel to: New York