64 SIDELINES APRIL 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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On Course with Catherine Tyree
By Jan Westmark-Allan
The Tyree sisters, Catherine and Lauren, are from
Chicago where they ride and train at Kappler Farms.
Catherine is 18 and a senior in high school, with her sights
set on college. “I’m planning on going to college and
continuing to ride. However, I’m unsure if I’ll take a gap
year or not next year,” she said.
Catherine has been riding with Katie Kappler since 2001,
and while she still rides with Katie and her brother, Kris
Kappler, Catherine expanded her horizons this winter and
began riding an equitation horse for Missy Clark and John
Brennan. “My current riding goal is to win an equitation
fnal,” she said.
Catherine’s riding career started like so many other
young riders.
“My mom used to drag my sister and me to the barn with
her when we were younger. One day we asked to sit on a
pony and the rest is history.”
Sidelines caught up with the Catherine and her younger
sister Lauren, while they were competing in Wellington
for the winter. The two powerhouse sisters are riding
and winning their way through the show rings - having
fun all along the way. Read about Lauren in this issue of
Sidelines, also!
Sidelines:
Who do you train with?
CT:
I stared riding with Katie Kappler in 2001, and then, in
2007, Nora and Morgan Thomas began helping me, along
with Katie, in the junior hunters and equitation. Katie’s
brother, Chris Kappler, has been helping me in the jumpers
for the past fve years or so. Now I am also riding with
Missy Clark and John Brennan.
Sidelines:
You compete quite a few horses – who goes in
which division?
CT:
I ride Savant in the older large junior hunters and I
have three different horses that I ride in the junior jumpers -- Can
Can, Memphis Du Park and Triton. I ride Patrick, Triple Lutz, Co
Co Pop, Lancelott and Leukos in the equitation.
Sidelines:
What do you consider your career highlights?
CT:
Winning the 2010 Hunterdon Cup, getting third place at the
2010 ASPCA Maclay Finals and placing 7th at the 2011 ASPCA
Maclay Finals. I won the 2011 Region 4 Maclay Regionals, was
6th at NAJRC 2010, Reserve Champion at the 2010 Pennsylvania
National Horse Show in the Younger Large Junior Hunters and
Reserve Champion at the 2009 Devon Horse Show in the Younger
Small Junior Hunters.
Sidelines:
What have you liked best about your junior career?
CT:
The best parts of my junior career have been the horses I’ve
been able to ride and all of the people
who I’ve been able to work with. My
progression from medium ponies to
the equitation, junior hunters and
junior jumpers would not have been
possible without the horses I’ve been
lucky enough to have and the people
who have helped along the way.
Sidelines:
Have you had a favorite
horse over the years?
CT:
I love all of my horses and try
not to pick favorites; but if I were to
choose one, it would be Triton.
Sidelines:
What do you do when
you aren’t riding?
CT:
When I’m not riding, I like
spending time with my friends,
reading or simply relaxing.
Sidelines:
Describe yourself in 10
words or less.
CT:
Ambitious, kind and quiet.
Catherine Tyree and Memphis Du Park
All photos by Parker/Russell – The Barn Book LLC 2012
Catherine Tyree and Savant