SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, October 25 2021 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Junior Showing All Across North America

Ella McHardy

Junior Rider

Toronto, Canada

How old are you?

I just turned 16 in February, but I ride as a 15-year-old.

How did you get introduced to horses? 

My family has been coming to South Florida for more than 20 years. During one holiday break, we were in Wellington and I saw someone riding on the side of the road and begged my parents to sign me up for lessons. I had my first lesson at a small, private farm off Southshore and was hooked. From that day forward, I rode as much as I could. My mom rode when she was young and both of my parents are very supportive of my riding, and now it’s a family affair. They spend most of the season in Florida and love coming to the shows. I feel fortunate that I get to share this with them.

When did you start showing and get competitive?

I’ve been riding for nine years—since that winter holiday in Wellington, I have never stopped. I began showing in the Short Stirrup divisions when I was 9 years old and showed competitively on the A-circuit in the Mediums on a pony named Charming in 2016. In 2017, I moved to the Larges with my pony Foxlair Tango. I was fortunate to qualify both ponies for the Canadian indoor finals called the Royal Winter Fair, where I was Reserve Champion in the Larges.  Over the past years, I have traveled to shows all over North America; it has been so much fun!

What’s the horse scene like in Canada? 

I live in Toronto, and our horse scene is quite similar to the U.S. but just concentrated in a smaller area. Over the past five years, I have trained with Erynn Ballard and Looking Back Farm. It gets very cold here, so typically our horse show season is from May to October. During the cold months, I’ve been lucky enough to travel down to Wellington to compete. It’s an incredible opportunity to travel to Florida: The grounds, horses and competition make it like no other place. I find traveling to the U.S. just gives me a lot more experience; I love getting to compete against new people and horses all the time. Throughout the summer, I’ve also travelled to some fantastic shows like Kentucky, Tryon, Upperville, WEC, and the Hamptons. The great range of competition all over the country pushes me to be the best I can be.

Tell us about your horses.

I have two horses currently—Fabio, whom I’ve had for two years, and he’s a three-ring horse. I show him mainly in the jumper and hunter 3’6” equitation. Bugatti, who I just got this past November, my trainer shows in the greens, and throughout WEF I showed him in the children’s hunters but have just moved him up the 3’3” as we want to keep his green status for the upcoming year.

How long have you been training with Tori Colvin? 

We met Tori Colvin through our friends Ashley and Parker Peacock. Parker used to show one of our ponies and Ashley and my mom are good friends. This is my first season with Tori, and it has been amazing; learning in the ring and on the side of the ring with Tori and her mom, Brigid, has been incredible. I have always looked up to her as a rider, and being able to train with her was surreal. I saw things very differently and became very patient and tried not to rush. The learning experience has changed my outlook on so many aspects from the stall to the ring. It has been life changing.

How do you juggle school and riding?

I’m in 10th grade, and sometimes juggling riding, school and regular life is not the easiest. Usually, during average years, I fly back and forth between Canada and the U.S. to compete, but this year, I switched to online school because of COVID-19. It’s been nice not to have to go back and forth all the time, and I can fully immerse myself in riding. Online school has been a different experience because I’m not used to managing my school work myself. It has pushed me to be more independent and to learn how to balance friends, riding and school a lot better. At home it’s a little harder to get up to the farm to ride as often, as we live right downtown in Toronto and it takes 75 minutes or more to get there and I don’t yet drive. I really depend on the team at Looking Back to keep my horses in shape.

What are your plans for the future?

When I think about my future goals, many things come to mind, but some of the most important things are continuing in the equation ring, getting to the Maclay Finals and to the U.S. indoors. I have two-and-a-half more years as a Junior and I’m going to take advantage of every minute of it. Another future goal I’d love to complete is riding on a team in college somewhere in the United States. Getting to ride and compete with a team would be so fun, and it would add such a cool dynamic to go to school and continue what I love to do. American schools offer more opportunities to be able to study and stay in the saddle. This academic year, I will start the application process, and I’m so excited!

Casual clothes provided by Fab Finds by Sarah of Wellington, Florida. Riding clothes provided by Equestrian Team Apparel.

Photos by Evelyn Szczepanek, www.esequinephotography.com

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: Ella McHardy

What you can read next

Unbridled With Martin Fuchs
Living to Learn About Horses 
Saly Glassman – Investing in Horses: From Foxhunting to Forbes, America’s No. 2 Top Woman Advisor Applies Life Lessons Learned From Horses

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Walker, Wallace & Emerson Realty
    TRYON, NC LANDRUM, SC LEVERAGE GLOBAL PARTNERS Madelon Wallace 864-316-3484 Onwer | BIC | REALTOR | ABR | GRI | GREEN Specializing in Equestrian Conservation and Estate Properties. CarolinaHorseFarmsandMore.com wweRealty.com | 400 E. Rutherford Street | Landrum, SC 29356 Equestrian Real Estate, Realtor North Carolina ,

    [Read more]

  • MARIA MENDELSOHN REALTOR
    Equestrian & Luxury Properties 561-758-1605 Wellington & Hamptons www.MariaMendelsohn.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Hope Cooper: Dressage and Education Run in the Family

    By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Hope ...
  • Bailey Robinson: Ponies on Her Mind

    By Britney Grover Portraits by Kristie Scholten...
  • The Impact of Thoughts

    By Margie Sugarman I fell off at a big show I q...
  • Believing in the Horse Nobody Believed In: Cooley Quicksilver

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp I have had many young hor...
  • Unbridled With Steve Stephens

    By Britney Grover Steve Stephens knows a good j...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!