Youth

Introducing Youth Representative: Suzanne Lumley

"As far as I can remember, I’ve been with horses all my life. I was about a year old, when I first sat on a Canadian horse, named Valine. She was in foal to Elita, who I now ride and drive. As my mom and dad learned to drive, they also taught my younger brother and I. I took some riding lessons, but it wasn’t until I went to camp Kemur in Cambridge, Ontario, for 2 years that I over came being timid around horses. That is where I learned horsemanship and to ride English.

Throughout my life we have raised 7 Canadian horses on our farm. Valine has passed away and that was a very difficult time. Every time my mom and dad decide to sell a horse/foal it has always made me cry. At present we have 2 Canadians, Elita and Legend.

I have gone to all the shows that my mom and dad go to and started showing, as soon as I was old enough. At that time I only drove in shows because Elita was only green broke to ride. As I got older, I started to ride Elita. I love to show but I wish there was more kids involved in carriage driving. It’s not just an “older person” sport, kids can have fun too!!

I had the best time being the navigator for my mom, at the Ontario Combined Driving show this summer at Checkmate Equestrian Centre. I have always loved cones, but the marathon was the BEST! I am looking forward to training and learning more about combined driving, and hopefully going to Kentucky for the World Equestrian Games.

My dream has always been to jump and I did this summer! It was my first time and Elita’s first time jumping. I loved it so much, that now I have my own jumps. I have also started riding lesson this fall in a nearby arena and in October, they got their jumps. My dreams are coming true.

Yours truly, Suzanne Lumley

ATTENTION YOUTH HORSELOVERS!

If you have any questions for Suzanne about Canadian Horses, if you are curious about competing in horse sports, or even if you have suggestions about what you would like to see on this page, you can email her at suzanne@lechevalcanadien.ca.