Chris is a person who truly appreciates all that life has to
offer – after 7 years on dialysis he received a kidney
transplant in 2004. The transplant has allowed him to live a
full and active life. If you have spent horse show days with
Chris you know that he always wears a smile and loves to be a
part of the horse show community! Chris and daughter Hannah show on the Area 3 circuit. Their mount, the Shortest Straw (Brody) is a 13 year old bay gelding. In 1997, the Buijs traded Chris’s trail horse for Brody and Chris’s wife, Margo started showing him when he was a yearling. Chris began his show career in 2006 at Rambling Hills Riding Club in the Walk/Jog division. The next year he moved up to showing Novice All Around and in 2008 showed in Open Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure. The 2009 show season was his debut on the Quarter Horse circuit. AND wow what a great start he had at his first show in his first class – a win in Novice Amateur Showmanship. Chris and Brody finished the show season as the Area 3 Reserve Champions in Novice Amateur Showmanship. Chris’s favourite class is Showmanship, as it is the event in which he feels most confident. , He also enjoys Trail for the challenge and Hunter Under Saddle for the amazing trot and big canter. He says his “best” horse show moment was receiving 2 seconds at the Spring Classic in Trail. He is always very proud of the belt buckle he received at Rambling Hills as an All Around award in his second year of showing. In 2010, he will be sharing Brody with Margo and Hannah. Margo will show in Showmanship, Chris will continue to work on his Trail skills to become more confident and Hannah will move up to the 13 & Under classes. The Buijs live on 5 acres in Lisle in a house they built themselves. Four-legged members of the family include two dogs and two horses. Brody’s stable mate is Margo’s one time youth horse, a 30 year old – happy and healthy – paint mare. For 11 years, Chris has been employed with the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic. His work involves maintaining and repairing all municipal equipment including fire trucks. It would seem that Chris has a special interest in fire trucks, as he was involved in fire fighting for 5 years in his township. Chris enjoys boating on their 23 foot sea ray cabin cruiser and spending time in Mexico where his mother has a house. Chris says he would like to thank - “Margo who is the best – she is there for me at all the shows and helps me a lot. Hannah is only 9 years old and her riding skills are an inspiration” And my coach, Jodi Mallette is awesome, she helps me with all the difficult, frustrating moments at the shows and takes all the time I need to work through a situation.” Chris - keep up the hard work and I am sure you will reap the rewards in 2010! |