Deb
Beckett started riding English at the ripe old age of 5 – simply
because ENGLISH riding meant the safety of wearing a helmet, as
opposed to a cowboy hat in WESTERN. Deb says, "She didn’t care
if she had to wear goalie equipment, as long as she had the
opportunity to ride." Deb started showing in pony club which
introduced her to eventing and hunter schooling shows. She had
lots of "fun" showing her dad’s quarter horse. In practice, the
gelding would canter just fine, but in the show ring, once the
announcer called for a canter, her mount give a little pitch and
there Deb would be in the dirt. She must have been one
determined young lady, as Mac did this every show their first
summer of showing, but Deb kept coming back for more. Once her
legs were a little longer – she was able to survive a class
without eating the dust. When Deb was in her teens her family
tried the Owen Sound Area 2 Quarter Horse show and she was
hooked. She loves the hypnotizing rhythm of a western pleasure
horse. Deb’s current mount is Pine Sweet Caroline (Carly) – a 4 year old grey mare by Vested In Pine. This year Deb did All Around events, but will focus on her favourite events Western Pleasure and Trail (her new addiction) in 2009. In fact Deb’s most memorable this season (but probably one she would rather forget) was a bad to worse trail pattern at Carp. She was already off pattern, when she decided to end on a positive note with the gate – an easy obstacle for Carly. After she circled the gate 3 times, the judge finally felt sorry for her -and said, "If you face the yellow barn - the gate will be on your LEFT SIDE!" She really enjoys showing in Lead Line with her 4 year old daughter Taya and watching her 12 year old Summer in 13 & Under – Showmanship, Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle. This year Deb and her girls could be found at pretty much all the show circuits from Carp to Ilderton. Deb’s girls are really enthusiastic about showing – so she expects to be looking for a second mount in the near future.
All the travelling paid off this year, as Deb finished the show season as the OQHA Champion in Novice Amateur Showmanship and the Reserve High Point All Around Novice Amateur. In addition, Deb and Carly were the Area 3 Reserve Champions in Novice Amateur Showmanship and Summer and Carly were the Reserve Champions in 13 & Under Hunter Under Saddle. Deb has many people who have helped her to have such an amazing show season. Lindsay Grice has been her coach for about 3 years and she has learned so much from her. Deb’s family has been amazing - her mom encourages her to get out there and "DO IT", her dad lent "the girls" the infamous magic bus, husband Mike picks up the slack around the farm when she is not home for DAYS and she couldn't be without Summer - her partner in crime. Deb says, "Her daughters make her smile even when they’ve had a tough day or an endless drive."
Deb, Mike, Summer and Taya live in Tara – a small town near Owen Sound. The Beckett’s run a dairy farm and Deb and Mike share the farm duties. Deb is responsible for animal care, milking, breeding and sire selection and calf care. She really loves her job. In addition to the cows and Carly, they have 2 house cats – Rascal and Princess and a border collie – buddy who spent most of the summer naked from some severe food allergies. The family farming and horses pretty much run her life. She used to play ball and tries to get out to play broomball when not in the saddle. Her horse show back number 1010 originated from the number on her ball and broomball shirts.
A final note from Deb, "The girls and I had an awesome year - I learned so much and met a lot of great people along the way. I will miss many of them over the winter, but hey-only 6 more months................see ya on the rail......"