Jennifer Campbell

Jennifer is pictured here with her daughter Susan & her show partner Mr Te Skips Softly.

By Sarah Donnelly
oqhaqueen2006@hotmail.com

Anyone that has been familiar with Area 3 competitors in the last couple of years surely knows of Susan Campbell and Mr Te Skips Softly and their up and coming success as a team. However, not everyone knows of the dedicated team members behind this winning pair. I would like to introduce to our fellow Area 3 members a new addition to our local show ring – please give a warm welcome to Jennifer Campbell – mother, confidante, team player, seamstress and now fellow select amateur competitor extraordinaire!

Jennifer lives in the beautiful Caledon Hills, a very convenient 3 minutes from our timeless Caledon Equestrian Park – home to several of our Area 3 events. Jennifer resides there with her husband Hugh, her daughter as mentioned before – Susan, and what she refers to as their “crazy cat Sissy”. Jennifer has worked for over 10 years in the credit card processing industry for several merchants and has owned her own consulting business for this duration of time. Prior to her current career, she worked for several companies in the financial sectors with a keen interest in bank office processing and operations, and moreover credit and debit card insurance.

Jennifer is not new to our industry, but is a fresh new face and team in the show pen now having had one full season under her belt as an Area 3 Select Amateur Competitor – focusing on showmanship classes with her daughter Susan’s mount Mr Te Skips Softly. Jennifer’s love of horses originated when she was just a young girl growing up in downtown Toronto – a lifestyle that was so far from that of the peaceful Caledon Hills she now enjoys. Jennifer’s equine experiences were limited to trail riding at Don Valley Stables for a mere $2.00 an hour back in the day! It was pure heaven in Jennifer’s mind, and was worth saving every nickel, dime and penny she earned for that treat of the week – regardless of how “schooled” or not the trail riding mounts were! Jennifer fondly remembers how “automatic” several of the mounts were, and laughed off just for the pure joy of riding the fact that the horses there never seemed to pay attention to their rider.

In later years after starting a family of her own, Jennifer allowed her daughter Susan to begin taking lessons. This encouraged Jennifer to become more involved to better understand herself more venues of riding and showing – and so it began! Jennifer wants to thank her good friend and teacher, Barbara Newlands, for recognizing her love of horses, for her patience and understanding, and for the opportunity to practice on her horse Ima Rhonda Too. The thrill of riding alone, the tranquility found, and the wonderful ability to remove yourself from the chaotic world and day to day life will never be a memory Jennifer will forget to this day.

Jennifer ended up taking a break from riding herself to support her daughter Susan’s show career on her horse Pawley’s Corena. They traveled for several years competing on the saddle club circuit. This successful mother-daughter team felt it was time to move up in the competition level after achieving several goals on the saddle club circuit. Early mornings, cleaning and packing of tack, loading and unloading show clothing, late nights, bandaging, feeding, etc. etc. etc. did not end on this move on up to the Ontario Quarter Horse Association – but only intensified. Jennifer admits that she has sometimes become the pushy horse show mom not always seeing eye to eye with her daughter, but this has not changed her relationship with Susan over the years and she would not give it up for the world. Jennifer has finally convinced her husband Hugh that as the “golden years” fast approach them, that purchasing a home with more acreage and keeping a few horses – even if just for trail riding – is a goal that needs to be acquired in their lives. Jennifer in her heart knows she must have a quarter horse in her life at all times!

Jennifer’s favourite moment in her showing experience was placing fourth in her very first class against a tough group of select amateurs. A moment Jennifer would love to forget would be at an Orangeville show she forgot to do her quarters in a showmanship inspection because she was too busy reveling in the excellent pattern she has ran to get to that point – she feels that “focus” is her key objective this year. No worries Jennifer – you’re not alone in that avenue!

Jennifer is also well known for spending time out in the summer sun gardening, Sudoku puzzle solving, sewing and decorating. She spends several long hours at her sewing machine perfecting custom designed clothing for all the competitors at their barn. Jennifer finds it “sew” rewarding to be at the shows and see her outfits being worn and passed on through several of her team members.

For 2008, Jennifer intends on continuing to focus on her Select Amateur Showmanship – and expanding out to Novice Showmanship and Performance Halter. She intends on attending several clinics and working hard to attain the goal of that first place ribbon. It is certainly a feat to get out there and jump head first into the water with several horse show world Veterans, but continue on with that positive attitude Jennifer! Good luck and best wishes from your fellow Area 3 members and we look forward to meeting you at several of this years Area 3 shows!