If
you didn’t recognize her horse – then you may have recognized
her show clothes!!!!! Leanne Quail last showed her 11 year old
gelding – Tool Belt (Steeler) in 2003 – THEN - a dark grey.
When she returned to the show ring this year – she had the same
show clothes as 5 year ago, but the horse didn’t quite look the
same – Steeler is NOW white!!Leanne took a break from showing to attend Georgian College where she received an Honours Diplomas in Business Administration and Human Resources Studies. She currently works for her parent’s company – Paul Quail Transportation as the HR/Safety and Compliance Manager.
Outside of work, Leanne enjoys playing golf, trail riding, horse showing, training her yearling Frosted In Detail (Charlotte) and snowmobiling.
Leanne has been riding since she was seven and bought her first horse when she was ten. She had a "horse fund" box for years where she put every penny. Her first horse was a Welsh Arabian 13.1hh grey pony and she says, “The crazy stuff that I did with him, I shouldn't be alive today.” At the same time Leanne bought her pony, her mom bought a quarter horse and they have been "collecting" quarter horses ever since – current count is five.
Leanne started showing on the AQHA show circuit in 1998 with Passum by Deposit. She bought Steeler in 2000 and had a couple of very successful show season with him as a youth. Leanne says she remembers her first class with Steeler at Teen Ranch in 2001. The pair won the Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle class under both judges and everyone laughed at Steeler’s registered name. The same year Steeler and Leanne won the Summerama HUS Champion circuit award and Steeler was the 2001 Area 3 Champion HUS horse. In 2002, Leanne received a Youth ROM.
Steeler had always been a Hunter Under Saddle horse and this year Leanne added Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship, and Trail to their show repertoire. The highlight of the 2008 show season was winning the High Point Novice Amateur award for the Area 3 Novice Show. This was the first show that the pair showed in Trail and they won the class to clinch the award. Leanne loves showing Steeler and says, “Although he is not the quietest horse – he is very honest and responsive.” He is her friend and she couldn’t imagine every parting with him!
Leanne really enjoyed her return to the show circuit this year. She had fun seeing old acquaintances and meeting new people. She was proud of Steeler’s performance and the fact she has done the work with him without a trainer. Although, she really appreciates the help she received at the shows from Jodi Mallette. Sherry, Leanne’s mom has always been very supportive of her daughter’s hobby - driving her to lessons, buying horses, scrubbing stains out of Steeler, paying for shows, helping her get ready for classes and giving her endless opportunities. It was great to see Sherry again this year – cheering on her daughter and getting teary when Leanne would win a class. A couple of shows this year, Sherry wasn't able to attend and Leanne was LOST without her.
Leanne will return to the show ring in 2009 with Steeler and her filly Charlotte. Leanne would love it if one day her mom would take over showing Steeler while she shows Charlotte. You just never know what the future holds!!??? We look forward to seeing the Quails and their horses next show season!