For Michelle, her most memorable and most forgettable horse show moments happened at her very first Quarter Horse show – the 2007 Area 3 Spring Classic. The first day of the show Michelle had a bad case of nerves and couldn’t muster the courage to enter the show ring with her 4 year old gelding Ima Cool Temon (Riley). When Sunday rolled around though, she was all ready to go and walked away with a Grand Champion award for Amateur Geldings. Michelle shows Riley in Amateur Geldings 3 & Over, Open Aged Geldings and Novice Amateur Showmanship. Her favourite classes are Showmanship and Trail. She had a very successful freshman year with Riley - finishing the year as the Area 3 Champion in Open Aged Geldings and Amateur Geldings 3 & Over. Riley earned his ROM in Open Halter this year as well.

Michelle lives in Elmvale with Dean Bissonette and two of Dean’s five children. In addition to Riley – pets include an English Bulldog named Dot and a Teacup Poodle named Chloe. Riley is boarded at Northern Stables owned by Sheree and Phil Noon. located in Springwater Township. Michelle is a Lead Hand Custodian, at Elmvale District High School and has worked for the Simcoe County District School Board since March 1988. She is currently the Vice President of C.U.P.E Local 1310 which represents the custodial and maintenance personnel: 380 full time employees and 100 casual custodians. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, baking and golfing. Michelle, Dean and Amy, Dean’s daughter also enjoy helping out on Sundays at Northern Stables.

Michelle’s interest in horses started with a breed quite different from Quarter Horses. She owned a Belgium mare in the 1990’s which she showed in fall fairs. For a brief time, she owned a Quarter Horse mare - Ivy’s Sweet Dream Gal (Copper) and she took her to the Coldwater Fall Fair where they placed 5th in Showmanship. However, her real jump into the Quarter Horse world was in August 2004 when she purchased Riley from Gary and Linda Gordon of Fossil Gate Farms located in Texas. During the 2005 show season, Riley was shown in Halter by Don Heeley and was the Area 3 Year-End Champion 2 Year Old Gelding.

Michelle has many people who support her horse showing. Her biggest support is Dean, who travels to the shows with her. She has been taking Showmanship lessons from Kelly Simpson and Pat Chamberland and in September she started taking riding lessons again – Kelly and Pat have been great; Sheree and Phil Noon, who put up with Michelle daily; Wendy Cairncross, who is always there to help her and take her shopping!; Tara Westcott, her niece and Jeanne Cascagnette, who helped Michelle get started and picked Riley out for her. A big Thank You to everyone!

Michelle says, “As this was our first year showing together, I am very proud of what we achieved. Riley is an excellent minded horse, and I am excited about moving into the next phase, riding!”

Best of luck with your riding lessons and we’ll look for you in the Novice Amateur Riding Classes in 2008!