29 years old and holding – Shannon Cairncross is a familiar face on the Area 3 show circuit. Shannon, along with mom Wendy, has been travelling to quarter horse shows for about 15 years. A true asset to Area 3 – Shannon serves as the Sponsorship Coordinator and in 2006, Shannon received the Helping Hands Awards which recognizes and thanks those special people who do not ask for accolades or payback, Sundays off or overtime.

Shannon lives in Orr Lake – a short 5 minutes from Shannon’s parent’s hobby horse farm. She is a proud aunt to her nephew Lucas Laird. Shannon also has a calico cat named Ester. Britney, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a well-known horse show companion to Shannon and Wendy at the shows. Shannon is a graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College in Human Resources Management. She is a National Accounts Manager for AppleOne Employment Services and is also covering a 1 year maternity leave in a dual role as a Branch Manager in Newmarket. She has been with AppleOne for 6 years and has earned a trip to Hawaii and a trip to Mexico and hopefully VEGAS this year! As a busy commuter who rides 4-6 times per week – she truly enjoys relaxing on her patio to wind down from her busy work week.

Shannon started showing in Lead Line at the ripe old age of 3! When she was born, her mother was heavily into Arabs. Shannon really wanted a donkey though and her dad said if she saved a ‘bushel basket’ full of pennies she could buy a donkey. By the time she actually collected the pennies (with lots of help from family); she had changed her mind and wanted a pony. With ‘Princess’ – Shannon really learned how to ride and showed at fall fairs and club show. Shannon then did the Arab circuit with her mom - after a couple of other mounts, mother and daughter went horse hunting. Not wanting to purchase a Quarter Horse or mare, they found Sheza Bit Of Holly (Holly) – both a mare and Quarter Horse. After showing on the club circuits and WHA and winning many awards – they discovered the Quarter Horse circuit when Shannon was 14 and would never have landed there if it weren’t for that horse Quarter Horse mare.

Due to the new rules, Shannon is a “born again Novice Amateur” in all classes except Showmanship. Shannon showed in Amateur for one year before the rules changed and she was able to show Novice once again. She shows in - Showmanship, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure and Hunt Seat Equitation with her horse Sheza Limited Edition (Gidget) and Hunter Under Saddle with her mom’s appendix horse Heza Wright Edition (Kelso) - both foals of her former show mount Holly – who is enjoying retired life at 21. Shannon and Wendy travel to the Area 3 shows and without an indoor arena – and no riding from Thanksgiving to mid March - it is a challenge for them to be ready for the Spring Classic. They do not have a coach or trainer, but help each other with their horsemanship skills. Shannon doesn’t show for the win, but more for the enjoyment of the horses and the people and to earn a personal best. It is a busy but fun way to spend vacation time. One year, Shannon travelled to Azilda to show and she earned her first AQHA all around trophy as a youth. That was when Northern Ontario had a Quarter Horse club and they ran a wonderful show up there…that was quite a trip. During her show career, Shannon has earned many Class High Point Awards and was the Area 3 Reserve All-Around Novice Amateur in 2003.

Shannon says there have been many memorable show moments and funny ones too – hard to recall! She won Summerama Showmanship one year as a youth. It was when several people showed for points from the states and there was one judge. (“We did 4 full day ALL CLASSES showing 4 days in a row”) She remembers thinking as she was teary “I JUST WON SUMMERAMA”. Going for her All-Around in Azilda was so fun; she showed in a few classes that she usually would not enter to get the points. One funny incident was when her mom offered to take Gidget as a yearling for a nice walk after her bath at a Palgrave show. As Shannon sat at the stall watching them, she witnessed her filly rolling in the dirt. Gidget would stop, drop and roll before you could even stop her. She couldn’t believe her eyes as her mom held her on a short rope and let the filly get down and dirty. Even though her ‘show mom’ wasn’t a lot of help this particular moment, she couldn’t do it without her mom in tow. Currently, Shannon’s favourite thing is having the tables turned, now that her mom is back into the show ring. It is so nerve racking being on the side lines. She says, “It is fun to share the actual showing with my mom again and the Select classes are so great to watch.” They now get ready together for the classes and wipe each others boots!

Shannon credits her mom for getting her into this hobby and supporting her through it – acting as horse show mom, driver, groom, cook and coach – she also makes most of the show clothes that Shannon wears. Shannon’s dad is involved at home whenever they need help with fences, stalls, getting the camper and trailer all ready to go for the shows and unloading when they get home so tired. When there was a show closer to home in Barrie, you would often see dad and brother arrive at the show with some kind of treat for them - then watch for 5 minutes on their way to Rugby, Golf, Hockey or Tennis to enjoy their hobbies. A family affair of sorts, from front-lines to side-lines to back-stage “the horses have been a part of our lives since I was born and I wouldn’t have it any other way”.