Caitlyn Black has been riding ever since she can remember. She started showing in club shows, and then moved up to showing the AQHA Circuit. Caitlyn has shown under the guidance of Lindsay Grice for the past six years and has also received help from her Mom and her sister, Sarah. Caitlyn told me that she is extremely grateful for all their help, although she may not show it all the time. Caitlyn has been showing Generally Charming (Tye) for the past four years. In that time period, Caitlyn and Tye have come home from the Area 3 and OQHA banquets with numerous High-Point and All Around awards.

In 2006, Caitlyn was chosen to represent Canada at the World Cup in Texas, competing against teams from all around the world. Caitlyn says, “It was one of the highlights of my horse show career so far. The people we met were fantastic, our coach (AQHA judge, Scott Neuman) was awesome, the horses and riders were talented, and we had excellent clinicians to help us bond with our new mounts. It was so exciting to meet people from all over the globe who shared the same passion as me.” Caitlyn had an amazing experience, and came home with a Gold medal. Caitlyn said that when they announced she had won the Gold medal, the announcer said: “And the Gold medal winner for Hunter Under Saddle . . . from Canada . . .” and then that’s when everyone started cheering so loud, that Caitlyn did not even hear her name. She said that she wasn’t sure whether or not it was her . . . or Melissa (a fellow team member), who was beside Caitlyn. Melissa hadn’t moved up to accept the medal, so Caitlyn decided that she would go. When Caitlyn got there, she dismounted, accepted her medal, and then everyone bowed their heads for the national anthem. Caitlyn told me that it was a truly special and irreplaceable moment of her life. She said she was so ecstatic from her win that she forgot she was drawn first for Equitation, the class following Hunter Under Saddle. When Caitlyn went into the arena, she couldn’t remember the pattern and lined up starting at the wrong cone! Luckily, her coach, Scott, yelled to her to start at the other cone. Caitlyn told me that after that, the pattern came back to her, and despite her confusion, she placed 8th. Caitlyn also came home from the prestigious Youth World Cup with several other top ten placings, including: 9th in Showmanship, 3rd in Equitation (on the first day), and 7th in Hunter Under Saddle (on the first day). Caitlyn said, “Our Canadian team made strong friendships with each other and the other teams, especially the Australian team. Being in Texas, the heart of the AQHA, polished off the entire mood. I left Texas not wanting to return home, even though I had been away from home for two weeks.”

Caitlyn had shown on the Youth Congress team in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, she represented Ontario in Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship. Caitlyn has had many spectacular and memorable rides, but making the semi-finals in the Youth 15-18 Hunter Under Saddle class was a favourite ride. Unfortunately this year, life took a tragic turn, when two weeks before Caitlyn left for the Congress, Tye fractured her tibia. Caitlyn and Tye were unable to show in Showmanship for the NYATT team, as well as their other classes. However, thanks to Kathy Patterson, Caitlyn was able to show. Kathy Patterson arranged for Caitlyn to have her ride substituted and she showed her sister’s horse, “Good Lookin Dynamics.” Caitlyn practiced hard with Moe, and had a respectable pattern. Although she did not make it back to the finals, she could justify taking a week and a half off of Grade 12!

Caitlyn has had amazing success in the show ring! This past year, Caitlyn and Tye ended up 9th overall in the AQHA Limited Rider Hunter Under Saddle. Caitlyn’s future goals include showing at the Youth Worlds.

Good Luck this year Caitlyn! You and Tye are an amazing team, and we are rooting for you! l