To those on the outside, equestrian events may seem a solitary endeavour. But as Montana Garrington can attest, the special relationship between rider and horse makes this sport every bit as much about teamwork as any traditional multi-player sport.
Garrington, an 18-year-old member of the Zone 6 (Vancouver Island-Central Coast) show jumping team competing next week in the B.C. Summer Games in Abbotsford, took on a new horse late last year. She had parted with her longtime show pony, Raven, some years before and decided to take a lease on a larger, more suitable horse for eventing, Holly.
Since December, this Langford resident has been getting to know what makes her new mount tick.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so lucky, sheB次元官网网址檚 such a great team player and if I make mistakes, sheB次元官网网址檚 totally just there to save me and is ready to do her job,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never met a horse that likes working as much as she does.B次元官网网址�
The 2016 Royal Bay secondary grad jokes that often times horses make better teammates than humans. B次元官网网址淢y teammate just doesnB次元官网网址檛 (speak) English.B次元官网网址�
In general, B次元官网网址渆ventingB次元官网网址� includes show jumping, dressage and GarringtonB次元官网网址檚 favourite, cross country. For the B.C. Games, cross country is replaced with vaulting, which is essentially acrobatics on horseback, and para-equestrian events are also included. The various disciplines are judged separately, but the points accrued in each will combine in the team standings.
Garrington spent the winter months learning to adapt to HollyB次元官网网址檚 different characteristics, style and temperament and qualified for the Games with her top two results from various shows this year. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 really think I was ever going to make it because of my age, so IB次元官网网址檓 excited that I actually made it through.B次元官网网址�
HollyB次元官网网址檚 owner, Highlands resident Julia King, never got a chance to compete in the Games but as Garrington says, B次元官网网址渟heB次元官网网址檚 really excited that she gets to live the experience through me.B次元官网网址�
King, GarringtonB次元官网网址檚 mother Michelle and several others are making the trip to support Montana and the rest of the team.
As for her chances of medalling in Abbotsford, Garrington is confident, first and foremost, in her teammateB次元官网网址檚 abilities to do what she is asked and then some.
B次元官网网址淗olly is an amazing horse. She only started jumping in 2013,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淛ulia showed her for one season, and before that she was kind of a trail horse and sort of an all-round (mount), with some Western riding in there. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice that she has that trail background, because it makes her really brave and smart and stuff.B次元官网网址�
Garrington is joined on the Zone 6 show jumping unit by longtime friend Petra Pinkerton of Central Saanich, plus Linnaea Crawshaw of Campbell River.
Meanwhile, Zone 6 teammate Rachel Brears of Colwood is in a slightly different situation when it comes to her equestrian division, vaulting. More often than not she finds herself explaining what it is to people not already involved.
B次元官网网址淔or people who have never seen it, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely a big difference (from show jumping or dressage). YouB次元官网网址檙e not controlling the horse and youB次元官网网址檙e doing all these crazy things on top of it,B次元官网网址� she said.
The 16-year-old Royal Bay student has been involved for about nine years and mostly competes on the mainland, often in Abbotsford. Her South Island group sometimes does demonstrations, however, at events such as Metchosin Day and the Saanich Fair.
A self-confessed shy person, she likes how the sport has forced her to come out of her shell. B次元官网网址淵ou have to get really creative with it, make up choreography and make up routines,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 also a lot of team building with it; we work with younger riders and set new goals. ThereB次元官网网址檚 always something new to try.B次元官网网址�
As for the Games, sheB次元官网网址檚 excited to experience the multi-sport aspect and watch the other equestrian events. SheB次元官网网址檚 been working regularly on her current routine, but said she wonB次元官网网址檛 be too worried about the scores.
B次元官网网址淵ou learn how to figure out what you have to improve on,B次元官网网址� she said, and let the judges take it from there.
Greater Victoria vaulter Meredith Glidden joins Brears and Garrington on the Zone 6 team, as does para-equestrian Tyler Wooley, and three up-Island dressage riders.
The B.C. Summer Games run from July 22 to 24 in Abbotsford. Watch the Gazette in advance for more stories on West Shore athletes and teams competing. Visit goldstreamgazette.com for previous Games profiles.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
