Meet Rising Star... Caitlin Henderson

The team at Horsezone is keen to find out more about what young riders are up to and how they are working towards achieving their horsey goals. The juniors are the future of all horse sports, so in our opinion they are VIPs!

This week we catch up with 17 year old Caitlin Henderson from Kangaroo Point, NSW. Caitlin has been riding for 8 years now. She owns three horses, which keep her very busy with training for and competing at Australia's top Western Performance shows.

Caitlin has now been chosen to compete on the AQHA Trans Tasman Youth Team and is hoping to make the team going to Texas in 2014. To be part of the team Caitlin has to raise funds, so she is running a small stallion auction with services to two Quarter Horse stallions up for grabs - Chips Texas Star and Playin To Style.

View the stallion auction and place a bid

Now, let's find out more about this dedicated and ambitious young horsewoman...

Caitlin, how and when did you first become involved with horses?

It was at the Easter show when I was about 8. We were talking to a man who owned a Clydesdale and he asked me if I wanted to have a ride, and I said yes. He walked me around the stables on his horse. I loved it so much, I asked mum if I could have a lesson. We went to Centennial Park stables and I had my first lesson on a 17hh horse and I was hooked.

What horse sports do you compete in?

I compete in as many classes as I can at Western Performance shows (dependant on the horse I am showing) in both English and Western events. Hunter Under Saddle is my favourite event.

Why do you love Western Performance?

I love this sport because you never stop learning. You have to have an amazing connection with your horse and every time I go to see my horses they always manage to put a smile on my face. When I first started competing I used to get really nervous but your horse knows when you are nervous and often does not perform their best. Now I go to the competitions knowing I have done all I can to prepare myself and my horse for our events and am much more relaxed. I am also part of a team so when we are competing we have lots of support from friends and family, friendly rivalry and lots of fun. Competing is great but it also needs to be fun for both you and your horse. As long as you come home happy with how you have ridden and how your horse has performed that is all that is important. Winning is a bonus.

Tell us about your horses?

I love each and every one of my horses though every now and then you bond with one just that little bit more. You learn something different from each one and it is really hard to say good bye when it is time to find them a new home. I have three horses I am working with at the moment HPH Nutn Buta Gold Digger (Halo) my 4 yr old Quarter Horse mare who has just taken me to a National Championship; DMB Gambling Man (Cash) my 2 yr old Quarter Horse/Paint gelding who I am hoping will be a very competitive Hunter Under Saddle horse; and I also have a Paint yearling/rising 2yo filly we call Storm who we are starting to break in. They all keep me really busy.

What are some of the challenges you face with training and competing?

There are many challenges you face with training and competing on horses. The biggest challenge you face is gaining trust in your horse, the more trust you have in your horse, and them in you  the better you will perform as a team. It isn’t a sport where you train for an hour once a week and play an hour game. It requires a lot of time and commitment. When preparing for a show you spend even more time than normal with your horse. Bad weather, throwing a shoe etc can really put you on the back foot.

You have to have a good connection with your horse to compete well in any discipline. Mutual respect needs to be earned and it comes after many hours/weeks/months and even years of training. As the discipline I have chosen has many different events (Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, Showmanship, and a number of pattern classes) both horse and rider have to train hard to learn how to perform in all of the different events. It is not unusual for a Western Pleasure trained horse to be in full time training during the competition season. I am lucky to work for my trainer Glen Stibbard who has won many National Titles himself and is happy to share his knowledge so that I am able to do a lot of the training myself with his guidance.

How often do you train/ride?

I ride between 4 – 5 times a week and daily leading up to and during big competitions.

What achievement, so far, are you most proud of?

My biggest acheivements would be winning Senior Youth Hunter Under Saddle at Q13 Nationals with my horse HPH Nutn Buta Gold Digger and winning the same event at the NSW State Quarter Horse Show and also being chosen to be part of the Trans Tasman team, which competes against New Zealand  in September this year. I also had the opportunity to show Boston Beau at the Paint Nationals and we won the Youth Western Riding event and it was the first time I had ever competed in that class it was pretty special.

Who inspires you and who are your role models?

My inspiration is my horses and a great love for what I do. I cannot imagine my life without horses and showing. It brings me so much pleasure. As for role models there are obvious ones and some not so obvious. I try to learn something from each person I meet and talk to or that I watch in the show ring. There are too many to name!

What advice can you give to other young people wanting to get involved with western showing?

My advice is to ride as many different horses as you can because every horse will teach you something different and the more you learn the better you will get. And never give up, it isn’t always easy but it is so worthwhile.

What are you most looking forward to?

In the short term I will keep working hard with my horses to have them ready to compete in the next show season. When I finish my HSC this year I will continue studying (maybe Equine Vet Nursing) as well as continue working with Glen at Helensburgh Performance Horses. I look forward to competing with the rest of the team at the Trans Tasman Competition. Longer term I hope to get onto the Youth World Cup team that goes to Texas next year, I think it would be amazing experience and an opportunity to learn new things from different trainers and horses. I would like to stay in America for a few months next year to experience their show season and to work with different trainers.

Is there a horse sport you'd love to try?

Honestly there isn’t! I love Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle, I am definitely hooked on this discipline of horse riding, though there are still some events such as Western Riding and Reining that I would love to be able to compete in.

If you could have a ride on any horse in the world - who would it be?

Wow that’s a good question. I am happy riding the horses I do as each of them teach me something every day. When you ride a horse trained by someone else you need to learn how that horse has been trained to get the best out of them. As I love Hunter Under Saddle I would love to have a ride on USA-based stallion, Iron Age, he is just gorgeous.

How do you spend your spare time?

Between school, work and my horses I don’t have a lot of spare time but when I do I spend it with my friends and my boyfriend. Just hanging out, going to the movies or out to dinner and having a laugh together.

Do you have any other animals besides your horses?

I have a dog called Ebony and a cat called Ellie

What is your favourite:

Movie? Pitch Perfect

Song? Change Your Life by Little Mix

Food? My sister’s homemade satay chicken and coconut rice

Where would you like to be in 10 years?

I would like to continue showing horses and being near the animals and people I love. I will never be happy having a job that doesn’t involve being around horses and animals. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to be able to be a horse trainer and to help others achieve their dreams.

Shout out to your supporters?

A big thank you to my family, especially my mum, my boyfriend and our Helensburgh Performance Horse Team I couldn’t do it without them, I love them all so much. And of course my trainer Glen Stibbard who has taught me everything I know and has supported me and been by my side every step of the way to pursuing my dreams. Thank you also to the incredibly generous Glen Stibbard and Karen and Kevin Gorrie (KNK Quarter Horses) for donating services to their wonderful stallions to help with my fundraising efforts! 

Thank you so much for your time Caitlin! We wish you all the best for the Trans Tasman competition and for getting onto the team for Texas next year.

Quick Links

• View stallions in Caitlin's fundraising service auction and place a bid
• View Western Pleasure horses for sale on Horsezone

Story: Jo Johnson/Horsezone  Photos: Ace Photography