People always ask me at what age I started riding horses. I guess the true answer is, “since before I was born.” My mom showed American Saddlebreds long before I was around, and continued to ride in the early stages of her pregnancy. Not only did my mom show Saddlebreds, my brother did as well. And now, my sister, my cousin, and I all show American Saddlebreds. One could definitely call horse riding “our family sport.” I got my first horse, a miniature pony named Moonbeam, when I was two years old. Although I did not begin competing until the age of ten, after getting Moonbeam I spent almost all of my days at the barn. Whether it was at our barn or my Aunt’s barn, Santiago Stables, I could always be found around the horses .
I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with my parents, and I’ve had the chance to ride horses in Spain, England, France, Italy, Romania, New Zealand, and Botswana. My family also took many trips out to Wyoming to go on trail rides through the mountains. The most common subject at the dinner table was horses; they were something that every person in my family had been around and felt connected to.
I began showing with DeLovely Farm when I was ten years old, and my first show horse was named Imagination Station. She was the first of many tremendous Saddlebreds that I have been blessed to own. Although it was a slow and steady process becoming the rider that I am today, each horse taught me something new.
Since my mom showed horses, I was eager to receive her input and advice on my riding. And even though there is a large age difference between my sister and I, showing horses allowed us to become closer than I ever dreamed we would be. Between rooming together at horse shows and hanging out at the barn, our relationship developed into something very special. I feel so blessed to be involved in a sport that my sister and I can do together. I am seventeen and she is thirty, but we have the same interest and the same love for horses and that bonds us together. In fact, the same horse, Imagine My Surprise, or “Leo,” that carried my sister to a World’s Championship in the Adult Three-Gaited Pleasure division two years ago, carried me to a World’s Championship in the Senior Equitation division this year. Leo still nickers, hoping for a treat, when Ashley walks by his stall. He stole both of our hearts and our love for him has strengthened our relationship immensely.
Hunter at the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Trials (Laura Elcock)
But Leo is far from being the only special horse in the Chancellor family. My five-gaited horse, Tonto, has stolen the hearts of all my family members. He is powerful, big, and exciting to ride and watch. He has a white face and three white legs, making him stand out in a crowd. The thing that makes him so special though is that he is completely blind in one eye and has been since he was a yearling. Although he is blind in his right eye, one would never guess it. He completely trusts his rider to guide him, and he never holds back. It is not hard to fall in love with Tonto. My dad says that if he could, he would bring Tonto in the house with him. I have to say that I agree with my dad.
In an age where many families are growing apart and not spending much time together, our family’s love for horses allows us to share a special bond. We have been blessed with very special horses that help our relationships grow. Trail riding, competing in shows, and hanging out at the barn are all fun activities that bring us closer as a family.
As Winston Churchill so aptly said, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” I think that goes for families, too.