October was a busy, but a slow month for Saro and I. In the first week of the month, we got ready and prepared for our big Ontario High School Rodeo Association debut of the 2025-2026 season. We focused on a few different barrel and pole drills to get us ready for clean, and fast runs.
At the rodeo, Saro exceeded so many expectations and ran 2, 24 second pole runs, which are our new personal bests. Saro also ran some fast clean barrel runs. All 4 runs got us on the leader board and we scored some points to start the season off!
And as the month carried on, we headed to our last show of the year, at the Norwood fair. With every success there are also fails, and it’s all a part of learning. We did not have the day we wanted, but with it we took a lot of lessons to heart and recapped all the mistakes and we will continue to work and grow with those things.
After Norwood, Saro has earned a well-deserved break. A little time off to give her the chance to recharge physically and mentally. In turn it gave me time to reflect on everything the 2025 show season has taught us. Our focus will now shift to preparing for the winter months. This is the time when foundations are built—when we slow down, evaluate, sharpen skills, and strengthen the partnership. We’re introducing new exercises, refining old habits, and working to become even better for the 2026 season. The next few months will be all about growth: gathering what we’ve learned, building on it, and refreshing both our minds and our connection. As we move forward into a new season of growth, I’m proud of how far we’ve come—and even more excited for where we’re headed.
As we close out this chapter, there’s one thing that stands out clearly: gratitude.
I want to give a huge thank-you to New Start Standardbreds and the incredible team and horses behind it. Their support throughout this year has meant more than I can put into words. To everyone who has followed along on this journey—thank you. Your encouragement, messages, and belief in us make this experience even more meaningful.
Being the sponsored rider for 2025 has been an honor I’ll carry with me throughout my riding career. I’m grateful for the opportunities it brought, for the experiences it allowed me to have, and for the amazing people it introduced me to.
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