09/20/2026
Yesterday at the English Horse Show at the Bracebridge Fall Fair was one of those days I don’t think any of us will forget. ❤️🐴
I am SO incredibly proud of this team.
Emily rode Friday’s Coming.
Lily rode Ardnaglass Touch of Quality.
Ruby rode ThornHill Farm’s Crown Royal.
Charlie also rode Ardnaglass Touch of Quality.
Four girls. Three horses. One TEAM.
And yesterday, they showed exactly what being a team means.
They didn’t just show up, get on their horses and ride. They worked together from start to finish. They helped get the horses ready. They supported each other. They cheered for each other. They stepped in when someone needed a hand. They celebrated each other’s good rounds and were there for each other through the tough moments.
There were solid hunter trips, solid jumper trips, ribbons brought home and some really great riding.
But the ribbons weren’t what made me proudest.
It was the grit.
Grit is continuing when you’re tired. It’s being nervous and riding into that ring anyway. It’s making a mistake and coming back determined to do better. It’s putting in the work at home when nobody is watching. It’s learning your horse, working through the hard days and showing up again.
And these girls have GRIT.
I know how hard each one of them has worked with their horses to get here. I’ve seen the frustrating rides, the lessons where things didn’t click, the setbacks, the breakthroughs and those little moments when suddenly all the hard work starts coming together.
And I have to say, as their coach, yesterday really tugged at my heart.
Standing there watching these four girls, who make up our show team this year, honestly brought tears to my eyes at times.
There is something so emotional about watching riders you coach walk into that ring and seeing pieces of everything you have worked on together come through. Seeing their confidence. Seeing their determination. Watching them problem solve. Watching them come out of the ring smiling. And then watching them immediately turn around and support the next teammate going in.
Those are the moments that make me so incredibly proud to be their coach.
Not because everything was perfect. Not because they brought home ribbons. But because of the riders and teammates they are becoming.
They have worked HARD for this.
And yesterday we got to see that work pay off.
One of my favourite parts of the entire day happened outside the ring too.
So many friends and family came out to support these girls. And it wasn’t four separate families only cheering for their own child. They were cheering for ALL of them.
When one of our girls entered that ring, our whole crew was behind her.
That means so much to me.
To the parents, thank you. Thank you for the early mornings, long days, driving, support and encouragement. Thank you for trusting me with your girls and their riding. Getting to coach them and watch them grow with their horses is something I am incredibly proud of.
A huge thank you to my parents too, for being there for the riders and the whole crew, keeping everyone supplied with snacks, drinks and whatever else we needed throughout a very busy day. ❤️
And thank you to everyone behind the Bracebridge Fall Fair English Horse Show who put the time and work into giving these riders a place to compete and make memories together.
There were smiles everywhere. Laughter. Cheering. Nerves. Determination. Proud families. Happy riders. And some pretty special horses.
Yes, we came home with ribbons.
But there is one ribbon that means something a little different at ThornHill Farm.
I have custom ThornHill Farm Champion ribbons made for our riders because I want every rider who goes out there and represents ThornHill to know that, to us, they are already a champion.
So yesterday, each of these four girls received her own ThornHill Farm Champion ribbon. 🏆❤️
That ribbon has nothing to do with first place, second place or where you finished in a class.
It means you showed up.
It means you put in the work.
It means you had the courage to ride through that gate.
It means you supported your teammates.
It means you respected and cared for your horse.
It means you kept going when things were hard.
It means you represented your barn, your horse, your team and yourself with pride.
At ThornHill, being a champion isn’t decided by the colour of the ribbon hanging on your horse’s bridle at the end of the day.
It’s about the rider you are becoming and the teammate you choose to be.
Emily, Lily, Ruby and Charlie, I hope when you look at those ThornHill Farm Champion ribbons years from now, you remember what they represent.
You earned them long before you ever stepped into that show ring.
Watching you four grow into the riders you are becoming and seeing how you show up for one another hits me right in the heart. Being your coach is something I’m incredibly proud of. ❤️
And our horses deserve their recognition too. Friday’s Coming, Ardnaglass Touch of Quality and ThornHill Farm’s Crown Royal carried their riders through a big day and gave these girls the opportunity to learn, compete and make memories.
This is our 2026 show team.
Four girls. Three horses. A whole crew standing behind them.
And four ThornHill Farm Champions. 🏆❤️🐴
This is one we won’t forget.
