Equestrian has big boots to fill

By Keith Walker

Published: January 3, 2009

Kay Brady has some mighty big riding boots to fill, and the thing is, they're her own boots.

Brady and her horse Taffy won three titles last year from the United States Equestrian Association.

"I got all three in my division which is unusual," said Brady, an art teacher at Bull Run Middle School.

"It was awesome," the 53-year-said.

Taffy and Brady compete in equestrian competitions called "Eventing" where riders and horses prove their skills at dressage, stadium show jumping and cross-country jumping.

Eventing competitions can run over a couple of days, and riders and horses accumulate points throughout the year as they participate and win at the rallies.

Taffy, who is half quarter horse and half thoroughbred, won the top horse award in the beginner novice division, while Brady took a master beginner novice award as well as an amateur beginner novice award.

Brady, a lifetime western rider who lives with her husband, his horse and 13 cats on their farm in Markham, got into eventing by happenstance.

She bought Taffy, whose registered name is Homecoming Affair, seven years ago when he was a 3-year-old and started learning to ride English style.

"We fell into everything by going to a rally and he loved it. I loved it, and we just started taking lessons," Brady said.

Riders at the rallies get to see the jumps before they ride the stadium or cross-country courses, but the horses do not. Horses have to believe in their riders and be willing participants in the event.

"It's a matter of building trust with your horse," Brady said.

Last year, Taffy was injured and couldn't compete the Area Two Equestrian Championships in Illinois, so that's Brady's goal for this year.

To get to the area championships, riders and horses must win one of the top five positions in two rallies to qualify, Brady said.

"It's hard," Brady said. "It takes a lot of stamina physically and mentally."

Brady and Taffy will move up to the novice next year.

"It's going to be really fun, but I'm going to start off slow," Brady said. "The jumps get larger and everything gets more technical as you go up a level. I don't want him to be rushed."

Brady said she'll wait until 2010 to try again for three awards in one season.

"It was a grueling year. I learned a lot from it," Brady said of the 2008 season. "It was wonderful."

Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.