“It seems like I’ve been with horses since the moment I got home from
the hospital!” eleven year-old MacKenzie Chapman said.
The quote by this young equestrian from Battle Creek, Michigan
sums up the relationship she and her mother, Kelly Boles Chapman have with
horses. The whole Chapman family including father, Rob and son, Reece, six, is
involved with the family farm. They raise cattle, hogs, and horses. The family
also shows heifers, Angus and Herefords, and market hogs. Walking the pigs is something that the family does almost every
day.
Kelly explains why she loves horses and the livestock industry.
“It’s a lifestyle for us, and one that we chose as a place to raise our kids.
My philosophy has always been that if you send kids to bed physically tired
from working, riding, playing outside or sports, they can’t get in as much
trouble,” she said. “Our kids have chores everyday to do–even the six year-old
has to scrub buckets or something similar. The agricultural industry is perfect
for instilling a strong work ethic and values.”
Kelly considers “Mom” her primary occupation, but in addition to
training, instructing, and judging, her family breeds, raises and sells several
horses a year. She also works with a local foundation, primarily in review of
business plans for non profit organizations and related projects. Her husband,
Rob, is a ruminant (beef cattle) nutritionist by training, but works
as a pharmaceutical sales rep.
Chapman’s kids are her source of pride. Her son, Reece, is six and
is just finishing kindergarten. Her daughter MacKenzie is 11 and just finishing
fifth grade. “Where Reece’s big announcement every day is ‘I stayed on green at
school’ (meaning he didn’t get in trouble), MacKenzie is very driven regarding
her classes and schoolwork. She pushes herself hard, pretty much A’s and a few A minuses, and tested into advanced math classes for this upcoming school year,” the
proud mom said. “She loves playing volleyball, and is into several school
activities. She can’t wait to get home to her horses, pigs and heifers
everyday.”
When asked about her proudest achievements in school and the horse
show arena, MacKenzie replies “I most always get A’s in school, and our
broadcasting team did good enough to get to go to a conference in Grand
Rapids
this year – that was really fun,” she said.
Like many trainers’ children, MacKenzie’s had to ride whatever
they had in the barn. “We’ve been very fortunate that she’s been able to ride
some nice horses,” Kelly said. “I remember when Wayne Davis first had me ride
Do Not Skip The Zip – I thought he was going to buck me off! Wayne thought
MacKenzie would get along just fine with the gelding, so ‘Tommy’ went home with
us, and a few months later, MacKenzie won the Small Fry Horsemanship at the
Congress on him.”
Last year, Kelly said her daughter had a great APHA Youth World
Show with three buckles and a reserve all around. “On the way home, I asked her
to write down her top ten favorite memories from the show. I kind of thought
she’d write about what she’d won, but not one of the things she wrote down was
about winning a buckle,” she said. “Instead, it was about the fun she had there
– late night golf cart rides, the dance, the fun activities that APHA
organizes, getting to ride Sensational Blonde, going through her trail pattern
without a single tick or break, etc. I was pretty proud of her for that
perspective.”
Chapman
mentions there are many positives and also challenges being Mackenzie’s mom and
coach. “Of course, the positives are being able to spend so much time with her.” Kelly goes on to say, “Challenges are like any
parent but it helps to have great friends that help guide her too – if I’m busy, she
doesn’t hesitate to go ask for help to school through a pattern or to assist
her on something. Horse shows often seem like the village it takes to raise a
child! It’s a hard balancing act sometimes
to make sure your customers are ready and taken care of, and your own child
too. I can’t tell you the number of times someone else has gotten her dressed,
saddled, schooled in the pattern and ready to go while I’m off getting someone
else’s horse ready.”
Again this year, MacKenzie is showing Sophie (A Pure Pleasure), an eight
year-old mare by A Sudden Pleasure, in showmanship, horsemanship, and
equitation, and Moe (My Mojos Hot), a four year-old gelding by Think Im Hot, in
the hunter under saddle. This overachiever likes to show in the all-around, so
she shows in the halter, showmanship, horsemanship, equitation, hunter under
saddle, trail, and western pleasure. MacKenzie and Sophie, have also shown in the reining, and they are
working on their lead change. She thinks the barrels are fun, too! MacKenzie
also wanted to make sure we knew that she and her equine partner Sophie LOVE
ice cream!
As far as horse related accomplishments, Mackenzie is proud of
getting her timing down for lead changes and strides in the jumping. Mackenzie
has been taking jumping lessons at a hunter barn near their home and, she loves
it. She would like to show in the over fences classes someday. When asked about
her show accomplishments, a couple instances stand out for her: “I did win the
Quarter Horse Congress in the Small Fry Horsemanship, and the Walk Trot
Horsemanship at the APHA Youth World last year. That was pretty fun.”
MacKenzie says that her family always has fun at the shows. She
says that last year’s APHA Youth World was fun, especially in the dog races.
“We didn’t bring our dog, but I got to enter the Gooding’s dog, Chauncey. We
practiced, had treats, I thought we were ready, and when the race started, she
(Chauncey) wouldn’t move a muscle! I
think a dog with three legs won!”
MacKenzie’s future aspirations is to become a large animal
veterinarian. “I’ve been able to help when our vets geld our colts, during
breeding, and other things. For the near future, I’m going into sixth grade
next year but will be taking math with the seventh graders – I’m excited but a little
nervous too!”
Judging livestock also runs in the Chapman family. Kelly is a
multi-carded judge and hold cards with AQHA, APHA, NSBA, PHBA, ApHC. She also is judging the AQHYA World Show for
the first time this year. During the same time this mother of two is judging
the Youth World this summer, her husband will be judging the prospect steers
and heifers at The Ohio State Fair. The couple met as youth kids when they
were showing livestock, but didn’t start dating until undergrad at Michigan State
University. They were on the Michigan State University Livestock and Horse
Judging Teams.
Kelly loves to judge and teach seminars at several judges schools
across the country. She enjoys evaluating and sorting horses, regardless of the
class. “I think every one that walks into the pen should enjoy it, be excited
about it, and want to do the best job possible for each horse in each class,”
she said. “Of course that translates to doing the best possible job for
exhibitors, too, but I feel a particular commitment to doing right by each
horse. At the seminars, I try and relay this to all judges – enjoy it, know
what you value and believe in, and stand by your convictions.”
This distinguished judge has some advice for the exhibitors
showing at the AQHYA World show this year. “Those exhibitors that display
confidence always stand out for me.
Confidence that comes from trusting your horse, which you can only get
by knowing your horse, truly seems to separate some competitors above the
rest.”
Kelly adds, “In the pattern classes, I look for those exhibitors
that ride like true horsemen with a lot of feel and timing. As for those riders
who simply ‘perch’ on their horse – their horse may be very well-schooled, but
I really want to see the rider display their skills as a horseman –not just as
a passenger.”
The Youth World isn’t just another horse show, Kelly says, so
enjoy it! “Take advantage of some of the
great opportunities at the show that AQHA provides – meet your fellow
competitors, visit the cool places in Oklahoma City. You’ve earned the opportunity to be there, so
maximize your experience. Competing at
the Youth World should be a great experience that makes for lasting memories.”
