Amateur Competitor Brittany Boyd and Dont Skip My Charms (Chester), have been very successful in their show careers so far—but they have unfinished business. Last year was a rough year for the pair. Chester had colic surgery in January, 2010 resulting in a slow recovery–leaving Brittany feeling unprepared going into the Congress and World later that year. However, in 2011, things are looking up for Boyd and Chester and they have considerable momentum going into these two major shows.
One of Brittany’s main goals was to step it up in the Horsemanship and
become more consistent. It’s their strongest event together, and they
have worked really hard to become highly competitive in this event.
So far this show season their hard work and focus has paid off. The duo has won the Horsemanship Circuit Championships at the Sugar Bowl Classic, the Arizona Sun Circuit and was Reserve Circuit Champions at the Redbud Spectacular. Most recently, she won the Amateur Circuit Championship in the Horsemanship at the Reichert Celebration.
The five-time Congress champs will be showing in the Amateur Performance Geldings, Amateur Showmanship, Amateur Western Riding, Amateur Trail, Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, and Amateur Horsemanship.
Come November, this team will also be searching for their first world
championship. The gold trophy at the AQHA World Show has been elusive so
far for Boyd but this year may be her year.
Boyd has been showing Chester since her last year of college and says that he has opened up so many opportunities for her in the Quarter Horse world.
“I thought once I went off to college that my dreams of winning a Quarter Horse World Championship were lost — he has rekindled that dream,” Boyd tells GoHorseShow. “My trainer, Reid Thomas, paired me with an incredibly talented and athletic animal, and I do believe that if we keep working hard we will someday come home with a gold trophy in the amateur division.”
Boyd speaks fondly about her friendship with long time trainer, Reid Thomas. “I’ve known Reid for 18 years now. Growing up, he was always like the protective older brother I never had. He has always found ways to teach life lessons to his students through riding horses.” (Photo © Hollie Byers)
Both from Corpus Christie, Texas, Thomas and Boyd have a relationship that has lasted nearly her entire life. “I’ve been helping Brit since she was seven,” Reid recalls. “It took her a couple years to speak more than a sentence or two to me. Now, we can read each others minds. We ride so much alike, it’s fun to work together on Chester because we are always able to read the situation and move in a positive direction,” Reid says.
Thomas found Chester from Chad and Barbie Evans during the fall of 2007.
“We bought him sight unseen. After knowing Reid for so long, we just knew that when he got a certain feeling and sound in his voice, we’d be sorry not to listen,” Brittany recalls. “Chester is the horse that gives us more than we ever are able to give him. He’s fun, mischievous and playful. He’s athletic, tough and graceful all at the same time. Even on his worst day, he won’t let me leave him without somehow showing he loves me. There’s no other like him, nor will there ever be.”
Brittany’s favorite wins with Chester have all been at the Congress. In 2008, they won the Novice Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, were Reserve Novice Amateur Western Riding, and won the Novice Amateur All-Around title. In 2009, they came home with the Amateur Versatility trophy. (Photo © Gillian Grace Chant)
One of Briitany’s favorite memories involves her win in the Congress Amateur Versatility class.
“We signed up with the intent of just having fun with it. We won the western pleasure and horsemanship, were fourth place in the hunter under saddle and in the pole bending,” Brittany said. “I wasn’t sure how the pole bending would go, but we went for it! I think Chester enjoyed running poles a little too much. It was a blast, and I’ll never forget that fun night I spent with my horse.”
This striking blonde says she loves the camaraderie in the horse industry. “We are in our own little world, and we understand each other and the passion we have for what we do,” she says. “No matter who’s wearing what, or winning what, for most of us, it all comes down to one thing — the love we have for some special horses.”
