People outside the horse show world frequently wonder if competitors can be friends outside of the arena. For Kathryn deVries and Hilary Reinhard, the answer is a unequivocally ‘Yes’. The two exhibitors from California have been competing against each other for the past ten years while maintaining a strong friendship outside of the arena. This year, that friendship is taking on a new dimension.
Kathryn is expecting her second child this month, just one year after her first child was born. With the new baby on the way, she knew her life would be going through a major adjustment and wasn’t sure that she would be able to make it to as many circuits as she had previously.
Kathryn owns and exhibits three quarter horses. In the western performance classes, she shows, The Vital Invitation and Zippos Ultra Gold, both trained by Trendsetter Performance Horses. In the halter classes, she shows, My Good Intention, a two year-old stallion trained by Rose Santos.
While Kathryn was trying to figure out if she would have enough time to devote to all three horses, Hilary was coming to the realization that is was time to retire her longtime mount, Just As Sudden (Justin).
“At the end of last year, Kathryn (pictured right) and I were talking about our plans for 2015,” said Reinhard. “I mentioned that I was going to retire Justin after 2014. He turned 18 this year and after eight years of owning him, I knew it was time to give him the retirement he deserves–that left me without a horse for 2015. Meanwhile, Kathryn was worried about having too many. So, we found a mutually beneficial solution. For 2015, I will be leasing Zippos Ultra Gold (Magnum).”
Magnum has been Kathryn’s primary trail mount the since 2011. Together, they were the 2011 Novice Amateur Trail Congress Champion, the 2012 Amateur Trail Champion at the SmartPak West AQHA Novice Championship, Top Ten in Amateur Trail at the 2013 AQHA World Show and a finalist at the 2014 Congress in Amateur Trail.
“Magnum was the first horse that really allowed me to win some big titles. He’s a great horse with a ton of talent,” Kathryn said. “Allowing Hilary to show him this year gives me time to adjust to having two kids. I will continue to show Elvis (The Vital Invitation) in the western riding, trail, horsemanship and showmanship, but I’ve already qualified for the 2015 AQHA World Show in our best class, western riding, so I won’t have the pressure to hit every show to qualify.”
Hilary, a multiple World Show qualifier in western riding, has been in the stands cheering for Kathryn and Magnum for almost all of the awards that they’ve won. During Kathryn’s 2011 Congress win, the two friends were both training in the same barn and even though both have moved to new trainers since that time, the friendship has remained.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to show Magnum this year,” admits Reinhard. “I remember when Kathryn bought him. She had emailed me the link to his video during her horse search. I saw his video and said ‘Buy him!’ He’s incredibly talented.”
Kathryn and Magnum have turned out to be an amazing team and their success has given Reinhard big shoes to fill this year. She is looking forward to the challenge and learning more about showing trail.
Reinhard is appreciative of her good friend. “Horse showing has given me the opportunity to form friendships with some amazing people who are fierce competitors in the arena while still being huge supporters and good friends.”
Hilary and Magnum will be training with Mike Weaver Performance Horses in northern California. They attended their first show, Back to Basics at Rancho Murieta, where they were Circuit Champions in Amateur Trail and are already halfway qualified for the World in Amateur Trail.
Look for this new team at all the major shows, and, expect Kathryn to be back on the show scene with The Vital Invitation and My Good Intention soon after her baby is born.
