Attend any show in the world, despite the location, breed, discipline, or level, and there is one thing you are sure to find…horse show moms. They can be found with class lists in their pockets, taking lots of pictures, and a facial expression of nervous, excited or everything in between on their faces.
What happens when the tables are turned? What happens when a horse show mom wants her time in the spotlight? We sat down with a few horse show moms that will be competing at this year’s Congress to find out when they caught the horse bug, why they fell in love with the American Quarter Horse, and what it’s like to show alongside their child.
Jennifer D’Onofrio
Jennifer D’Onofrio of Upper Arlington, Ohio, has loved horses as long as she can remember. Around her second birthday, she began begging her family for a horse. Like most non-horse obsessed parents, he thought it was a phase that would pass. Jennifer’s dad promised her that, on her 10th birthday, she would get a horse… not expecting the obsession to last eight years, let alone a lifetime.
The phase didn’t pass. “I spent the next eight years getting my parents to chase horse trailers down the road so I could peak in the windows and take lessons when we could,” recalls D’Onofrio.
Jennifer’s dad kept his promise. She got her first pony when she was nine. The following year, her family purchased her first horse, Commander Teddy.
D’Onofrio started out at 4-H and open shows where she fell in love with the thrill of competition. Looking for more of a challenge, she stepped up to APHA shows. In 1988, the pair was third at the APHA World Show in 13 and Under Trail. Jennifer describes Teddy as her “once-in-a-lifetime” horse. Today, he is 32 years old, happily living out his days on her family’s farm.
This spring, D’Onofrio stepped foot in the show pen again for the first time in years. Over the winter, the opportunity arose to purchase Nearly Chocolate for her daughter, Bella. This lightened the work load on Just Good Enough, affectionately known as “Roanie,” enough for Jennifer to have her chance in the spotlight.
Jennifer started back slowly, only showing showmanship and trail to start. “Roanie is an excellent showmanship horse, so even though I was never great at it as a kid, I wanted to give it a try. Trail was always my favorite class so that was a given, even though trail is much different than it used to be!” states Jennifer.
As the year progressed, the D’Onofrio’s trainer, Missy Thyfault, encouraged Jennifer to challenge herself and add horsemanship, a challenge Jennifer was excited to take on.
D’Onofrio states that Thyfault has been a huge asset to her getting back in the show pen. “She has been a huge supporter for me and very encouraging. I’m very competitive by nature and can often be my own worst enemy. Missy has had to be part horse trainer and part sports psychologist!”
Another supporter is her twelve-year-old daughter Bella whois in her final year of 11 and under events with both Roanie and her new horse, Nearly Chocolate.
According to Jennifer, Bella is not only her greatest cheerleader but her role model for absolute confidence in the show pen. “We pick each other up if it doesn’t go well and celebrate the times it does, it’s like having your own cheerleader!” states Jennifer. “I’ve also learned a lot from her. She has nerves of steel and an amazing presence in the arena. When we are practicing trail, if I struggle with an obstacle, she makes sure she nails it on the first attempt… and gives me a wink afterward.”
D’Onofrio appreciates the opportunity to show with her daughter. “Most of all, I am grateful that we get to share this amazing bond, our love for horses, and the thrill of competition. It is a blessing I don’t take for granted. Each day is a gift… even if they are busier with both of us showing!”
Jennifer is looking forward to her first Congress this October. “Growing up showing APHA, I always went to the Congress to watch and shop, but never actually got to compete. This year, I’m going to be fulfilling a childhood dream of mine!” She will be competing in Novice Amateur Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Trail.
In the near future, Jennifer looks forward to branching out even more. She plans to show her current yearling by These Irons Are Hot in the two-year-old non-pro hunter under saddle events. It is safe to say that the horse bug is stronger than ever for this life-long equestrian!
Terri Van Slyke
Every little girl dreams of having her own pony, but for Terri Van Slyke of Nolensville, Tennessee, that was a reality. At the age of three, Terri acquired her first pony, and from then on, she was hooked. As a teenager, she wasn’t too involved with the horse industry, however, the love for horses remained.
After college, Van Slyke purchased her first barrel horse. She traveled the rodeo road for a period of time. She loved every second of it, and found some success, as well. After a 4 wheeler accident, she realized she needed a change of pace.
When her daughter, Katie, caught the horse bug, Terri did not hesitate to get her involved. The family became involved with all around horses, spending quite some time showing POAs. As the years passed, Terri took more of a backseat, allowing Katie to shine in the show pen.
Over recent years, though, Terri felt the itch to get back in the show pen. She began looking for the perfect horse. Her main requirement was that the horse would take care of her. That is when she met Dawn. This sweet mare, known in the show pen as These Eyes Adore You, was generously leased to Terri in 2014 by Montgomery Lee Petty.
Van Slyke wasn’t sure if she could find a horse as incredible as Dawn. That is until she met KM Brandy Girl, also known as “Beyoncé.”
Beyoncé’s sweet, gentle attitude made her a joy to show which is exactly what Terri was looking for. At this year’s Redbud in Oklahoma City, Terri made her debut with her new mare. They started out on a great note in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure, earning a first, second, and third their first time out.
“She takes care of me” Terri stated, in reference to Beyoncé. “I feel like, with her, I can enjoy myself and work towards a goal.”
Shortly after the Redbud, Terri brought her new horse home to Running Springs Equestrian Facility. There, she is under the guidance of Adam Wainscott.
When asked what it is like to show with her daughter, Van Slyke responded “It has been an incredible experience. The roles have kind of reversed. For so long, I was always the one there for Katie. I helped her with everything and watched from the sidelines. Now, she helps me get in the pen and cheers me on.”
Terri looks forward to showing KM Brandy Girl at this year’s Congress in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. Beyoncé will also be shown in trail by Katie and trainer Adam Wainscott.
“I’ve come to realize that horse shows are about having fun and enjoying myself and my horse. I wish I could tell people to chill and enjoy!” states Van Slyke. “I love meeting the people stalled near us and in the pen with me. I’m in this to enjoy my horse, and I definitely have done that so far!”
Jamie Devencenty
Unlike Van Slyke and D’Onofrio, Jamie Devencenty did not grow up with horses. The Vineland, Colorado resident happened upon a Hunter/Jumper show in her late twenties and fell in love with the sport.
“I was totally enamored by the horses, the sport and the talent of the riders. After watching several hours of hunter rounds, I knew it was something I had to experience,” states Devencenty.
Fortunately, her grandparents raised race horses. They had a recently retired thoroughbred that was not cutting it on the track. The big, stunning, dapple gray gelding became Jamie’s new show prospect.
She began at small open shows, slowly working up from there. She worked with a variety of off the track thoroughbreds before she finally found her way into the hunter ring at a rated show. “It was very challenging,” recalls Devencenty. “I was a novice rider and my horses were race track broke and very green. I remember my trainer telling me at a show as I walked into the ring ‘remember he has no brakes or steering!’ I would spend endless amount of time in the saddle, watched every training video, read every book I could get my hands on and took as many lessons as I could afford.”
All of the hard work paid off. In 1994, she won CHJA Best Rider of the Year and Best Beginner Horse of the Year. It was a surreal moment for her because she had done it the hard way.
The following year her son, Brock, was born. Four years later, her daughter Natalia followed. She became a full-time mom, immersed with her children and the family business. She simply did not have time to devote to her passion for horses and showing.
As Natalia was growing up, it became evident that she may have also caught the horse bug. On her fifth birthday, she received a hunter pony named Dream A Little Dream. Jamie was not only supportive of her daughter’s love for horses, but she was her first trainer. Natalia began what would be an incredible journey through the Children’s Hunters on a variety of ponies until she eventually graduated to warmbloods.
When Natalia turned 11, Jamie realized that her daughter was able to be more self-sufficient at shows. “As painful as it was to give up my identity as a show mom, it occurred to me I would still be at all the shows, but with a lot of time on my hands,” states Devencenty.
While on the hunt for the perfect hunter for herself, Jamie happened upon the western events that AQHA offers. She was infatuated by the precision and grace of horsemanship, western pleasure, trail, western riding, and showmanship.
“My daughter and I both decided we wanted to learn to spin, open and close a gate, lope down a line and change leads, and ride a difficult pattern…..all on a loose rein!” recalls Devencenty.
They joined AQHA and began training with Kelly McDowall. Through McDowall, Jamie was able to acquire her perfect starter horse, 2010 AQHA Junior Western Riding World Champion HRZ Make Mine Gold. From there, she moved on to her newly acquired mount, Sure Am Hot who you may remember from winning the $100,000 Equine Sports Medicine 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure class at the 2008 Reichert Celebration.
Devencenty also had the opportunity to show her daughter’s horse, Chex Is The Choice, at the Novice West Championship Show in Las Vegas, where she won the gold in western riding, the silver in horsemanship and the bronze in trail.
“I’ve been showing AQHA now for nearly four years. After a seventeen year break from riding and showing, I have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming! It is a blessing to not only be able to own a horse again but to be able to show,” states Devencenty. “Being able to share this hobby with my daughter is one of my greatest joys. I’m so thankful for these memories.”
Robyn Garcia
While it took Robyn Garcia longer than she would have liked to get in the show pen, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love every moment of it any less. The Chicago, Illinois resident fell in love with horses as a kid while riding during the summers. She never got the chance to show, but loved the relaxation and the escape that came from a great ride.
When “real life” took over, Garcia’s riding adventures went by the wayside. That is, until her daughter, Emma, began riding six years ago. Garcia was ecstatic to see her daughter sharing her passion.
When Emma began showing four years ago, Robyn had the itch to make her debut in the show ring, as well. Emma’s first show horse was supposed to be a shared horse for this mother-daughter duo. However, the horse was too green for the very novice Robyn to start out on.
Robyn took her place as Emma’s horse show mom, ensuring she was always on her A game. However, her overwhelming desire to show did not subside. In 2014, Robyn finally felt ready to take on the show pen. She started out showing her daughter’s horse, Lucky N The Moonlight, in Novice Amateur Showmanship events. As she progressed in her skills, she slowly added more riding classes to her repertoire.
“Showing has been a great way to get a break from work,” claims Garcia. “I’m a physician, so having this as a stress reliever has been a huge blessing! It is just an added bonus that this is something I get to share with my daughter.”
This April, Garcia decided she needed a horse for herself. That is when she purchased, Hot Lollipop, lovingly known as “Hottie.” She has been showing her in showmanship, horsemanship, trail, and performance mares.
Just as Emma shared her horse with her mom for years, Robyn has allowed Emma to have her time in the limelight with her new mare. This year at the AQHYA World Show, Emma and Hottie took home 11th place in Performance Halter Mares.
“Showing with Emma has been so incredible. At a recent Wisconsin Quarter Horse Show, I had a great go in showmanship. When I came out of the pen, Emma teared up and said ‘I’m proud of you mom’,” recalls Garcia “ That is the best reward of showing with her. It has brought us even closer through our shared passion for horses.”
Robyn is eager to show at Congress in Novice Select Showmanship, Novice Select Horsemanship, and Amateur Performance Mares with Hottie. Emma will be competing in the Novice All-Around events with Lucky N The Moonlight. She will also be in Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle and the Youth 15-18 Hunter Under Saddle with UF A Light Smoke.
Thank you to these great ladies for sharing their stories, and to all horse show moms out there. Good luck at this year’s Congress!
