Equestrian Holly Cathers earns titles, receives award

November 19, 2013 · 0 Comments

Junior Equestrian Holly Cathers of King pulled off a great summer of horse shows by winning the Vern Mason Award at Palgrave, the CET Mini Medal Finals at Angelstone, Rockwood, and the Cassie Bonnar Sportsmanship Award presented by the Ontario Equestrian Federation at the Royal Winter Fair.
This being her last junior year (Grade 12) Holly worked hard to keep her grades up at school to get into Western University, where she is now taking Media Information and Techniculture.
She worked at Terra Greenhouses in King to make some money not only for University but to help pay for her entries for the horse shows that she so enjoys.
Holly has had many successful years in the show ring since the age of eight years old, but this year was significant. After losing her older sister in a car accident in February, Holly spent a lot of time with her “best mate,” her horse “Butters” aka “Good Time.”
She decided not to take things too seriously and just enjoy the moment and she managed to do that at the horse shows with her coach Sandi Ballard beside her, who has brought out the best in Holly. Through her love for her horse “Butters,” she blossomed this year. Their great partnership and hard work, bringing them many wins and season end awards. Next year the partnership will venture into the adult ring for some more summer fun.
The Cassie Bonnar Award, is presented to a junior member of the OEF who has made an outstanding contribution of time and effort to Ontario equestrian sport, recreation, industry and/or equine welfare. The award is in memory of Cassie Bonnar who, despite a courageous battle with cancer to which she succumbed at a young age, exemplified the qualities of a great young humanitarian by always being willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
According to her nominator, Cathers has worked hard over the years to improve her riding skills. To pursue her passion, Cathers has worked every summer doing a myriad of jobs ranging from weeding gardens, mucking stalls, bringing in hay, babysitting, cutting grass, picking vegetables and working as a cashier. Known as a social butterfly who loves spending time with her horse show friends, Cathers is also a fierce competitor.
She qualified for the CET Mini Medal finals this year and also qualified for the Junior Medal and Jump Canada Medal finals for the past two years. But win or lose, she enjoys her sport, loves her horse and supports her competitors.