BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
It?s been a tough haul, but Cathy Inch stands by her decision to stay in Northern Ontario.
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?As long as I can remember, I?ve always loved horses,? say Cathy Inch. ?They?re the most incredible animals.? |
Inch is a Level Three National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) equestrian coach, who lives and trains students at Foothills Farm in Chelmsford.
?A long time ago I chose to help develop the sport in Northern Ontario,? said Inch. ?In my mind, I would like to think I?ve been a milestone for the sport in Northern Ontario because there isn?t a competitive barn in southern Ontario that doesn?t know the Foothills Farm name and respects my students.?
She has experienced a lot over the years and enjoys sharing her knowledge with young riders who have big dreams.
?I?ve been in this business for 27 years,? said Inch. ?I?ve been riding and competing for 32 years.?
Inch?s love affair with horses began at an early age. She was nine years old when her mother first brought her to Rocky Mountain Ranch to ride horses.
?As long as I can remember, I?ve always loved horses,? said Inch. ?They?re the most incredible animal.?
Inch started competing when she was 14. She competed in the combined event, which mixes stadium jumping,
dressage and cross-country jumping. She became the Ontario junior combined event champion in her rookie year.
At age 18, Inch placed second in the combined event at the Eastern Canadian Championships. At age 19, she represented the Canadian Pony Association in Perth, Australia. At 20, Inch was a reserve for the Ontario Young Riders in Alberta.
At the age of 21 she made the switch to show jumping because there were more opportunities for her. A year later Inch and her husband, Richard, leased Foothills Farm from Inch?s parents. Two years later, they bought the farm.
Even though she has seen and experienced plenty, Inch professes there is still more to learn.
?This is a very progressive sport and it?s always changing,? said Inch. ?You have to stay on top of trends or get left behind.?
Running the business is hard work and is time consuming. Inch?s summer consists of travelling to horse shows from Tuesday to Sunday. She gets up at 5:30 am and works right through until dark.
The winter is no less stringent. Inch is up every day at 7:30 am doing office work, followed by lessons all day, that usually last until eight or nine p.m. Inch still finds time to be with her son, Jedd. They usually read or watch television together at night.
Inch appreciates the precious time she has with her family.
?Every Labour Day Weekend we canoe the Spanish River,? said Inch. ?It?s a rare opportunity we get to enjoy life away from the farm.?
Inch has had all kinds of glamorous offers from southern Ontario people to go work for them. They?ve tried coaxing her with more money and fabulous facilities.
?I?m a strong believer in fate and I guess I am supposed to be here,? said Inch. ?It?s been a long, hard road doing what I do in Northern Ontario and it has been a real character-building experience. I didn?t need to go to college to
know what I know and be good at.?
Connecting with students and seeing them succeed is what drives Inch to stay dedicated to the sport.
?When students believe in me and walk out of the ring with the red ribbon, it?s a great feeling,? said Inch. ?When it all comes together, it?s the most rewarding feeling a coach can have.?
Horses also play a pivotal role in keeping Inch in the tough business.
?Horses are amazing creature because they will always keep you humble,? said Inch. ?Just when you think you?ve mastered something, the horses show you (something) different.?
Inch still competes in shows herself.
?I still love being out there in the ring with my horse Finn McCool.?
