Shawna
Stemmler has loved horses her whole life. This 14 year old from Orillia,
Ontario started riding lessons at the age of 7. After many years of hard
work and practice, she began competing at local North River Riders club
shows, and Fall Fairs in the Orillia area.
The Christmas of 2004 Shawna received the best Christmas present any kid could ever hope for . . . her very own Quarter Horse! Shawna’s parents purchased a handsome 9 year old gelding by the name of Scotch Bar General, more fondly known as ‘Whiskey’. Shawna worked hard with Whiskey all winter long, riding in every spare minute no matter how cold, or late it was that winter.
If anyone wonders whether or not hard work pays off . . . Shawna and her handsome gelding swept up the Hi-point Hunt Seat Equitation award at the 2005 Summerama show. In their first year of showing AQHA, this young and talented team, then went on to win several year end awards at the prestigious Area 3 Banquet in November. These awards included High Point Novice Youth Horsemanship, High Point Youth 13 & Under Showmanship, and High Point Youth 13 & Under Horsemanship.
Shawna and Whiskey are training under the watchful eyes of Kelly Simpson and Pat Chamberland and are looking forward to an even better 2006 show season.
Shawna is currently in Grade 9 at Orillia’s Park Street Collegiate Institute and works part-time at the Kelly Simpson Training Centre. Shawna plays the trumpet and loves music and reading, but nothing comes close to her love of horses. So much so that Shawna’s long term goals include competing at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio in the near future and one day becoming a horse trainer.
When I interviewed Shawna for this bio, she wanted to make sure that I thank Kelly and her staff for helping Shawna achieve her goals. Shawna and Whiskey do not go into the ring expecting red ribbons, but she does set goals for both herself and her horse. When Shawna and Whiskey do their personal best, she already feels like a winner.
Good luck this year Shawna and Whiskey!