Our Featured Junior Rider of the Month is Kate Hartlen!
It is always a gift to watch our young riders grow. Kate Hartlen started riding at Lancers in 2012 as her sister was a Lancer too. After ten years, is now graduating and starting the next chapter in her life!
Kate is a wonderful example of the Lancer program. She has grown from a beginner into a wonderful, competent horse person and rider in Ride 1. She has participated in just about everything at Lancers from training shows and rider levels, to the Musical Ride and stablehanding, to working with a young horse.
While Freddie was one of her all time favourite horses because he was so trustworthy and nice when she was learning to ride, Rockette was another favourite, and more recently, Mato because he was the first young horse that she rode consistently. Kate has always been such a lovely quiet rider and horses have always responded well to her!
The Lancer community and horses have certainly benefited from having Kate. In turn, Kate has most enjoyed all the friendships she’s made. She told us, “I’ve made so many memories over the years, but some of my favourites are from the summers, whether it’s taking the horses out to graze with friends or the popsicles after Musical Ride practice”.
We hear so often from alumni that Lancers (and particularly the summers) was a wonderful part of their childhood memories. We hope this rings true for Kate and we certainly hope she continues to use her talents in the future with whichever horses are lucky enough to get her as a rider! Thank you, Kate!