A Day in the Life of Tara Kennedy
It is August 2022 and the Premier’s Cup is about to get underway in the Grand Prix ring at RMSJ in Dewinton AB.
A challenging track has been designed by international course designer Werner Deeg from Germany, and each of the thirty plus contenders for the Cup have paid the hefty entrance fee to ride in this auspicious event, all hoping they will bring their best to the competition and take home the lion’s share of the $10,000 class. Seasoned trainers to international riders form the bulk of the entries, with a smattering of provincial riders, all game to play and find where they place against other well respected champions in show jumping.
And one such contender is a snippet of a young woman from Edmonton AB., on a mount not much bigger than her first pony – Tara Kennedy.
After the first rounds are complete, there are ten competitors left boasting a fault free round. The board is cleared and the jump off begins. The second last rider, Piet Van Genugten lays down a strong, fast and clear track with an incredible time. Coming off a great month at Spruce Meadows, the crowd is certain they have just watched Piet give them a view of the winning round. But there is still one ride to go.
Tara Kennedy abroad Federale de Hoissoit prance into the ring, both horse and rider ready to give it their all.
“I like pressure,” says Tara. “I like having pre-competition nerves. For me, it turns into fire and that’s what I need to be competitive. And Prinny has a hot, spicy and huge personality – we both like to be out there showing what we’ve got and pushing for the win.”
From the moment the bell tones, the crowd senses that this may indeed be a round they won’t soon forget. Fast, smooth, well planned and
executed to perfection, the clock in the bell tower stops after the last jump… and a spontaneous cheer erupts at that final time – one second faster than any other jump off round!
What a win! What a day!
While the name Tara Kennedy isn’t known to everyone, this young woman has certainly earned major respect and kudos from the coaches she has carefully chosen to mentor her, and the students who are discovering her as their own coach.
“I try to take the best and most positive aspects of learning and coaching from my mentors, and I incorporate those qualities and various perspectives into my own program. Lizzie Gingras, Gareth Graves, Dayton Gorsline – all have had a huge influence on me as a person and my choices as a rider and now a coach. From Gareth, I have learned to enjoy the fun and exciting aspects of riding and teaching. Gareth creates this amazing bubbly atmosphere that makes learning a pleasure. Dayton on the other hand, is always calm, and gives short, often funny comments. It is usually the perfect amount of information, and I can tuck it away nicely in my brain and go with it. He taught me not to overthink things – excellent advice.
“And then there’s Lizzie. Lizzie Gingras was my very first coach, and she set the groundwork for what I wanted my own program to look like. Lizzie is about team – friendship, dedication, communication and HARD WORK. A lot of who I have become is based on the principles Lizzie taught us to value and live by.”
And how did Tara first move to Lizzie as a coach?
“My mother was eventing when I was young and bought me a little eventer pony named Jimmy. 18 years old, one blue eye, one brown and a complete jerk” laughs Tara. “I learned a lot though, including that eventing wasn’t for me. We then bought Classic Cola out of a field in Carstairs and the hunter/jumper bug bit. My parents wisely moved me to Tollwood Stables and my very long mentorship/friendship with Lizzie Gingras began.”
“After outgrowing Classic Cola, Aquiles was my next jumper, who took me to fabulous new heights – 1.15 and 1.20 jumpers. He was such a great horse to build up a rider’s confidence and I kept Aquiles until I became sick.”
While life throws curves and obstacles to most of us in life, the discovery of a brain tumour at 17 put the Kennedy clan’s lives on immediate hold.
Cushing Syndrome, fatal when not timely diagnosed, was determined by chance with a trip to the hospital after exhaustive blood work and endless tests had provided no clues as to why Tara had gained 50 pounds in two months, had no energy, and was getting sicker by the day.
Being an athlete not only in the riding arena but on all the school competitive teams, this rapid weight gain made no sense. It wasn’t until Tara’s mom Susan made the comment about how swollen Tara’s face had become that a doctor tested for cortisol levels and the tumour on her pituitary gland was discovered.
“It was a stressful time to be sure, but it has really changed my perspective on so many things in life.”
Just two weeks out of the hospital after her tumour removal, Tara was allowed to be driven to the barn for short periods of time but no riding for at least six months.
“That was hard. I wasn’t allowed to even sit on a horse. I watched as many lessons as possible, asked questions, helped where I could and counted down the time until I could ride again. And that ride came in the form of a project mare bought from Gareth Graves called Zuri.
“I rode and trained Zuri, which helped me get back into competing mode. Then mom rode Zuri. A family horse to be certain. It was during this time that we were fortunate enough to go to Europe and found a horse in Ireland named Brickland.
And it was on Brickland that I achieved a long time goal – competing in the 1.40’s
But a sad event would again engulf the Kennedy family with the passing of Tara’s dad, Richard.
“Dad passed away just 6 months before I was getting married to my rock and best friend Bennett. That was heart wrenching. I miss him. But I know he is proud of us and who we have become, and I feel his presence every day.”
Brickland was sold soon after to a very nice lady in the States and Tara took a break from riding.
“I needed time to re-evaluate my career direction and opportunities.”
It was during this time of reflection that Tara reconnected with former coach and mentor Lizzie Gingras.
“Lizzie has always pushed me to be better, made certain I had horses to ride and always has given me opportunities to grow. I decided I was ready to venture out on my own, into coaching and training. My parents had at an earlier stage in their lives owned a small equestrian barn that my dad named Overbrooke, and I decided to keep that name for my new venue. Overbrooke Equestrian was born.”
Riding clients’ horses and training was great but it was time to have her own horse again. Enter Prinny.
Prinny came to Tara via Spruce Grove’s Brooke Greening, who had a fair amount of success both here and in the US on the Belgium mare. After owning the mare for just over a year though, it was time to sell and there was never any doubt who the buyer would be.
“It was love at first photo when I saw Prinny and I told Brook that one day I wanted to buy this horse.”
After a year of leasing Prinny, Tara bought her beloved Belgium mare, and there is no looking back. If her win of the Premier’s Cup caught a few off guard, subsequent wins at Spruce Meadows, Thermal, BC’s Thunderbird, Amberlea and Caledonia horse shows in the 2023 show season have determined that Tara Kennedy is no flash in the pan in the equestrian world and her voicing of her future goals leaves no doubt that the equestrian world will be better for her presence in it.
“I want to be part of the ongoing development of this industry, making it a positive space for learning technical skills and building confidence. It’s not always about the height of the jump or the ribbons won – it’s about the partnership with the horse and setting and achieving one’s personal goals.”
“For me, I may never have the funds or horses to compete on a world stage, so if I can make a small impact in some people’s lives, keep growing within myself and bring that growth to the horses I ride and the clients I teach, I will be very happy.”
“Everyone is on their own path in this sport – there is no finish line and I try to instill that in my clients. I want success for them but success comes in many different forms.”
Tara kennedy
