Molly McAdow and Etiquette kicked off the circuit with the Young Hunter Championship. Photo by Sportfot
#FindTheOne at Galway Farm
Long Grove, IL - February 27, 2020 - Trainers Lorrie Canady and Molly McAdow of Galway Farm in Long Grove, Illinois, are enjoying more than just the sunshine at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. The local business has been competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center since January and has a banner full of top ribbons from their string of quality horses to show for it.
Canady has owned Galway Farm since 1991 and brings a lifetime of horse experience with her. She has won numerous championships in her career both as a rider and as a trainer, in addition to the clients she has coached to top victories.
“We have a very organized program which includes professional rides weekly for all the horses to keep them competition ready. Each horse gets a program to fit their needs which includes great daily care, a customized training schedule that has specific strengthening exercises, and regular veterinary and shoeing care,” explained Canady. “We are careful not to overwork and over-jump them so they don’t become bored or tired of doing their job. We have a great team of people we get to work with from the grooms to the owners, the vets, farriers and all of our assistants in the barn. It takes a great team to manage horses on the road and at home and keep them in top condition.”
McAdow, of Chicago, rode Karin Martin’s mare, Etiquette, to the 3’3” Young Hunter Championship during week 2 and won the Young Hunter Incentive class week 3. Etiquette is a six-year-old Rhinelander, who is quickly learning the ropes. Galway Farm congratulates Elise Lefrate, who rides with Holly Harrison in Michigan, on their recent purchase of Etiquette, who will now show in the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunter division. Galway Farm offers high-quality horses for sale that have impressive show experience and are ready for their new owners to step into the show ring.
Mary Beth Canfield rode Roc Hunter 18, owned by Rachel Kane, DVM, in the Low Adult Hunters.
McAdow rode the ten-year-old Holsteiner, Caston, to win a 3’6” Performance Handy Hunter class week 2. Caston has also earned first and second place finishes in the Adult medals with amateur rider Mary Beth Canfield, of Chicago, in the saddle along with top 3 finishes in the Adult Hunter division. Canfield also tried out the 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Roc Hunter 18, owned by Rachel Kane, DVM, in the Low Adult Hunters. Canfield was the first amateur to pilot the young horse in the show ring, putting in great rounds to top it off!
Molly Canfield and Fine Line show off their style in the equitation.
Canfield’s daughter, Molly, also competes with several horses. Her junior jumper, Donnalaris, was Champion Low Junior Jumper weeks 3 and 5 and reserve champion week 6. The young Canfield, 16, rode Fine Line, a new mount for her, to earn the Reserve Champion 15-17 Equitation title during week 4. She rode her veteran horse, Game Boy to earn a third place ribbon overall in the two-phase WIHS (Washington International Horse Show) Equitation class. Canfield has been placing in the ribbons with both Fine Line and Gameboy in the ASPCA Maclay and USEF Medals as well.
Molly Canfield and Class Act in the Small Junior Hunters at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Canfield also showed her hunter, Class Act, during World Championship Hunter Rider Week, earning a prestigious second place finish in the Small Junior Hunters in the esteemed International Ring during week 6. The pair have consistently been in the ribbons in the highly competitive division every week.
Canfield is a serious competitor, especially in the equitation divisions, where she earned the win in the NCEA (National Collegiate Equestrian Association) Midwest Junior Medal Finals in 2019 then went on to earn a top ten finish in the ASPCA Maclay Medal Regional, qualifying her for the finals at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky. Canfield is working to qualify for the indoor finals again this year. She commutes back and forth to attend school in Chicago and be back in the saddle for the weekend show schedule.
Other clients come down for a week or two during the circuit using spring break and vacation time. They have the option to lease horses to show instead of shipping their own down to save a few dollars and keep their horses at home to practice on. Catharon and Chase Miller fit two weeks of showing in while leasing Brightside, owned by Melissa Hirt of Maple City, Michigan, for daughter Chase. Miller showed her own horse, Luiz Dos Santos, which came down for the season. Both riders had consistent rounds and had a great experience riding and watching the show. McAdow showed Santos, as he is called in the barn, and earned ribbons in the 3’3” Performance Hunters during weeks 2 and 4.
“I like to come here to compete with the best horses and riders in our sport. It is extremely rewarding to be consistently in the ribbons in all 3 rings,” said McAdow. “We have great clients and amazing horses that all deserve to earn top ribbons for all the hard work they’ve put in to get to this level. We also couldn't be at the top of our game without our grooms, Alex and José, who do an amazing job caring for the horses and are really proud when their horses do well in the show ring. It is really nice to have a great team - plus, we get to skip winter!”
Erica O'Neil leased Gentleman to show for a few weeks at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Erica O'Neil came from Lake Forest, Illinois, to show for two weeks. She leased Gentleman, owned by Hirt, to show in the equitation and low jumper divisions. Riding a new horse was another learning opportunity for O'Neil, knowing that every horse has something to teach you.
“Just having the experience of being here to see some of the top horses and riders in the world and watch Olympians ride is worth the trip,” added Canady. “If our clients get to show for just a week or two that’s just icing on the cake! We do what we can to make it work out both budget-wise and time-wise so they can learn from their chance to be here, both in the ring and out of the ring.”
Lisa Campbell and V Cassaro take their turn in the ring during the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Lisa Campbell of Hinsdale, Illinois, is another client that commutes to Florida when she can. McAdow shows Campbell’s horse, V Cassaro, to keep it ready for when Campbell arrives. McAdow rode to the championship in the USHJA 3’ Hunters during week 6. V Cassaro is a Holsteiner gelding that Campbell shows in the Adult Hunter division.
Galway Farm will stay to the end of the circuit, which concludes at the end of March, then they will head back to Chicago for a break before the spring shows start up in the Midwest. With five weeks left, there's no doubt Galway Farm will have more wins to bring back home.
Galway Farm
1650 Bernay Lane
Long Grove, IL 60047
847-309-8980
About Galway Farm
Galway Farm, 1650 Bernay Lane is conveniently located 20 miles northwest of O'Hare Airport and 6 miles north of Arlington Park racetrack. The farm is a full-service hunter/jumper training and showing facility providing full training, boarding with turnout and more.
Lorrie Canady, trainer/owner, had the vision to start and operate an equestrian facility that could cater to the serious show rider but also be a place to help beginning riders get started in the sport. Galway Farm is a friendly, family-oriented facility that is a fun and safe environment for all.
Galway always has a selection of quality horses for sale. #FindTheOne at Galway Farm.
For more information on Galway Farm please visit www.Galwayfarm.com or "Like" them on Facebook.