The McCormicks of the Ottawa, ON, area have shown Hackney ponies as a family for three generations.
L to R: Adele McCormick, Jeff McCormick, Joan McCormick, Riley Racine, Joshua McCormick
Photo Credit: ©EC/Caroline Soble
“When my sister was little, she sucked two fingers,” explained Jeff. “My dad asked what he could buy to stop her and she said, ‘Buy me a pony,’ so he bought her a Shetland pony for each finger. The neighbors across the road had show ponies – they had four daughters and two ponies, so two daughters would show at one show and the next two would show at the next show. The big local fair was coming up and the one daughter – it wasn’t her turn – so she asked if she could borrow our pony and beat her sisters with it. Suddenly, we had show ponies.”
After the McCormicks purchased the Shetlands in 1968, they added a Welsh Pony before purchasing their first Hackney in 1974. Since then, Hackneys have been a strong, constant presence in the McCormick’s lives.
“My father, Willis, is second generation – I’m first generation because I showed before my father ever did,” joked Jeff. “I grew up going to the fairs not knowing any differently and have been doing that ever since. My nephew, Riley; my son, Joshua; and my daughter, Adele, are third generation.”
Each family member is a skilled competitor with a list of titles, ribbons and accolades to their name. Additionally, Willis and Jeff are both past presidents of the Canadian Hackney Society and the Ottawa Valley Light Horse Association. With decades of experience under their belts, the McCormicks expertly manage their stables and breeding operation.
“We’re the smallest Hackney pony breeders in the world,” laughed Jeff. “We do one or two ponies a year, and take a year off sometimes. We had two foals in 2018 and they were first and second at the Canadian and Ontario futurities, so we’re proud of them. For the last 11 or 12 years, I’ve concentrated on having ponies that were really safe and competitive for my kids to show. We slowed down the breeding because three-year-olds are not necessarily the best Junior exhibitor ponies, but now Joshua is out of Juniors and Adele is coming up on her last year, so we’re starting to raise again so dad can get more in the ring.”
Jeff with Ridgetop’s Captain Obvious (left) and Joshua with Ridgetop’s Pep In My Step (right), two McCormick Stables foals who were the 2018 Canadian and Ontario Grand and Reserve Grand Champions.
Photo Credit: Karie Elizebeth Photography
Jeff noted that showing homebred ponies adds to the pride and fun of competition. “Showing any pony and doing well is great, but showing your own that you’ve had since day one is even better,” he said. “When ponies I’ve raised go to other farms and do well, I’m just as proud. A friend of ours has two mares we bred and my daughter was like, ‘What are you going to do if he gets a world championship,’ and I said I’ll smile from ear to ear because we helped.”
The McCormick family shows in all four Hackney Pony divisions: Roadster Pony, Hackney Pony, Harness Pony, and Pleasure Pony. They have been pleasantly surprised by the increased popularity of the classes lately, indicating a healthy pulse for the niche breed sport.
“I’ve never seen competition this strong in over 20 years,” commented Jeff. “A lot of the local fairs in the Ottawa Valley have big classes going. I’m very pleased with where it’s going or maintaining. It’s tough because the horse industry is extremely expensive – it doesn’t matter which discipline you go to – but it’s nice to see that it’s doing so well where we are.”
And with a fair share of that competition coming from the McCormick family itself, Jeff and the family have to work extra hard when it comes time to travel for a horse show. Depending on the show and who is competing, the McCormicks sometimes have to pack six buggies in the trailer along with the horses. Luckily, as a family operation, there are multiple hands on deck to split the manual labour, cleaning and chores.
Furthermore, the McCormicks will even share one horse at the same competition. At the 2018 Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, K&J Amber’s Choice (Dunhaven Royal Choice x Heartland Amber), Jeff and Joshua’s 15-year-old Hackney known affectionately as “Houdini”, was piloted to success by all three members of the youngest generation.
Joshua drove the gelding to first place in the $1,000 Canadian Owned Roadster Pony class, and third place finishes in the $1,500 Single Roadster Pony Amateur Championship and $5,000 Single Roadster Pony Canadian Championship. Adele and Houdini won the Single Roadster Pony Junior Exhibitor class for the second year in a row, and their cousin, Riley Racine, made his Royal debut with Houdini in the Hackney Junior Showmanship class, finishing second.
Three generations have shown ponies and racked up the ribbons at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
Clockwise from top left: Willis McCormick & Heartland Undeniable, Jeff McCormick & Heartland Viking, Joshua McCormick & K&Js Ambers Choice, Adele McCormick & K&Js Ambers Choice
All Photo Credits: Howard Schatzberg
“I think competing as a family can be tough, but it’s fun to have that team atmosphere,” Joshua commented about balancing the heavy workload with the thrill of competition.
Adele added, “It’s so nice; we spend almost every weekend through the summer and fall together. It’s amazing to have that opportunity with your family and really appreciate each other. It’s not just that we’re competing as a biological family, but everyone at the shows becomes family and spends so much time together. I’ve made so many amazing friends and it’s such a great opportunity.”
Smiling as he watched the younger generation express their shared passion, Jeff concluded, “I love everybody being successful and happy. I get a thrill watching, whether it’s my nephew or my daughter doing well in the ring.”