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Ken McKenzie

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About Ken McKenzie

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Crewing for Hilda, Part 1: Safe But Not Necessarily Sane

We’ve been following along with four-star eventer Hilda Donahue’s foray into the endurance world as she attempts to qualify to represent Ireland in endurance at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. In this two-part series we hear from two members of Hilda’s “crew” as they attempt to keep up with her whirlwind lifestyle. First up is Hilda’s husband, Ken McKenzie. Thanks for writing, Ken, and thanks for reading!

Hilda's husband and fellow endurance rider, Ken McKenzie. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.

Hilda’s husband and fellow endurance rider, Ken McKenzie. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.

When I first met my wife, Hilda Donahue, of three-and-a-half years now, it was obvious that she was passionate about horses. So passionate that, in my humble opinion, her dedication, intensity and work ethic seemed to be a bit “over the top.” So as we dated I felt it was only fair to both of us that she understood a number of things from my perspective that were important to me.

I enjoy horses very much, but mostly feeding them carrots and apples and riding them. I never was into cleaning the stalls or being a groom. Please don’t misunderstand me, I know how to do all of that, as my mother worked me at the racetrack cleaning stalls, rubbing horses, exercising horses or “crewing” (grooming) at 2 a.m. for endurance rides, but all that just burnt me out on the “logistics” of enjoying/experiencing horses. I assure you that one of my favorite things to do is take a comfortable horse out for a bareback gallop along the lake my mother lives on in California!

I know Hilda heard me clearly because on our second date I showed up at the airport where she picked me up in her Ford F-450 diesel, crew cab, King Ranch dually pickup truck and took me to her Ashmore Equestrian Center (now Oakmore Equestrian), and when I arrived I found a stunning grey Warmblood, immaculately groomed, hoof-oiled and tacked, waiting for me to mount at a mounting block.

I had never seen a mounting block before. Being 1/16 Cherokee I had always simply jumped up onto a bareback horse, climbed or swung myself into a saddle or had someone give me a leg up, but this mounting block thing was quite gentlemanly, plus a groom to top things off!

You see, in my family, I show up with the nice boat for water sports and entertain my family, and so when I hang out with my sisters and mother doing their “endurance racing activities,” they catch, groom and saddle my horse for me, so I find that quite appealing. Again I know how to do all this equestrian stuff and occasionally still enjoy doing it — I just don’t necessarily want a steady diet of it.

Hilda Donahue riding Tuff Stuff at the 2015 Tevis Cup. Photo by Gore/Baylor Photography.

Hilda Donahue riding Tuff Stuff at the 2015 Tevis Cup. Photo by Gore/Baylor Photography.

Oh! Did I mention horses were transportation for me when I was growing up? I had the fastest horse in the neighborhood — a good looking, well-mannered Quarter Horse. I also had one of the most beautiful horses in the neighborhood, a “Spanish Mustang.” This Spanish Mustang was named Holy Smoke, and unlike his dam who was “safe & sane” as Hilda would quantify it, Holy Smoke was as spooky as they come and truly taught me how to ride a horse.

The third date with Hilda, we needed to be at a hunter/jumper show at 5 a.m. I grabbed a pitch fork and began cleaning stalls, emptying wheelbarrows and the normal groom things, which she noted as a definite positive. I didn’t see her adding points to her eligible bachelors list, but I do think I scored a few here.

Another very important thing I needed to ensure Hilda understood was that I am like a bumblebee. I like to fly around and experience many types of flowers and varieties of pollen. I like to fly planes, rock climb, do water sports, play ultimate Frisbee and golf Frisbee, play my guitar, read books and build tree houses and swings for our nine grandchildren. She needed to diversify her life for us to have a relationship that was workable for me. Presently, she thinks that is doing endurance riding along with her eventing and now her next goal, to become proficient competing at the Prix St. George level of dressage.

Did I mention that she’s a bit of an over-achiever? As you can see, I am still in the process of expanding her horizons and interests.

Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.

Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.

So, why am I writing all this about myself when this article is about Hilda? Well, it is to alleviate some of my guilt as to why I was not crewing for her on her most recent endurance race. One of her girlfriends, a fellow eventing pro from the past, Susan Klair, offered to crew for her since I had other responsibilities that weekend. In the next post, Susan shares her diary of her most recent trip on January 28 to Hilda’s 100-mile FEI endurance competition in South Carolina where she placed seventh, averaging 14 kph.

Hilda continues to enjoy competing in the endurance world and will compete in Florida March 9 in a 100-mile ride, followed by a 100-mile ride in Dubai U.A.E March 19th, along with her demanding USEA and USDF schedule and Oakmore Equestrian commitments. I continue to enjoy teaching my grandkids how to ride on a 35-year-old grey pony named Sugah and on a 19-year-old bay retired Arabian named KeeKee. I like to mention that KeeKee did the Western States Trail Ride (the famed Tevis Cup) three times and finished every endurance race he ever started. He has arthritis, but is safe and sane for the grandkids. I am sure that Hilda is safe, but not necessarily sane!

In Part 2, we’ll hear from Susan Klair, who crewed for Hilda at the competiiton in January. It’s a story you won’t want to miss!