In compiling the results of the 2011 EN Census, we found many supportive parents of eventers. Which made us think: we would love to hear from you! We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without our wonderful moms and dads. It would be great to share the Parent’s Perspective here on Eventing Nation. If you have thoughts or experiences to share, please send them to [email protected] with “Parent” in the title.
Today’s submission is from Cathy Morris.
Heather & Tami
Hi Guys,
I always thought there would be a good story here someday. My daughter, Heather Morris and her bff Tami Smith grew up riding together and training together at Spring Creek Training Centre, Kim Scheid, in Winchester, CA. Kim was tough on the girls…made them ride all the tough horses and mean ponies. The girls ye-hawed all over the hills behind our house and more than once I’d see riderless horses coming up the driveway…girls sprinting soon after.
Down the road we’d go with old two-horse trailer and camper to Ram Tap, Woodside, Napa, etc. for shows. Usually something didn’t work in that dang camper and we’d all end up washing hair, etc. in cold water in horse buckets and the plastic kiddie pool made a great bath tub. I have always considered Tam my “other kid.”
Up the levels they went experiencing all the horse heartaches, injuries, falls…you name it, it probably happened. But that’s your training ground, your basis for this sport. Tam sort of flew the coop for a while, got married and had Kaylawna her beautiful daughter, got divorced and came back to eventing. In the mean time Heather was still trucking along, did her first full phase event in Flagstaff, AZ…no coach, just me and her trying to not forget anything important. Dr. Kent Allan and Brian Sabo looked in on us in the 10 minute box, thank God, but all was good. She landed 4th as I recall.
Heather received a full ride equestrian scholarship to Fresno State and got to take her horse Rebel Express. That lasted three years until Mike Huber asked her to be his full-time assistant and off to Texas she went. She and Rebel competed at her first Rolex in 2004 but had to retire after xc due to a heart condition. She trotted him up Sunday morning and he passed and she then retired him and he is out to pasture. Tami married her current, most wonderful man in the world, husband and had Tyler, now about seven years old. She started Nextlevel eventing here in So Calif. and is doing quite well.
Through the years these two have always kept in touch and helped each other when the call went out. Tam was at Rolex last year for Heather and Heather went to Boekelo for Tam this year and they wouldn’t have it any other way. They both plan to be riding at Rolex next spring and that will be a proud moment for this Mom. Riding for “the team” has always been a goal of theirs but whatever happens in the future will just be icing on the cake. They are both winners and special friends.
~Cathy Morris
**Edit since this email was first received: **
And, as usual in the horse world, Tami and her horse no longer plan to do Rolex in April but Heather plans on taking both her guys, First Mark & Slate River (soundness and the creek don’t rise and all that) and Tam will be there for her for sure. Tam & her horse had quite the wreck at Galway (he slid into a ditch, feet up and was stuck) and she decided right then that he is not a 4* guy…so it goes ‘life in the horse lane!’
Thanks! — Cathy
