Nine-Year-Old Makes History!
Friday, January 21, 2005
In the Saddle Horse world today, equitation is one of the most popular divisions. It proves who can ride their horse, while still maintaining correct form. Lindsey Landrum is a perfect example.
Landrum may only be nine-years-old, but she certainly knows how to pilot her horse around the ring. Landrum has been riding seriously since she was five, but her parents, David and Karla Landrum, had her on a horse long before that. Her parents own and operate the top-notch walking horse facility, David Landrum Stables, and Lindsey Landrum is an acitve participant in the walking horse industry, too.
Landrum has been riding with DeLovely Farms since she was six-years-old and loves everyone there. During her first season with Raymond and Lillian Shively, Landrum borrowed SF Super Early from Jordan Hardison to show at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky., and was named the Seven and Under Walk and Trot Equitation World’s Champion. She has also shown Attache’s Magic Asset, and her most recent champion, Imagination Station. Imagination Station, a.k.a. “Maggie Moo,” is a chestnut mare with a big white blaze that fits Landrum to perfection.
Landrum said “Maggie” has challenged her and made her a better rider. “She was young and inexperienced when we bought her and we have learned so much together as a team; we learned from each other,” said Landrum. “Todd Miles and Mama Lil have taught us with a lot of love and patience.”
The thing Landrum loves the most about her equitation mount is how she is willing to try anything. “Maggie loves to show off; she’s very smart and such a blast to show, said Landrum.”
But perhaps Landrum is best known for her biggest accomplishment. In 2001, at just six years of age, Landrum won the Seven and Under Walk and Trot Equitation World’s Championship in Louisville, Ky. Two days later she won the 11 and Under Performance World Championship with her Tennessee Walking Horse, This Is It, at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn. This made history for both breeds because no one had ever won titles at both shows in the same year -- at any age. To make her accomplishment even better, it was her first time to win at either of the shows. In 2002, Landrum repeated history and won both titles again, this time in the same day.
2003 was her first season with Imagination Station and the pair won the UPHA Eight and Under Walk and Trot Challenge Cup at the Lexington Junior League Horse Show followed by winning their qualifier and championship at Louisville. It just so happened that 2003 was her last year in walk and trot.
This past season, Landrum not only continued with her career in equitation but tried the three-gaited division as well. At the Pro-Am Benefit Classic in Perry, Ga., she won the Saddle Seat Equitation 10 and Under Class, and was reserve in the Junior Exhibitor 13 and Under Three-Gaited class. She continued on to several other shows around the country with great success. At Louisville, she was named the Saddle Seat Equitation 10 and Under World’s Champion and the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited 11 and Under Reserve World’s Champion.
When asked about what she loves most about horse shows, Landrum said she loves to watch all of the horses show. She really loves watching young horses grow and develop, but her favorite division to watch is equitation. She especially enjoys watching her Delovely teammates compete. Landrum loves to watch the patterns, and also loves to make up workouts and patterns on her own. She enthusiastically said that equitation was her favorite division to show in, as well.
When it comes to spending time at DeLovely, she said her favorite activity is the obvious, riding. But she also loves to help groom the horses and feed them treats.
“Lindsey will do anything you ask her to, if she’s big enough,” said Karen Medicus of Delovely. “She is extremely grown up for her age. She is very serious about everything at the barn.”
In regards to her barn mates, they have nothing but positive praise for Landrum. Mandy Martin described Landrum as “sweet, dedicated and mature”. “When we’re at Mama Lil’s house, we swim everyday after we ride and we like to play ‘horse show’ together...we pretend to be horses and judge each other,” said good friend and teammate Brittany McGinnis. “I really like how funny she is, her smile and her enthusiasm; she is so much fun to be with.”
Landrum is in fifth grade at the middle school, Battle Ground Academy. She recently made the A honor roll this semester which means she put in extra effort. Landrum is already looking ahead to college and says she would like to go to Stephens College in Missouri, but says her plans could change. She always wants to continue having horses and working with them.
Imagination Station was found for Landrum when trainer Todd Miles went to Oregon to look for horses. She was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Blacklaw of Singing Hill Stables. This year the mare will be turn seven-years-old, and it will be their third season as a team. Landrum will be continuing her career in the 10 and under equitation division in 2005.
Landrum has already accomplished many great feats at the age of nine. She has done many things that most adults still only dream of doing. She truly is an amazing girl doing amazing things.
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