Quadruple The Fun

Click here to read the complete article
164 – September/October, 2025

By Kathy Avolt

“Children do what they live. Then they grow up to live what they’ve learned,” once penned writer Dorothy Nolte. And learning–correctly–is what started four young ladies on a path to the horse show arena. Approximately three years ago, Sherri Johnson McDonald asked Shyanne Smith to teach her grandchildren the proper way to lead, groom, and ride a horse.

Sherri was not unknown to the horse industry. Shyanne says that Granni Sherri, “Is a bona fide cowgirl.” Sherri grew up with Appaloosas following in the footsteps of her father, Bill; and her childhood was spent showing and hosting countless weekends with over 100 riders at the ranch. Sherri is a four-time World Champion Ranch Sorter, and a former member of the Sweethearts of Texas. She makes appearances at rodeos and shows. Because of her horse background, Sherri and her daughter, Brittani, wanted the girls to get basics of horsemanship in the correct way, which led them to a summer camp taught by Shyanne Smith. The owner of the barn where Shyanne works introduced the Marshall family to her.

‘Shy’ says that the ten-year-old girls, Elle Katherine, Kylie Anne, Landry Grace, and Remi Margaret Marshall came to her first camp with a basic knowledge of horses, but they have each grown and advanced at different stages. “They can groom, wrap legs, bridle, lead, and catch. They are not quite big enough to throw saddles up on their horses, but that task will come,” says Smith.

Click here to read the complete article
164 – September/October, 2025