In My Horse Show Mom Era
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210 – May/June, 2025
By Barbara Aitken Jenkins
Navigating the horse world is hard. Navigating motherhood is hard. Put those two into an equation, and it equals triple hard. For new mothers, learning to balance their love for horses and dedicating their lives and bodies to motherhood is an ongoing, evolving journey filled with challenges, love, and endless baby snuggles.
Fellow Amateurs and new mommas Dakota King Phelps, Meg DePalma Pye, Hillary Timchak, and Erika Whitney share how they are navigating their evolving routine of balancing baby, barn, and personal well-being, postpartum recovery with physical and mental resilience, their love for their supportive barn family and community support along with adapting to the realities of entering their “horse show mom era.” Note: At the time of writing this article, the interviewed mothers were between 8 weeks postpartum and 11 months.
Dakota and Quinton Phelps’ daughter was approximately 8 weeks old at the time of this interview. Dakota shows in the APHA Western Pleasure with her horse, Drew Breeze, and the Trail with A Sudden Legacy under the guidance of Wilson Show Horses.
Meg DePalma Pye’s and Preston Pye’s son was approximately 10 months old when Meg was interviewed. Meg rides the AQHA/NSBA Hunt Seat and All-Around with trainers Clint Ainsworth and Keith Miller alongside her horse, DontThinkTwice.
Hillary and Eric Timchak’s daughter was approximately 8 weeks old during the conversation about motherhood and horses. Hillary shows Western Pleasure futurities with her family business, Capital Quarter Horses, LLC. Once she gets back in the saddle, she will show with Angie Cannizzaro with CAC Show Horses, as well as RJ King and Blair Townsend of King Show Horses.
Erika and John Whitney’s son was approximately 9 weeks old when Erika shared her journey. Whitney rides with Robin and Jenny Frid in AQHA/NSBA All-Around with her gelding, Ultimate Ryde.
The Evolving Routine
Click here to read the complete article
210 – May/June, 2025
