Sandra McKay and Talywern Legally Blonde (MN)
Team #1059: Sandra McKay and Talywern Legally Blonde
From: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Ages 78 & 23
Combined Age: 101
Test: Introductory Level Test A
My journey began as a horse show mom 30 years ago, mucking stalls, cleaning tack, chauffeuring, shining boots, and last-minute touch ups at the show ring. My daughter and her young family moved to Minnesota. I moved to be closer to them and began riding for the first time at 75, once a week on a lesson horse.
A year ago, my daughter bought a pony for my granddaughter, and about June 2025, I began learning to ride the pony, now taking lessons twice a week. I have never had formal dressage training but instead have always ridden with hunter/jumper trainers. But no longer wishing to jump, about a year ago I turned my attention to dressage. Still training with a hunter/jumper trainer, I entered my first dressage schooling show in October 2025.
Del is a beautiful 22-year-old Welsh Pony with an even temperament. Initially a dressage pony, she has also done hunter/jumpers. She came to my daughter out of retirement about a year ago. And now she does the Introductory Levels for me and my granddaughter, Training Level and First Level with my daughter, and hunter/jumpers with my granddaughter. In fact, all three of us are able to show her at one show - three generations! So now at 78, I am completing the circle from horse show mom to competitor in a rated show. I get to share this journey with my daughter and granddaughter, and a new chapter begins.
Photo by Morgan Chapman Media
