Final Junior year for Madison Keese brings enlightenment

Closing out the final Junior year can be a daunting prospect for some young Hunter riders, but Windsor Stables’ Madison Keese, is riding high on summer success and treating her transition philosophically.

Madison is all smiles in her final Junior year. Photo: Shawn McMillen

“I would say the thing that I’ve learned most this year is sometimes a win doesn’t necessarily come from the ribbon,” Madison said, reflecting the maturity in her 18 years of age. “But just putting in a good trip or a round that you’re happy with when you feel like you performed the best you could and you got the horse to perform the best that they could too.

“That was something that was kind of hard for me to accept, but I feel like this year I really was able to affirm that you just have to be happy with where you’re at and where your horse is at.”

Philosophy aside, Madison has been no stranger to the winners’ circle this summer. With Fair Game – her trainer, Windsor’s Michael Britt Leon’s horse – Madison won Reserve Champion for the National WCHR standings and the pair were champion of their Southeast region at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Maryland. Before that, they claimed Champion at The Middleburg Classic in Virginia.

Madison in the ribbons with MF Starboy. Photo: First Things First Photography

Madison began riding 13-year old Fair Game aka Ross, regularly this year and she feels they have improved together. “He’s a super reliable horse,” she said. “He always comes up the same and I’ve really enjoyed riding him this year and I’ve definitely seen improvement from where we first started to now. It’s definitely paying off at the final shows that we’ve been attending.”

Michael, too, has enjoyed watching the pair’s success, having worked with Madison, since she came to Windsor as a working student four years ago.

“Since it’s his horse he loves to see good results,” said Madison. “And he’s been very happy with our progress, especially from the beginning of the year. He’s been very supportive and he loves to see his horse and his rider develop together.”

Proud owner Michael Britt-Leon with Madison and Fair Game. Photo: Anne Gittins Photography

The Windsor Stables team have been on the road for four weeks now, complete with 17 horses. Next stop is the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg before their final indoor competition, the National Horse Show in Kentucky.

“It is tiring,” Madison said of being on the road. “But the indoors are some of my favorite shows, so it’s pretty easy to push through. You know there’s always something to look forward to, another big class, another big event going on.”

Madison’s confidence has been bolstered this summer through experience on unknown horses. “I’ve been doing a lot of catch riding this past year, which has been a lot of fun, riding different horses that are all different rides,” said Madison.

With the Indoor show season coming to a close, the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International looms on the horizon of the New Year prompting Madison to come to terms with her transition from the Juniors.

“I used to be a little bit worried about aging out and feeling like the prestige of the Junior Hunters was going to be gone,” Madison said. “But I’m actually looking forward to it. Next year I would really like to do the USET finals and get some more experience in the equitation ring. I have a young ‘eq’ horse now that I’ve been working with [Poker Face aka JJ] so I’m excited. I think I’ve got a good plan for this upcoming amateur year.”

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