Kerry Houlahan
Kerry Houlahan is a youth rider from Smiths Falls Ontario, competing this year on Pandora K, her newly purchased 10 year old, Dutch Warmblood mare. Over the past 4 years Kerry has been showing Fresco, an 11 year old Oldenburg Thoroughbred gelding.
Riding since the age of 6, Kerry began to focus on dressage at the age of 8, under the eye of Alison Brebner-Howe at Pinecrest Farm in Merrickville. Kerry began competing in dressage on her 13.2 hd black Canadian Sport Pony, Pumpernickel, showing on the Bronze circuit in 2005 and moving to the Gold circuit in 2006. In 2006 Fresco became part of Kerry’s life. With the coaching of Elizabeth Steacie of Porcupine Hill Dressage in Brockville, Ontario, Kerry and Fresco successfully competed at the FEI Children’s division in 2007, moving on to Second Level in 2008. Together they earned the Jr. Reserve Champion for the 2008 show season, at the Ontario National Dressage Championships held in Bethany Ontario.
In 2009, Kerry moved barns to be closer to the high school she attends in Perth Ontario, and now she is currently training with Jenn Rodehutskors of Rock Ridge Sport Horses. Kerry rode in Germany in March of 2009 with Bernard Fischer to hone her skills. In the 2009 show season, Kerry and Fresco competed at Second Level, earning the title of Jr. Champions at the Ontario Dressage Championships at Saddlewood in Bethany, Ontario. With the help of her coach, Jenn Rodehutskors, and Gary vander Ploeg of King City, Kerry and Fresco competed at the FEI Junior Level in 2010, narrowly missing a spot on the NAJYRC team. Kerry looks to having Pandora K ready for the FEI Junior level in 2012.
Outside of riding, Kerry currently works for her mom’s company, Maple Lane Equestrian Trailers. She is an Honor Roll student at St. John Catholic High School. Her riding goals include showing Grand Prix, and in the short term, she would like to represent Canada in dressage at NAJYRC.