Local mom and daughter savour success at national horse racing finals

For Amanda McGill-Borden, horseback riding began as an enjoyable outdoor pastime.

Now, the Prince Township resident has turned it into a bold, successful activity at the competitive level. 

McGill-Borden and horse Rosie recently returned from the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Canada Finals held from Oct. 5 to 8 in Ancaster, Ontario. 

Such competitions include barrel racing, in which a horse and rider run a pattern around barrels in the fastest possible time.

They also include pole bending, horse and rider running a weaving path around six poles arranged in a line.

At the NBHA Canada Finals, Rosie, with McGill-Borden at the reins, took first place as the 3D open poles champion.

Her time in poles at the Canada Finals was 22.5 seconds, a personal best for McGill-Borden as a rider.

Rosie also won the Super Horse award for most overall points during the first two days of the event leading up to the finals.

It was her second time earning that distinction. 

The horse received a saddle and medal.

In District qualifiers leading up to the NBHA Canada Finals, Rosie took first place in 2D open poles and was reserve champion (the horse with the second highest number of points) in 3D open barrels. 

“Basically you compete all spring and summer to try and get enough points to qualify to be entered into the Canada Finals run. The competitions are held in Sudbury, Cochrane, Bonfield, all over the place,” McGill-Borden told SooToday.

“Over the past year and a half I started doing pole bending. Poles are completely new to Rosie and myself but that’s what we did well in this year.”

In barrel racing, she posted a time of 16.2 seconds.

With those results McGill-Borden was able to take Rosie to the NBHA Canada Final. 

McGill-Borden started riding horses when she was five years old.

Five years ago she switched from English riding to Western riding.

“English is slow, pretty and involves jumping. Western riding, barrel racing, is the opposite.”

“I picked up Rosie six years ago in Michigan. She’s 13 now. Usually their prime is 10 to 13 years old.”

McGill-Borden has been riding at the competitive level for five years.

“I was just doing it for fun at first but then I started on the National Barrel Horse Association circuit which is a big circuit in Canada. I’m a stay at home mom and it became my hobby that turned into more than a hobby.”

McGill-Borden and Rosie nearly didn’t make it to the NBHA Canada Finals.

“Two weeks before the Canada Finals my horse hurt herself very badly. We were at a horse show, she slipped and fell and actually got a puncture through her hoof.”

She credits Gadke Farrier Services and Ashlee Boychuk of Northern Valley Therapy with helping Rosie recover from the injury.

For McGill-Borden, horse racing is a family affair.

Her daughter Sophia Borden, 11, is no stranger to success with horses as SooToday reported last year. 

Sophia won saddles, medals and ribbons in the 2022 NBHA Canada Final.

Both mother and daughter competed at this year’s Canada Finals.

In District qualifiers Sophia and horse Cinnamon won reserve champion in 2D Youth Barrels, were in the top five in 3D Open Barrels and in the top five for 1D open poles.

Sophia was competing against adults in 3D Open Barrels and 1D open poles.

“She’s a little speed demon,” McGill-Borden said of Sophia.

Both mother and daughter qualified for the World Championships in Georgia in 2024, though McGill-Borden said she is uncertain at this point if the two will take that trip.

“Last year it was her turn for success, this year it was my turn too,” Amanda laughed.

“We’re getting more and more into it so stay tuned for next year."