After a 2024 season that saw so many highs, including a top five show finish at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 16-year-old equestrian Tavia Harris says she’s determined to keep progressing as one of the province’s top up-and-coming jumpers.
The Minden resident wrapped up her second season on the amateur Trillium Horse Series circuit last year, where she stood out as a top performer in the central east zone.
Riding twice a month in jumping events between April and August, Harris recorded a top seven finish in regional competition alongside her horse Carpincho, a 19-year-old thoroughbred mare. That qualified her for the Trillium Championships, hosted by the Trillium Hunter Jumper Association, which took place in Ottawa in early September.
After another impressive showing there, where Harris competed against equestrians of all ages – some with more than a decade’s worth of riding experience – she was invited to participate in the prestigious Provincial Cup. While she fell short of a podium finish, Harris’ love for the sport, and connection with her “best friend” Carpincho – or Camero as she’s known outside of competition – earned the pair a place at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, held in Toronto in November.
It was a surreal moment for Harris as she got to see things from the other side of the fence, having attended the fair annually for as long as she can remember.
“As far as last year went, I think it was better than I ever could have hoped for,” Harris told The Highlander in a recent interview. “It’s been hard, and a lot of work… but getting to the fair made it all worth it.”
While her appearance in the city was for showing, rather than jumping, Harris said it ignited a fire deep within her. She and Carpincho placed fifth in the in-hand and under-saddle class – a “remarkable achievement for a girl who had never really showed before,” said mom, Elizabeth Foote.
Later that month, Harris was named co-recipient of the Cassie Bonnar Junior Equestrian of the Year award by the Ontario Equestrian Foundation.
It was the pinnacle of a four-year journey for Harris and her mare, after the pair were first introduced in November 2020. Then 12, Harris had spent years trying to convince her mom to buy her a horse. After relenting, Foote spent months researching for a perfect fit – only for the pair to stumble upon Carpincho, owned by a breeder in Madoc. This was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their connection was instant, Foote said, with Harris making sure to spend time with her new best friend every day. They found a stable in Highlands East to house her.
“Tav was so committed – it was a difficult relationship at first… Camero had some issues to work through, but that kid sat on a bucket in a field every single day. She showed up over and over and over again,” Foote said. “Over time they developed a real trust and before long they were inseparable.”
It was months before Harris climbed on Carpincho’s back for the first time. Almost completely self-taught via videos on YouTube and guides found online – with only a couple entry-level lessons, Harris had to learn through trial and error as she figured out how to adapt and maneuver her body while in full flight.
An avid hockey player for much of her youth, Harris gave up the sport and almost all her other extra-curriculars so she could dedicate as much time as possible to perfecting her new craft.
“That wasn’t too hard – actually, it wasn’t hard at all,” Harris said. “After creating this incredible bond, I knew [jumping] was all I really wanted to do. The fact we get to spend all this time alone, growing together… it means so much to me.”
After jumping two-foot-six-inch hurdles the past two years, Harris said she’s planning to go up to three-feet in 2025. She’ll do so by once again learning the ropes herself, opting against professional coaching. For her, part of the fun is connecting with her horse and going through new experiences together.
“It almost feels like we’re one now whenever I’m riding… but I’m still trying to figure out what the circuit is and how to progress. I just look at all my mistakes from previous rides and try to make sure not to repeat them,” Harris said. “I do want to go to the championships again. I’d like to win.
“After performing so well and exceeding anything I thought I’d do these past two years, I just want to see how far I can go, how far Camero can take me,” Harris concluded.
