Kasey McDermott a Role Model at the Stables

Kasey McDermott, a 13-year-old equestrian from Chelmsford, has been riding horses for as long as she can remember.  For the past 11 years, McDermott has spent most of her free time at Flying Change Stables, the family business that her mother established just over 23 years ago.

“She started participating with the ponies and riding at the age of two. She learned to lead them around, groom them, and ride. She just progressed over the years, and is just a beautiful rider,” said Kasey’s mother, Kathy McDermott.

The honor roll student has worked with Olympic medalist Greg Best, and works as an instructor for younger kids at the barn.

“[Over the years] I took a lot of lessons,” said Kasey McDermott. “I’ve taken everything I can [and applied it] to my riding. I do a little teaching with the younger kids, and whatever I take away, I add to those lessons so they can become better riders.”

Kasey McDermott has managed to improve her equestrian abilities as she has grown, and can ride bareback and complete jumps with her horses. Because she has worked for so long, McDermott and her horses have formed a bond that allows the pair to excel in local showings in the area.

“I ride three horses,” said McDermott, who mainly trains with her five year old pony, Twix. “Twix I’ve known for three years, so he’s much easier to ride. Riding my mom’s horse can be more of a challenge because he can be a little harder to figure out.”

Her favorite event to show her horses is hunting, a category that evaluates the horse’s movements as opposed to the rider’s.

“I really like to do the hunting, because it’s all based on the horse,” she said.

McDermott has turned many of her friends to the pastime, and thoroughly enjoys the sport.

“I think riding horses is a great sport and everyone should try it; it’s so much fun,” she said.

“Kasey and her friends are horse crazy girls; it’s all they care about,” said Kathy McDermott. “It is the social aspect of her life.”

In addition to excelling at horseback riding, McDermott serves as a role model working in the barn every day, and volunteering her time to the Greener Pastures Therapeutic Riding Program.

“Not only does she ride, but she’s a very important part of the business. Kasey pretty much goes to work every day after school, and she helps out with camps, and mucks stalls; she does it quite happily and without complaint. She really does love it and I’m very proud of her for that,” said Kathy McDermott.

In the future, Kasey McDermott hopes to have a professional career outside of horseback riding, although she hopes it will always be a part of her life. Because her mother owns the business, she will have the opportunity to remain in touch with horseback riding.

Kasey’s mother has a strong feeling that her daughter will always be a member of the equestrian community.

“I absolutely know so; it’s in her heart and in her blood,” she said.