Amy McIlwham began riding at the young age of seven, taking group lessons at a stable close to home. As she progressed in ability, Amy leased her first horse, Zelly, an Arabian mare, then the lovely white mare, Tara Leibchen, with whom she first began competing.
As she grew older, and a love and talent for the discipline of dressage became more and more evident, Amy purchased the Hannoverian mare, Fantasia, as a six-year-old. As Amy was only 12 at the time, the pair grew up together, and became exposed to serious dressage competition.
In 2000, Amy began training with Ruth Koch at Oxford Ridge Stables, south of Ottawa. Despite the long commute, the training paid off and Amy found herself representing Canada for the first time in international competition at the 2001 North American Junior Dressage Championship held at Paxton Farms in Ohio. Despite being the youngest competitor, Amy led her team to the bronze medal and placed seventh individually. What was so impressive was that Amy had only been riding her mount, Favorit, generously loaned by her coach, Ruth Koch, for a few months prior to the competition.
Inspired by her results, Amy purchased Favorit, a Westphalian gelding and went on to again represent Canada the following year, this time at the inaugural FEI Championship of the Americas in Blainville, Quebec. Amy and Favorit were simply unbeatable, winning every test offered to claim both the Individual and Team Gold Medals.
Since selling Favorit in 2003, Amy has been concentrating on the development of her young prospect, Marzipan, a Hannoverian stallion owned by Mike and Susan Nash. Together, the pair were successful at the FEI Junior level and will begin competing at the FEI Young Riders’ level in 2005. In addition to having regular instruction from Ruth, Amy has also been working for several years with the FEI Junior/Young Riders’ trainer, Albrecht Heidemann of Germany, whom she also credits with her accomplishments.
Success in the dressage ring runs in the family. Amy’s older sister, Sarah, was a member of the Ontario Team at the 2002 North American Young Riders’ Championship in Wadsworth, Illinois. A full-time student, Amy hopes to pursue a career in the public relations sector.
