She started out doing lessons once a week, then part boarded and leased horses for six years, showing on the Trillium and A circuits. Now 14, Morris owns her own horse and rides at Dunnottar Farm, in Durham Region on the south end of Port Perry, home to the UOIT/Durham College Equestrian Team.
Morris enjoys learning from EC Licensed Coach Joanna Buston, Dunnottar’s on-site trainer and coach who has herself many years of experience competing at a national and provincial level. Together with Buston’s help Morris has developed a strong foundation in flat work and position, built on course work, established strong equitation and horsemanship techniques that she confidently now brings into the show ring.
In 2020, when Morris was 12 years old, her parents surprised her with a four year old off the track thoroughbred named Stuart. With support from her coach and barn family, she has worked hard to train him over the last two years. In 2022 she and “Santorini” (his show name) competed in the Low Childrens’ Hunters 2’9” in the Northern Zone Silver Series and finished second overall.
Thanks to supportive and welcoming environments, Morris has not experienced racialized challenges in her young equestrian career. With a welcoming barn and competitors, she has continued to expand her riding, travelling to Ohio and competing at the World Equestrian Center several times.
Crossrails champion at the Trillium RCRA show at 9 years old
Her passion for horses is strong inside the ring but also outside of it where she is always finding ways be around horses. She enjoys training young horses coming up for sale and recently volunteered at the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair with Ontario Equestrian this past November.
Morris’ focus, commitment, and dedication demonstrates how she is chasing her dreams and goals as a rider and young horsewoman. She is a shining representative as a Black equestrian who reaffirms that equestrian sport is for everyone.
