NRHA Professional Holly MacDonald is a coach, trainer and open show judge operating out of Meadow Pond Stables in Liverpool, NS. Through out her career as a Youth, she competed on AQHA, CEF and NRHA circuits, earning awards such as Grand Champion Novice Rider and Grand Champion Youth of Nova Scotia Reining Horse Association multiple times. She also accumulated AQHA's Youth All-Around Grand Champion titles at various Maritime Quarter Horse Association events.
Understudying with notable trainers over the years, Holly took on numerous apprentice positions where she was guided as a new industry professional. The supervision of several Maritime based trainers allotted Holly the opportunity to begin her career in coaching and training.
Holly was a student of Alberta's Olds College Equine Science Program, Major of Western Training. In addition to this, her education continued with practical experience riding with greats such as Top 50 lifetime money earner in the NRHA Mario Boisjoli and 17 x World Champion Craig Johnson in clinic opportunities as well as visits to various training facilities in the US.
Holly has travelled to the Southern United States to compete and train and had the experience of working beside the legends of reining while riding out of Draggin A and Babcock Ranches in Gainesville, Texas. She has competed at the prestigious NRHA Futurity & World Championship Show in Oklahoma City under the guidance of renowned author and trainer, JP Forget, past member of Reining Team Canada.
Horses Holly has ridden can be found through out Canada, the United States and now Europe. They are Futurity & Derby competitors, as well as Champion Youth & Non-Pro mounts. A recent few MPS titles include:
- 09 NRHA Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Qualifier
- 09 NRHA Eastern Canada Regional Affiliate Championship Top 5
- 09 NRHA Eastern Canada Regional Affiliate Championship Top 10
- 09 Reining Canada Affiliate Champion, NRHA Youth 13 & Under
- 09 Reining Canada Affiliate Champion, NRHA Freestyle
- 08 Altantic Reiners Fall Fair - Champion NRHA Nov., Horse Non Pro
- 08 Valley Reiners Fall Classic – Res. NRHA Open
- 08 Valley Reiners Fall Classic – Champion NRHA UnrestrictedYouth
- 08 Valley Reiners Fall Classic – Champion NRHA Non Pro
- 08 Scotia Sliders Summer Show - Res. NRHA Open
- 08 Scotia Sliders Summer Show - Res. NRHA. Novice Horse Non Pro
- 08 South Shore Reiners Summer Slide - Res. NRHA Non Pro
- 08 South Shore Reiners Summer Slide - Res. NRHA Unrestricted Youth
- 08 NB Codiac Reiners - Res. NRHA Youth 13 & Under
- 08 Valley Reiners Summer WarmUp Champion NRHA Unrestricted Youth
- 07 Atlantic Reiners Res. NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro
- 07 Atlantic Reiners Res. NRHA Non Pro
- 07 Valley Reiners Res. NRHA Non Pro
- 07 Red Rock Slide Res. NRHA Non Pro
- 06 Valley Reiners Champion NRHA Non Pro
- 06 Atlantic Reiners Champion Youth
- 05 NSRHA Reining Canada Res. Open Derby
- 05 NSRHA Reining Canada Champion Non-Pro Derby
- 05 NSRHA Year-End Reserve Champion Youth
- 05 NSRHA Year-End Reserve Champion Non-Pro
- 05 Reining Canada Top 5 Non Pro
With tailor-made programs for each horse and rider, Holly’s commitment to continual learning and excellence in horsemanship provide the basis for success in her horses. Her future aspirations include continuing to judge, show, teach and train while bringing quality reining horses to the Maritimes. In 2009, she holds a position as Director at Large with Reining Canada, in addition to sitting on the Canadian Reining Committee, a division of Equine Canada.
