Momma Wins NSBA World Title Nine WEEKS After Baby
By: Brittany Bevis
Preparing to compete at a major event involves months of focused training and weeks of intense preparation. The process is often long and arduous for a competitor hoping to peak at just the right time to see the fruits of their labor rewarded in the show pen. But throw a little twist into the equation and the process changes dramatically.
In the case of AQHA/APHA amateur competitor, Kaye Nell Ivins-Ochetto, the “little twist” was having a baby. On May 31st, Renlly Genell Ochetto was born to Kaye and her husband, Michael. She weighed 6.2 lbs and measured 18.5 inches. Just nine weeks later, tiny Renlly found herself at her very first horse show, the NSBA World Championship, to watch mommy compete.
“NSBA was her first show, but she handled it like a pro!” Kaye says. “Thankfully, she’s a very happy baby and goes with the flow, mostly!”
With the support of her husband and her doctor, Kaye rode throughout the entirety of her pregnancy and even showed two horses at the end of March, just two months before her due date. Interestingly enough, Kaye believes taking prenatal yoga classes actually helped strengthen her core for riding.
“Since I had ridden all the way through the pregnancy, I feel like she already has a comfort in the barn and at shows. Once I stopped showing, I continued riding by posting around on my horse, Reena, to stay in shape. Also, Saturdays became prenatal yoga days. I learned a lot about core and staying centered. That not only helped me throughout my pregnancy but also in riding.”
“Thankfully, Michael was fully supportive and encouraged me to continue riding and being active as I have always been. Also, he was great at discussing it with our doctor to gain her approval. The hardest part of recovery for me was not doing too much too soon. In my mind, nothing had changed, but oh it had! I was very careful for the first four weeks until I was cleared from the doctor to ride again.”
Tackling competing at the NSBA World Show with a nine-week-old baby in tow is certainly not for the faint of heart, but luckily Kaye and Michael had a helpful assistant in Kaye’s mother, Peggy.
“Life as we knew it is much different, but then again it’s not,” Kaye says. “We feel like she will adjust to our schedules, be a good traveler, and enjoy things as a family. On the other hand, there is a lot more planning to make sure the schedule and her demands and needs coordinate well. That was the hardest part of the horse show and timing. Thankfully, my mom, Peggy, is in her glory. Having her only granddaughter and being at a horse show is like heaven to her. So when the schedules were not as predictable, she was able to take care of Renlly Genell while we showed.”
“All was good until I went to start my pattern in Showmanship, and I heard Renlly cry from the back of the pen. Maybe it was a good brief distraction though as we ended up Reserve! However, we discussed her having better timing in the future. The one thing I will say is that perspective changes. During pregnancy, and now, I’m more aware of how fast the moments go. Therefore, my motto has been, ‘Embrace the moments.’ It helps me to remember that it all doesn’t have to be perfect, but I need to enjoy it before it changes!”
Kaye competed with two horses at the show: Legentary, a 5-year-old gelding by Good I Will Be and out of Kaye’s mare, Ally McDetail, and Shes So Sleepy, a mare by Too Sleepy To Zip. Kaye and Legentary placed sixth in Performance Halter Geldings and were finalists in BCF 4-6 Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. With Reena, Kaye placed in the top five in Performance Halter Mares and was the Reserve World Champion in Amateur Showmanship.
Now that Renlly’s first horse show is in the books, Kaye and Michael plan to continue traveling to their favorite AQHA and APHA events.
“The plan is to keep showing. The two horses that I have right now are both very special, and I also have a couple of young ones coming up that I’m very excited about, that we have raised. God willing, she will love this passion and continue it as a family affair. However, Michael does have visions of her on Hunter ponies! So, we will see what she loves and watch her evolve.”
If Kaye could give any piece of advice to other new equestrian mothers, it would be this. “My advice to other new horse show moms is to enjoy it! Embrace that belly and soak in every second. It’s all temporary and you will want it to last longer!”
