By Lisa Carolin
This Thursday will be the first time that Olivia Byrd, a junior at Chelsea High School, and her family have ever attended the America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit, and what a way to make a debut.
Olivia will be participating in the parade riding an American Saddlebred horse from Paddyngton Farms in Dexter. She was invited to be one of the riders for Holly Armstrong who owns Meadow Reflections Farm in Howell and is a three-time world champion in the Parade division.
“I feel honored to have this amazing opportunity,” said Olivia.
“Holly extended the invite to Olivia to help promote the division as well as the breed,” said Julie Byrd, Olivia’s mom, who will be attending the parade along with Olivia’s dad, aunt, and trainer, Paddy Bates. “Holly felt that Olivia would represent the breed and the division well.”
Olivia is quite excited and grateful for the opportunity because riding has been an important part of her life.
“It has made me a more confident person, and I have more compassion and respect for horses since I ride every day,” she said. “Riding has taught me good sportsmanship. Win or lose, as long as I have a good ride, I am grateful.”
“Olivia has been riding her entire life and has spent countless hours at the barn,” says her mom. “She has a natural talent. She has worked many summers cleaning stalls, stacking hay, and working horses for her aunt.”
Missy Dee is Olivia’s horse, and they have won numerous championships in the Western and Hunt seat divisions. They share a strong bond, and working with Missy Dee has taught Olivia patience and discipline.
“With competing comes disappointment,” said Julie Byrd. “You cannot win all the time, and that is hard to understand when you are 8, 9 or 10 years old. Olivia works hard not only with this sport, but she is a good student at Chelsea High School. Bad grades are not acceptable if she wants to ride. That was the trainer’s rule for her and for her other clients.”
Among Olivia’s goals are competing at the Kentucky State Fair World Championship Horse Show, and at the American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City where she could get a National title with Missy Dee for the Hunter Division and possibly the Western Division.
As far as her future goes, Olivia would like to be a dentist. She says that career would allow her to still have horses in her life and afford them.
Be sure to look for her during the parade coverage on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m.-noon on WDIV-TV, Channel 4.
