Ocala, FL – This week’s Ocala Sunday Spotlight shines on Camille Maynard Maddrix of Ocala, Florida. The talented professional has dedicated her entire life to the sport and ultimately made Ocala her home base after launching a business. Camille has been a frequent visitor to the WEC Grand Arena under the lights with her small but mighty partner, Jack Straw and never fails to impress the crowd. We caught up with Camille to learn more about her journey in the industry!
WEC: How did you get into the sport?
I started riding and taking lessons when I was eight or nine years old. I grew up in Cincinnati and rode with Maria Kneipp. I rode with her my whole junior career until I went to school. I never really owned a horse, I always just showed what she had. I would not be where I am without her and those rides. My last junior year I leased a cool jumper from The University of Findlay and Sam McCarthy, and had a lot of success with him. Then I went to school at the University of North Carolina and after I graduated I got a professional job with Aaron Vale.
Aaron is based out of Ocala and had just moved to his new farm right before I started working and showing for him. I was showing a little bit of whatever there was in the barn, but mostly jumpers. I worked for him for a couple of years. It was amazing experience. He is one of the most talented riders in our industry, and so much of what I do today still comes from him.
WEC: Tell us about your business now.
My farm is about ten minutes from WEC. I have 16 horses in training and then Belle, my son’s tiny pony! One is Jack Straw, my horse, and then the rest are customer horses. A combination of client horses that they ride and show and then horses people send me to sell. Most of my business is jumpers and also I currently have a young equitation horse for sale, a few hunters, and a pony hunter! I’ve got a lot of adult amateurs, and then I’ve got some junior riders, so it’s a good mix. I have some people who just own horses to own them and some people who own to sell them. So it is a big variety, which is awesome to have in the barn!
WEC: What does a typical day in the life at the show look like for you?
On the weekdays, I get here quite early because there’s usually a bunch of different classes to walk in the morning and it’s nice to get that out of the way. Often there’s two or three 8am classes that I’m going to ride in. So Colby and I get here early in the morning and he gets to be here all day with his nanny. I am so grateful to have her.
We usually have anywhere between 6-10 horses at the show each week. If I have a little break in the day, I usually try to run home and ride a few. I’ve got great staff. So, it really makes it easy. I can just bounce from horse to horse and my staff takes great care of everything behind the scenes. It is so nice to have the farm so close. The past few weeks I have been able to show in the morning, go back to the farm and ride and come back here and show some more!
WEC: Tell us about your experience with World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
I think it is awesome here. I’ve not traveled the world, but I’m sure it’s one of the nicest horse show facilities in the world. What I really love about it is that horses are happy here. I think that horses perform so much better when they are content. They can walk out and graze in the grass. The stalls are amazing and safe. The air conditioning in the indoors in the summer is a breath of fresh air. I think horses are relaxed here. It’s the open nature of the stabling and the rings are good. To me, that’s one of the most important things.
It’s amazing to be able to come and show at a fantastic venue where I know all the people who work the rings and work in the office. To have everybody who I work with here every day feel so close, like friends and family, makes your life as a competitor and a professional so much better. Everybody who works here is greatly appreciated!
WEC: Tell us about your horse, Jack Straw.
Jack Straw is a little horse with a huge heart. You can train horses, but you can’t train horses to love their job. He does it because he loves it. I mean the first time he ever went under the lights he just walked out there, picked his head up, looked around and knew he could do it. He’s never walked in a ring and been intimidated. He loves it so much. That’s why he jumps so well, he does it all with his heart.
Typically, on a Saturday, I’ll come in the morning, and he loves to get magnawave on Grand Prix day. He is so funny. He sticks his lip up and sticks his tongue out waggles back and forth. I always give him a flat that day, usually sometime in the early afternoon, because he is a little better if he gets a little work beforehand. I tend not to do so much when I warm up, I get on when I am eight out or so. We do the same little routine every time. I think he just knows; he knows when it’s special. As he’s gotten more experienced, I don’t do too many practice classes anymore. He’s got it. I’m sure he will be one of the most special horses I will have my whole life. I think he really loves me and I think that that’s so special.
Thank you, Camille for taking the time to chat with us! We look forward to seeing you and Jack Straw in the ring!