Thoroughbred Incentive Program Youth Ambassador of the Month: Calista Plante

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program proudly celebrates its young horse owners who are dedicated to the off-track Thoroughbred. Meet June’s selected T.I.P. Youth Ambassador!

Photo by Rumoured Moments.

Calista Plante, or Cali for short, is one of our T.I.P. Youth Ambassadors this year from Maryland. Cali is 16 years old and participates in the hunter discipline with her horse Fuller. Fuller was registered by the Jockey Club name of Full Rate and has the show name of Unexpected Fuller. Cali’s favorite thing about her horse is his goofy personality.

Cali first started riding when she was 6 years old. She got her first horse at this age and began to teach herself how to ride. Along with riding, Cali participates in a variety of activities including soccer, track, FFA, 4H, and showing sheep. She loves animals and has many pets including dogs, cats, a donkey, a rabbit, a goat, and two horses (including Fuller).

Cali is another one of our 2015 Young Rider of the Year participants. In her T.I.P. Young Rider essay last year, Cali explained how her Thoroughbred has changed her life. She explained that, “no horse has had a bigger impact on me”. She explained the loss of her first pony and how she felt she may give up riding. Her 4H friends were very supportive and told her not to give up and that she would find another horse eventually.

“I started looking for a new horse and it seemed like the horse that had the most positive comments was the Thoroughbred. I heard that year about the Thoroughbred Incentive Program and thought it would be such a good opportunity” Cali stated. She told us that five months later she found Fuller at a farm in Pennsylvania. When they took the trailer to pick him up, she saw how much the previous owner cared about him and the impact he had on her, and Cali hoped that Fuller could do the same for her. She has had Fuller for four years now, and she says that she has never been so happy to work with such an amazing animal.

Photo by Collete Plante.

Fun Facts about Cali:

Favorite animal (besides horse): Cats

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Food: Chicken Wings

What do you want to be when you grow up? Lawyer

What is something unique about you? I’ve been to 10 different countries

What is one word that your friends would describe you as? Sensitive

Photo by Colette Plante.

Q: As one of our first youth ambassadors with the mission to represent our program and the Thoroughbred breed, what is one thing you would like to tell people about Thoroughbreds or the T.I.P.?

A: How athletic the Thoroughbred breed is and that they can excel in any discipline, and the Thoroughbred Incentive Program is a great way of showing those skills off.

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program was created by The Jockey Club to encourage second careers for Thoroughbreds when their racing days are over. The T.I.P. sponsors Thoroughbred-only classes and high point awards as well as Performance Awards, special year-end awards specifically for Thoroughbreds. The T.I.P. also recognizes non-competing Thoroughbreds through its Young Rider program as well as a special award for Thoroughbreds in careers such as therapy horses or other non-profit outlets.

To learn more about the Thoroughbred Incentive Program, please visit the organization’s website.