As Seen In:
The Chronicle of the Horse
February 26, 2010
Making A Name
Molly Sewell has experienced the transition from junior rider to adult rider, and she's in the process of honing her professional career. Taking the green conformation hunter circuit championship with Lee Cesery's Marquis was an important step for her.
"It means so much to me. I've been riding professionally for about eight years now, but I'm starting to get some really nice rides. It means so much to me that owners like Lee Cesery have the faith in me to show their nice horses. It's a real confidence boost," she said.
Sewell rode Marquis to two tricolors during the five weeks of Jacksonville, while Chad Watridge handled the reins for a championship another week.
"He's very nice—a great jumper and a sweet horse. He's not a big horse, because Lee's a smaller lady, but hes' really scopey and very pleasant to ride," Sewell said. "I'm just lucky to have the ride. We weren't aiming for the circuit championship, but he's so nice that he just kept winning. We actually didn't even show the fifth week. it was a little bit of a surprise."
Marquis, a 7-year-old Selle Francais, also shows in the low amateur-owner division with Cesery. Sewell started showing him when Cesery bought him last summer, and in December they moved up from the 3'3" pre-greens to the first year green conformation division.
Sewell grew up in the Orlando, Fla., area and showed as a junior with Peggy Stevens.
"I always knew Bill, but I didn't ride with him as a junior," she said. She started riding with him when she turned 18 and won the Ariat Adult Medal that fall. "I turned professional that December, and I've been with Bill for the last eight years. We have a ton of ponies, but just now we're starting to get some junior hunters and amateur horses. Shawn Casady is showing some junior horses, and we have some equitation horses. Bill is trying to get into the horses more and not just be the pony guru anymore."