SIBLING RIVALRY
Young Rider|March-April 2023
Chesney and SaDee Watkins love to show horses, especially when they can compete against each other.
ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT
SIBLING RIVALRY

Did you become interested in horses because your parents had them, or maybe you saw a friend riding? For brother-sister duo Chesney and SaDee Watkins, their introduction came from a South Texas horse trainer, and the two fell headlong into a sport their parents knew nothing about. But once they got a taste for allaround, these South Carolina-based kids were totally hooked on the horse show game. And they've got no plans of stopping.

THE START

The Watkins have four children: Elijah, 27, AnneDee, 16, Chesney, 13 and SaDee, 12. Chesney and SaDee are siblings adopted by the Watkins at birth. AnneDee has disabilities and was already enjoying equine-assisted therapy when the family lived in Virginia. But SaDee and Chesney had never ridden before.

"AnneDee was doing PATH therapy from 8 years old, and Chesney and SaDee would watch when they were little bitty," says their mom, JoDee Watkins. "One day Chesney said, 'I want to ride a horse.' And I was like, 'OK, I mean we're all going to be there, so get on a horse.' Then all three of them did lessons."

Chesney connected with horses on an emotional level as well.

"My favorite thing about horses is they help with anxiety and stress, and I just like riding horses," he says.

STEPPING UP

Their local equine therapy barn took the kids to a show for fun, and the Watkins siblings had a ball.

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