WOOSTER, Ohio – Growing up, Cassidy Sinnett spent a lot of time with Belian horses. Her grandparents, Steve and Dianne Hines had them and Sinnett showed them when she was growing up. 

During that time she met women who had been crowned as queens of the Belgian breed associations. She looked up to those women; so when Ohio Belgian breeders were looking for a candidate for their 2023 queen, Sinnett went through the application process and became the groups queen earlier this year.

“I wanted to get back into the Belgian circles,” she said.

When it came to the show ring, Sinnett showed Belgian cart classes and halter classes.

“I did more halter classes than cart classes,” she said. “I enjoyed halter classes because it is easier to tell how your horse is feeling. You can get the horse moving better in halter classes.”

The downside to cart classes is that it is hard to look good driving a cart, according to Sinnett. “I think you feel more in control when you are showing halter classes,” she said.

Sinnett said she got out of showing Belgians when she started rodeoing and showing through 4-H. She said it was hard to find Belgian shows that did not conflict the state fair and other shows.

“Competing for the Ohio Belgian queen title gave me the opportunity to get back into the Belgian community,” she said. “They are a very tight knit group of people. This is a great opportunity to get back in the community.”

As part of the application process, Sinnett applied to the association, and presented a speech at the annual meeting, before being voted on by the members.

“I am excited,” she said. “Last year when I was at the state fair, I had the opportunity to talk to the 2022 Belgian queen and I was interested in learning more.”

As Belgian queen, Sinnett is looking forward to attending as many shows as she can. She is especially looking forward handing out ribbons and trophies at the Ohio State Fair. She will also be one of the draft horse queens on hand to present awards during the Governor’s Cup Six-horse hitch class. And a highlight for Sinnett will be the opportunity to ride with the winning hitches during their victory lap.

She added that her favorite class is the six-horse hitch.

“It is cool to see the horses move effortlessly,” she said. “They make it look easy. It really shows off the breed. I like the sounds the horses make when they are all in sync. The six-horse hitch really shows how nice the horses are and how much work goes into getting them into the ring.”

During the summer, Sinnett said she is looking for some riding classes in the Belgian shows. “Belgians have a smooth ride,” she said.

Hines have eight Belgians, a Tennessee Walking Horse and Sinnett has two Quarter horses, Silver and Banana.

Currently, Sinnett participates in dummy heading and heeling, (roping), barrels, poles, stake bending, flags, goat tying, key hole, walk, trot, canter classes, showmanship and gymkhana events. Sinnett rodeos from November through April.

She also earned reserve champion contesting honors at the Ashland County fair. Contesting is a combined score with a mix of barrels, poles, stakes and key hole. She also won free style reining in 2021 with Silver.

Winning trophies is nice, but there are other benefits, according to Sinnett.

“As long as I get to spend time with my horses and they do well, placing is an added bonus,” Sinnett said.

A student at Hillsdale High School, Sinnett plays soccer and is a varsity cheerleader during football and basketball seasons. She is active in Hillsdale FFA, where she has been a member of the horse judging team. She said her equine experience has given her a leg up with the team.

Sinnett said the contest tests participants’ knowledge of tack, breeds of horses, and their colors, as well as judging conformation and performance. Participants also need to know about seed, feeds, and what plants are toxic to horses. Last year their team placed in the top 10 in the state and this year, after losing an experienced member of the team, still placed well in the contest.

Sinnett added that her Supervised Agricultural Experience project will be working for her stepfather doing farm work, feeding, cleaning stalls, and riding horses as part of their training program or to get them ready for the track. She said he has about 100 thoroughbreds on his farm.

Following high school, Sinnett plans to stay involved in the equine industry, as a horse trainer, and apply for her pro rodeo card when she turns 18.