Spotlight on Mona Lewis

Maritime Reiner

If you've ever been fortunate enough to watch Mona Lewis ride a reining pattern, you know she is one of the greatest reiners we have in the maritimes!

I asked Mona how her love affair with horses began. She told me her father got her a pony when she was only 4 years old. Her bother had a standardbred and her cousins had horses as well. She started showing horses at 5 years old, and made her way from Cape Breton to the Atlantic Winter Fair in Halifax county as a child. Showing horses was like brushing her teeth, a way of life she had always known.

When Mona was 9 her sister's mare had a foal and her dad said it was hers. She raised and trained that horse herself, Codys Barfly. She did everything on that mare, including running barrels, poles and reining. She had Codys Barfly for 26 years.

Mona started teaching when she was only 13. In speaking with Mona it's very clear she loves teaching students not only how to ride but how to train horses. Her program encourages students to really understand horses not just ride them. Mona's riders are successfull in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and into the US.

When Mona was 18 she had a decision to make. Stay in PEI where she had gone with her husband who was in the armed forces, or return to Cape Breton and teach in Coxheath.

She returned to Cape Breton and taught at Burnside stables for 10 years. In 1984 one of her students, who was 9 years old qualified for Quarterama and placed 2nd in hunt seat equitation!

When she was around 19, Tom McDowell came to Cape Breton for a reining class. There were about 15 entries. That's when she became hooked on reining.

For the next several years, along with teaching a number of very talented riders, Mona travelled the maritime provinces to breed and open western shows, where reining was usually at night after other events. Mona competed in multiple events and met lots of friends during that time period and passed on her love of the sport of reining. Many of our best maritime riders today were taught by Mona. More than one judge I have scribed with has mentioned the excellent equitation of Mona's riders.

One of those special friends Mona met during the peak of her showing and training career was Rhonas Thomson of Sumac Farms. "We were stabled by each other, and her special dog Benson brought a brush over and put it in my lap." Mo and Rho became fast friends, and have been close ever since!

In 1987 Mona and her husband Dan built her current place, Redwood Stables, nestled in the Coxheath hills of Cape Breton Nova Scotia. In 1994 she bought a colt from Francois Gauthier, Jays Flashy Jac, by Boogies Flashy Jac out of Shes eh Jay. In 1997 she took Jay's Flashy Jac to the NRHA Futurity! With over 500 entries that year, she placed 110th. To get there at all is an accomplishment, but to come out in the top 5th of the horses that year is very impressive! Jays Flashy Jac has produced 32 great minded, trainable babies and still lives with Mona. He is 27 years old.

Mona and Jays Flashy Jac

Successful people recognize and capitalize on opportunies, and Mona did just that when she made the journey to the NRHA futurity. She spent 2 and a half months riding and learning with other trainers. Beginning at Francois Gauthier's, then on to Texas and Oklahoma.

Mona rode with many reining greats over the years, including Bob Anthony, Francois Gauthier, Dell Hendricks, Vern Sepergia, Mario Bojoli, Gaetan Gauthier, Sophie Laverdiere, Roger Brazeau, Craig Johnson, Jack Drechsler and Stacy Westfall. She's also audited an Andrea Fappani clinic.

Mona and Dun SmokinInHollywood, photo provided by Jennifer Lovett

In 2011 Mona bought a 2 yr old filly by Gunner out of the Hollywood Dun It mare Wickedly Dun, Dun SmokinInHollywood. Mona won an extreme trail class on her the first time she showed her! Mona travelled the Atlantic provinces and Quebec showing that mare. Dun SmokinInHollywood's beauty and talent combined with Mona's expert piloting skills and flair for western style was eye catching for spectators and judges alike. This team was hot! In 2014 Dun SmokinInHollywood and Mona placed 8th in the final NRHA Standings!

2014 Official NRHA Standings

Quite an achievement given Mona and Dan lost their indoor arena in 2013. "It was a big loss and hurdle." Mona noted that with the help of many friends they perservered, and later that year were blessed with their granddaughter making semi retiring pretty sweet!

Mona is a Certifield Level 2 Western Performance coach and continues to teach a talented group of riders in Coxheath. She also travels the maritime provinces teaching clinics and judging shows and is currently booked for most of 2021! "Teaching is my thing." She is so passionate about sharing her knowledge. This lady is a class act and a role model we can be proud of.

"I could never have done all of this without my husband. He's been there and supported me through everything." Mona also said the rest of her family and close friends have been very supportive too and having that backup is so important.

Mona set the bar high for us here in Atlantic Canada! Her riders continue to raise the level of competition here in the maritimes and beyond, and a very high percentage of our riders have gained from her expertise in clinics. She is a true gem for our sport!

Lisa Spidell ~ January 20th, 2021