Camilla Willings

Camilla Willings and Mercenario deLa Libertad (aka “Mercy”), a 12 year old Paso Fino Stallion, have been named the Canadian Home Hardware Wind Rider Champions. This team competed against other Wind Rider Challenge finalists and won the honors at the Can-Am All Breeds Equine Emporium held this March.

Camilla and Mercy will be at the Midwest Horse Fair® representing Canada in the North American Wind Rider Challenge, presented by Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard. This Canadian pair and the winner of the Midwest Horse Fair® Wind Rider Challenge will face off for the title of “Most Versatile Horse in North America,” along with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.

Their home is Fina Vista Farm in Damascus, Ontario, Canada, where Mercy is the herd sire and Camilla is the owner/manager. Fina Vista Farm (www.finavistafarm.ca) is a small breeding, boarding and training facility for Paso Fino Horses. Paso Finos are beautiful, smooth, four-beat gaited horses of Spanish origin. From 2001-2004, Mercy and Camilla spent a fair bit of time showing at Paso Fino Horse Association shows in the United States, earning over 900 show points, four National placements (in Classic Fino and Trail), several high point awards, regional championships and a Title of Proficiency.

Camilla and Mercy took a break from the show ring so that Camilla could have two children, and Mercy could enjoy life breeding and trail riding. With small children, long-distance shows became a challenge, so they focused instead on more local fun, always looking for new challenges, and great opportunities to showcase the athleticism, beauty and versatility of the Paso Fino horse. This path brought them lots of exciting adventures including parades, fall fairs, hunter paces, breed demos, Latin Street Festivals, gaited shows, a steeplechase, cattle wrangling, and more.

When Camilla read about the Wind Rider Equestrian Challenge in 2009, she knew she had found the perfect sport to highlight her horse’s talents and versatility while having lots of fun and a huge challenge at the same time. They have both thoroughly enjoyed the variety of obstacles they get to play with and performing the musical freestyle is a dream come true. Come and see Camilla and Mercy in action at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 18 at the Midwest Horse Fair®. The North American Wind Rider Showdown will be held in the John Deere Coliseum.

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