My love for horses began when I was seven years old. My first three years of riding were non competitive, as I was still getting used to the foundation and basics of riding. At 11 years old, I began leasing my first pony and competing in shows. My first competition was at Ledges Sporting Horses, and I earned Grand Champion in the Short Stirrup Hunter division. The next year, I added 11 & Under into my show schedule as well as hacking several barn horses. After two years, I outgrew my medium pony and it was time to move up in classes. In 2016, I bought a large pony and competed in the Large Children's Hunter Ponies with him. After a year of competing with him, we sold him and purchased my current horse, Harlem Shake, a.k.a. Harvey. With Harvey, we showed in the Modified and Novice Children’s Hunter Divisions in 2017. I earned a dual Championship in both, my first time entering the divisions. I went on to ribbon out of both divisions. 

 

The following year, I took part in the USHJA Zone 5 & 6 Hunter Championships at HITS Balmoral Park and earned a third place team finish and an overall seventh place individual finish. Additionally that year, I competed in the IHJA Children's Medal Finals and finished as Reserve Champion among 21 top Zone 5 competitors. 

 

In 2018/9, I began the season by competing in the Back On Track Medal and Taylor Harris National Medal earning first place ribbons in both. During the summer, I took part in the qualifying classes for the Hamel Foundation NHS 3'3”, Medal/Championship, Midwest NCEA Junior Medal Finals, and also qualified and competed in the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Finals where I finished with a seventh place ribbon out of 16 competitive riders. To earn my qualifying points for the Hamel Foundation NHS 3'3” Medal/Championship, I rode a variety of horses; my own horse, Harvey, and catch rode a few others. In the Fall of 2019, I catch rode a mare at HITS Balmoral Zone Finals in the M&S Qualifier and earned a first place ribbon among ten competitive riders. I then leased this mare to help me compete at the National Horse Show in Kentucky.

 

Closing out my 2019 season, I traveled to the Kentucky Horse Park and competed, twice. My first trip to Kentucky was a warm up with the new mare. I showed her in my first Junior Hunter 3’3 16-17 Handy and finished with a fourth place ribbon out of eight competitors. I also took part in the Zone 5 Horsemanship Challenge and earned the 11th highest score on the written portion out of 60 national qualifiers. A month later, I went back to Kentucky to compete in the National Horse Show. Qualifying for the Hamel Foundation NHS 3'3” Medal/Championship gave me many opportunities to catch ride a number of different horses, teaching myself how to adapt to each. I know my experience with catch riding will continue to benefit me throughout my riding career in college.

 

Over the years, I’ve also had the opportunity to participate in many clinics with well-known trainers. In mid-2018, I moved to Perfecta Farm to train with Kim Gardiner, Mara Kranz and a tremendous support team. Now, in my Junior year in high school, my long-term goal to ride in college has not wavered. I want to ride for an NCAA equestrian team. My family, my trainers, my team, and my horse(s) have all contributed toward my bright future for a successful college riding career.