Tag: OYES

Holly is the Fall 2022 OYES Scholarship recipient.

I was first introduced to riding when I was eight years old by my grandmother. She began taking lessons in her fifties and decided to take me for trail rides and western lessons when I was younger. When I was 12, my parents enrolled me in English lessons as a Christmas present. As a young, mixed-race horse girl, I never saw girls that looked like me in Young Riders magazine or at my barn in South-Central Ontario. Not looking like other young equestrians caused me to feel isolated in a community I so desperately wanted to belong to. The following decade saw a decline in my kinship with horses. I stopped riding, gained weight, and gave up on the idea of me ever being able to jump a course.

In February of 2021, I enrolled myself in lessons to help keep me occupied during the lockdowns that Ontario faced. I had to start from the basics: relearning how to tack up, how to trot, and check my diagonals. Throughout 2021, I continued lessons multiple times a week with hunter-jumper coaches and achieved my childhood goal of jumping a course. Last year, I set a goal to try out for my university’s equestrian team, and I am proud to announce that I am the first Black athlete on my team and competed in my first show last month (placing fifth O/F and seventh U/S). My next short-term goal is to place fourth O/F and sixth U/S. I am not striving to be perfect – I am aiming to be better than I was the last time I sat in the saddle. I would love to be able to purchase a project horse and turn him into an eventer. It is my dream to get involved in cross country and fox hunting.

My equestrian interests aside, I am a fifth-year student at Trent University pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Women’s Studies. My career goal is to become a sex and relationship therapist for racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and disabled folks. One day, I hope to offer equine facilitated psychotherapy to youth in foster care and survivors of sexual violence. I am in the process of applying to graduate school for a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I am confident that I will be able to achieve my career goal, as I have extensive experience as a peer supporter at Trent, a crisis text line responder for Kids Help Phone, and working with youth in care.

While completing school, I work two jobs to support myself. Contrary to the stereotype, I am not a wealthy equestrian. I come from a hard working family, and although we are middle class, I try not to depend on my parents to fund my hobbies. I am thankful for the government assistance that I receive for my tuition as it allows me to allocate my income to rent, bills, groceries, and my passion for horses. As a student, who relies on government funding and works two jobs, I am unable to invest in my riding career to the same degree as my teammates; all of whom have been showing since they were children. Sometimes, I worry that I am not a valid equestrian because I can only afford to take lessons once a week and I cannot afford a seasoned showjumper. I do not have the privilege of being able to spend all my free time riding because I need to remain financially stable.

The most impactful challenge that I have faced as a young, queer Black equestrian is that I still feel alone. I still don’t see girls who look like me with bodies and identities like mine. I initially was not offered a spot on the team, and I couldn’t help but worry that it was because I am a size 12 and Black. I was still obese when I started riding again, and I really felt inadequate and refused to have group lessons. I didn’t feel like I belonged. It is isolating when you enter the show ring and your last name is the only one that is not said aloud. It is disheartening when you see the other girls on your team braiding each other’s hair but no one offers to do yours. I am grateful for the girls outside of my team that I have met at my barn. They fight for me, and they advocate for me. They support me and believe in me, even when I don’t. What I love the most about riding is that the horses don’t care what color I am, or if I date women and trans folks – they care that I love and respect them.

If I am awarded the OYES Scholarship, I would utilize the funds for anticipated expenses for the winter portion of our show season. My team competes in the North Zone of the Ontario Collegiate Equestrian Association (OCEA). Our lessons are $55 each and we are expected to take lessons once a week for 11 weeks. Each show costs $105 to enter, and there are roughly two to three shows a semester. Many of these shows are over an hour away and require me to drive and may require me to stay overnight, depending on the show’s location. The barn that I have been riding at since September of 2021, Kildare Stables, is the same barn where my team is based. If I am in receipt of the scholarship, I will use the funds to pay for the remainder of my show season and lessons. This will alleviate the financial stress that comes with moving to a new city and commencing graduate studies. Since I have now only attended one show, I want to be able to attend as many more within the OCEA as possible so that I can hopefully lease and show on a larger provincial circuit (i.e., the Trillium Hunter Jumper Association).

I want to continue to show throughout my adulthood. Prior to my first show, I truly thought that I would never have an opportunity to show because I did not compete as a child. I do not care about placing first, or becoming a division champion – I care that I can continue to fuel my heart and soul with a passion my grandmother and I share. I also want to feel confident when I try out for my next university’s equestrian team, and I want to be able to upgrade to a higher division. My first show gave me so much confidence, and it was reaffirming to hear how well I did and how far I have come. Riding is also a positive and non-academic self-esteem booster, and I am so grateful for my grandmother who shared her love of horses with me.

Leetal is the Winter 2022 Dreamers & Schemers Horse Show Awardee, sponsored by Dreamers & Schemers.

Hi there! My name is Leetal Shelemay, and I am 17 years old. I fell in love with horses and riding when I was 6 years old, and I did a week of pony camp during the summer. I still remember all the horse books and magazines I read to prepare myself for the experience (I use the term “read” loosely as I mostly just looked at pictures). I specifically remember learning how to hold the reins, practicing on pretty much any variety of rope or string that I could get my hands on because I knew I wanted to blow everyone away with how good I was for my first time on a horse. Writing this now makes me think of how little has changed, I still aim to impress every time I sit in the saddle. I continued to go to that same camp for a week each summer until I finally convinced my parents to take lessons at a local riding school at 9 years old. We arranged that I would pay $5 towards every lesson I took, and I continued to do this for my weekly lessons until my parents were convinced of my commitment to the sport. It’s been 8 years since then, and I’ve been to so many different kinds of facilities trying to get all the best experiences I could get. My current short-term goals are to continue competing in the hunter/jumper/equitation disciplines and to get as much hands-on experience as I possibly can. 

After graduating this year (class of 2022) I will most likely be staying here in Ottawa, Ontario to attend the University of Ottawa in the International Business program which I have been accepted to for early admissions with a scholarship, then to a combined law-MBA program. I then plan on pursuing a career either at an international law firm or in management. I currently hold the role of external representative for a student-led law society, which has helped me make many connections in the law industry.

            My experiences as an equestrian have been bittersweet, but horses have always been an outlet for me throughout all my mental health struggles. At many points it was difficult to stay involved in the sport, knowing the unfortunate reality of the financial commitment it requires and what that means for my goals. It’s difficult not to be discouraged, but I have been lucky enough to have a great support system of people I have met through horses. My mental health situation has been difficult since I was very young, but riding taught me how to deal with my emotions properly. My love of animals and passion for mental health were realized when I worked with my mentors at mindyourmind, a division of Canada Service Corps, to create an initiative that brings people and animals together. I plan to launch this program once I start university next fall and am so excited to see it come to life. 

            When I get in the saddle I have to learn to separate my emotions and be 100% present in the saddle and there for my horse. I have found a great barn and a coach that can help me work through my mental barriers. I part board a talented warmblood, Zizi, from my coach and would love to see our hard work play out into the show ring this summer.

Karli is the Winter 2022 Eternal Student Lesson Award, sponsored by Optimum Equine.

My name is Karli Davis, I’m 22 years old, currently residing in St. Petersburg, Fla., and I am a senior at the University of South Florida with plans to graduate Fall 2022. I was introduced to horses in elementary school when I was about 9 or 10 years old. There was another girl in my class who was already involved with horses, and I really wanted to be her friend because of that. I don’t remember what made me want to get into horses prior to her, but that girl was the match to the fuse. One conversation led to another, and pretty soon I was taking lessons.

My current riding goals are focused on Natural Horsemanship. I want to learn how to establish a partnership with a horse, no matter if it’s just a respectful working relationship, like coworkers, or as deep as inseparable friends who are eager to be with each other every second of every hour. I want to understand his language and signals. I want to learn how to work with him and talk to him. Riding is the simple part. I want to connect with a horse’s mind and heart, not his back. Once I get his heart, the rest of him will follow. My secondary goal is learning Western Pleasure. My previous lessons at other facilities have been focused on some interesting combinations of riding (ever heard of Wanglish? Western English?), but none have been specialized in one area. I went through a lot of trainers early on at one of the first barns I started at. With each new trainer, I had to work from the ground up again as we got to know each other. As a result, for a couple years I didn’t really learn anything new. I did develop a killer seat, though. Now, I’m slowly getting back in the saddle and working on achieving that great seat I once had. This time, I’d like to focus on one style of riding. Perhaps in the future I’ll move onto something else like barrel racing or show jumping, as those areas of riding interest me, too.

My future ultimate goals are to own a horse, and to be so comfortable in my knowledge of horses that I’m confident enough to try and work with him on my own. Teamwork goes a long way in the horse world. Everyone at the barn helps each other where they can, from answering a simple question to discussing any problem areas they’re facing. I don’t expect to have all the answers, and I’m fine with that. I’d never shun a lesson or an opportunity to learn something new once I’ve hit my goal, but I want to be confident and competent enough to know that I can try to help myself and my horse should no one be available. You learn how to drive before you buy your first car. Currently, I’m still at “stage one.” I’m slowly learning the 7 games in Natural Horsemanship with an amazing trainer and her horses, whom I have worked with in the past, and working on my seat and balance after being out of the saddle so long and inconsistently.

However, staying in the horse world isn’t easy. I fell out of it for years, only riding off and on when I had the money to do so. Lesson prices began to creep higher, and pretty soon spending $200-$300 a month was becoming harmful to my finances. My mental health is the biggest detriment to staying involved with horses. When I first fell out of it, I was hospitalized for a while for depression and suicidal thoughts. I stopped riding for about 5 or 6 years even though horses made me so happy. My depression had such a strong grip on me that I couldn’t get back to what I loved.
In December 2021, I reached out to one of the old barns I rode at to get in touch with the trainer there. She specializes in Natural Horsemanship. I remember her first demonstration to me and my mother years ago when we first stopped by to ask about lessons. That memory has stuck with me for years. Reaching out was hard for me to do. I worried she wasn’t there, or had forgotten me. She was still teaching, and I was very relieved to know she remembered me. Being back at the barn has done wonders for my mental health, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t fall out again.

Cora is the Winter 2022 recipient of the Inaugural OYES Eventing Award, sponsored by Savanna’s Sweet Horse Treats.

I was very fortunate to start riding at a young age when I was a child in Pennsylvania. I absolutely loved the horses and the riding, but I HATED the racist and barn culture that permeated the sport. When I was in college, I was fortunate enough to stumble across the endurance community during the COVID lockdown when I was desperate for anything to do, and I was pleasantly surprised when they welcomed me with open arms despite my skin color. Unfortunately, my work schedule does not allow for endurance conditioning during the school year, but I was fortunate to find a trainer/ally nearby who coaches eventing. Additionally, because of my physical disabilities, I realized if I fell off a horse 10 miles from my check point, I would be stranded, given the fact that walking is not my best skill.

I am a person with big dreams, and I want to compete on a USEF level in eventing or showjumping. I currently am taking regular lessons and lease a horse, however there are financial limitations that prevent me from taking lessons as often as I would like.

As a para rider, I have personal beef with the para riding classification system and the fact that all para rides are relegated to dressage, which, no hate on dressage, is not my interest. Every disability is unique as a fingerprint, and I want to prove that a rider with disabilities can compete and be successful in any variety of disciplines (even if they are not classed para riders competing in para divisions).

I am also re-learning how to ride due to a complex spinal cord injury called Syringomyelia. In layman’s terms, I have a cyst growing inside my cervical spinal cord which impacts my motor function, muscle strength, coordination, and more. I have found some amazing adaptations (such as looped reins and magnetic stirrups), but ultimately, I just need more hours in the saddle to rebuild muscle memory.

While I make a respectable income in my job, I am still a teacher who has significant medical costs. If I were awarded this scholarship, I would be able to pay for 11 lessons with my trainer (Amy Silvera Olson) which is huge in regards to rebuilding muscle memory and strength in the areas that have been impacted by my spinal cord injury. That would be in addition to the lessons I am already taking, majorly increasing the frequency of my training.

My short-term goal is to compete in the 2022 summer show season, and while I may not be the winner at any of these events, I want to make an important point that just because an individual is in a wheelchair or has physical disabilities does not mean they are any less capable of participating in the sport.

Jay is the recipient of the Winter 2022 Platinum Stables Hunter Jumper Excellence Award, sponsored by the Rohr family.

The moment I first sat in a saddle changed my entire future in a matter of seconds. At the age of 6, I started my equestrian career with a 24-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who took good care of me. Over the years, I have grown and changed immensely as a rider. Unfortunately, I seem to have hit a standstill in my riding career and need a bit of assistance to achieve my goals.

I am a 17-year-old transgender male in the small town of Milton, WI. I was originally born in Upstate New York, where I lived until I was 10. My family then moved to Wisconsin due to my father being transferred to his current job. I’ve been at many different stables and have ridden a large variety of horses. I am currently riding with a local college student and doing small shows with her mother’s horse, Chewbakka Bahim, an Arabian gelding. We compete in small, local shows in hunter rail classes and western pleasure classes, along with halter and showmanship. My ultimate dream in the near future is to either find a Morgan or Arabian breed-specific stable to ride with or compete at a breed-circuit show. I would also like to successfully get over my anxiety about cantering English at shows.

My equestrian career has been a very bumpy one. I am officially diagnosed with anxiety, depression, sensory processing disorder, PTSD, BPD, and I am trying to have autism testing done. As one could imagine, these all greatly affect me in and out of the saddle. At 10 years old in my first horse show, I was riding with a saddleseat barn that did not teach safety in the saddle. In the ring, my right foot fell out of my stirrup at the trot, and I did not know what to do. I fell, broke my right humerus and was rushed to the ER in an ambulance in front of hundreds. This event has given me PTSD that comes up at competitions. At shows, I am very anxious and feel unstable riding in the ring. I’ve fallen other times at shows, all in an English saddle. This is where my strong fear of riding English in shows comes from.

Along with struggling with my mental health, being an LGBT+ rider in a conservative area is not easy. I am stared at, mocked, and sometimes even placed poorly due to my identity. I am currently vice president of my high school’s GSA to help other students and educate others about our community. Finally, where I am located, we do not have many Arabian or Morgan horse stables within a reasonable distance. There are some about an hour away, but my parents are my transportation and do not want to drive the distance. This means I am limited in stables to train and show with. I am currently unable to drive myself. My current trainer is wonderful, but as a college student with only 4 horses for lessons, she is limited in what she can help me accomplish. I feel I am ready to accomplish more and achieve my goals.

As an LGBT+ and mentally ill rider of over 10 years, my riding journey has been an interesting one. I have gained lots of knowledge and experience over the years with many different people. Receiving a scholarship would help me in many ways including paying fees, making new connections, and getting advice from other equestrians. I look forward to representing the LGBT+ community in my area and bettering my equestrian skills this upcoming show season.

Kristen is the Winter 2022 OYES Scholarship Award Winner, sponsored by Mare Goods.

Howdy hey! My name is Kirsten Polk, I’m nineteen years old, and I was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas. At the age of nine, I started volunteering and riding at Whispers of Hope Horse Farm, a therapeutic riding facility three minutes away from my house. After school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I would rush to the barn and help with the therapeutic sessions either as a horse handler or a sidewalker. In that arena, I found my passion for working with children of all ages, with or without physical or mental disabilities. From there, I became active in my local 4-H chapter showing horses, competing in various competitions, serving as a livestock ambassador, and holding several office positions, including but not limited to President and Vice President. Two highlights of my 4-H career include being the first African American to win a District 3 4-H Horse Show title and being a member of an all-girls team to win the 2019 Swine Quiz Bowl Contest at the Texas 4-H Roundup. 

When I was a freshman in high school, I joined the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter. Through FFA, I showed pigs, lambs, goats, horses, in addition to serving as a chapter officer for three years and a member of the horse judging team for four. Horse judging was where I really found my stride, earning several Hi-Point Individuals and top ten finishes across the state, including a top ten finish out of 897 individuals at the Tarleton Invitational. I continued my horse judging career into college. I went on to win Hi-Point Limited Individual in the collegiate division at the AQHA World Show in November of 2021. I still have one more year left of eligibility, and I am excited to see where it takes me. My current riding goals are to gain enough experience to show on the Texas A&M University – Commerce’s stock horse team. I have big dreams of competing and finishing in the top ten at the VRH World Show, AQHA World, and the SHTX World Show. 

But life hasn’t always been rosy for me. In 2018, after my aforementioned win at the District 3 Horse Show, my grandparents went through a nasty divorce a week before the Texas 4H State Horse Show. My grandma was forced to come live with us, and it put a financial and mental strain on the entire family. After practicing so hard, I was unable to attend the state show, and at the time, it felt like the end of the world. However, my bad luck did not end there. Later in the season, two weeks before one of the season’s biggest shows, Rusty coliced and passed away suddenly. To this day, I still haven’t found a horse that I have a connection with and want to show.

Being a young, African American woman in this industry certainly has been a feat. I’ve experienced blatant exclusion and racial discrimination firsthand at a young age that I would wish not upon anyone. But those experiences only fueled my drive and made me work harder to look my best and be the best at all times. Currently, I juggle being a full-time college student, TAMUC horse judging team member, and working part-time. Between tuition, everyday expenses, and bills, I’m saving to pay for show fees, stalls, and other related costs. Being a recipient of the Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship would be a tremendous help in lifting some of that financial burden. $500 out of $600 will go towards the mandatory Texas A&M Commerce Stock Horse show team fee. This money covers practices three times a week with the coach Mr. Nathan Wells, entries to four SHTX shows, and hotel fees. The remaining $100 will go towards travel expenses such as food and hotel costs accumulated during the spring horse judging season.

In the next seven years, I plan on having my degree in Masters of Science in Counseling and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in the Dallas area. So far, I am in my second year of college and in my first semester of actual counseling-related courses. I still plan on being very active in the 4-H/ FFA community of whatever county I live in, as a volunteer, horse judging coach, and scholarship donor. I also plan to continue showing stock horses and eventually venture on to the All-Around and English events.

Abbey is the Fall 2021 OYES Microburst Pony Rider awardee, sponsored by an anonymous donor.

Hello! I’m Abbey, 21, and I own Cookie, my 2010 paint mare. I just moved from Pittsburgh to El Centro, Calif., earlier this year where I scored my dream job training and barrel racing full time. I first started riding when I was really young, probably around 4 years old on a family friend’s farm, but I started actual lessons at 9 years old. I met my now best friend, Jessica, at a store in the mall who mentioned 4-H and horse lessons. I ended up leasing her horse and joining 4-H!

My current riding goals are to get Cookie legged up after enjoying a much-needed break before moving across the country with me, and to get her working as well as all of the other training and personal horses on the pattern. I also want to get some of the other training horses ready to list for sale ASAP. We want to have our barrel horses ready by next year to be entered in futurities and then move to PCRA/WPRA rodeos and eventually qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

My ultimate goal is to make it to the NFR. I also would like to do some futurities first before the horses age out. Some of our personal horses are eligible for the Pink buckle, Ruby buckle, etc.

I would say I’m very close! I just moved across the country to make this possible. Thanks to an amazing mentor through this program, I was able to find this job where I am training and exercising horses as well as barrel racing full time. It is going to take some time and hard work to get the horses ready first. Lots of long hours riding, colt breaking, etc.

I want to continue to support my community and be an advocate for equality and human rights. I am passionate about making the rodeo world a safe place for all. I want others to know it’s possible to achieve your dreams and goals no matter what.

I have definitely had to find a way to afford my hobby on my own without financial assistance. Lots of working long hours, multiple jobs, etc. The move for this job really impacted me financially and set me back, but I know it will be worth it in the end. I have also had to deal with a lot of homophobia in the barrel racing world. Constant hate comments and messages online, as well as having to hide things like that in person or in public. I am an advocate for equality and human rights and want to continue that the whole way to the top. No matter how hard it is or how much it takes, I want to be someone others can look up to who also struggle with similar things and just being a good role model in general. I want kids and people to know that dreams can happen even if you come from nothing. There is always a way.

Kayla is the Fall 2021 OYES Dream It awardee.

Hi, my name is Kayla Murray, and I am a full-time third year, second semester State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill student. I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, but I did not begin here; far from it to be honest. I started out my college career in the equine studies associates’ applied science program in the fall of 2019 at SUNY Cobleskill with the mindset that two years was plenty of school for an aspiring horse trainer. Looking back, I could not have been more wrong. While I absolutely could find a relatively comfortable position in the equine field with a basic two-year degree, I do not wish to be comfortable. I want to make an impact on the world through both human and equine partners alike. I pushed through my comfort zone, and after successfully completing my associate degree as the highest GPA holder in Equine Studies, I have decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences with a focus in equine through SUNY Cobleskill.

I became involved with riding at eight years old while on a drive with my father and younger sister through our small town of Mooers, N.Y. We had passed by a smaller local equine barn as a riding lesson was going on, and from that point my life changed forever. I took my first riding lesson from that very barn and instructor a few days later. My love for the animal and the sport was forever going to be unstoppable.

My current riding goals have changed since this first lesson as I have refocused my time and energy from western pleasure to the adrenaline-pumping barrel racing field. I am confident that through this field I can make a difference in equine lives and better the way we as humans approach this sport.

I am an aspiring equine trainer looking to revolutionize the way we breed and train these incredible animals for the sport we all love, focusing primarily on the barrel racing industry. I believe I am on my way to acquiring these goals by absorbing all the knowledge I can from everywhere and anyone, but I am aware of the time and effort it takes to get there. I believe in trusting the process and doing everything that I can to reach my goals.

I have faced many challenges in my career as a young horse woman in this industry, and I realize the challenges will never stop. It’s about persevering and playing the cards that your hand holds wisely. I am the only equine enthusiast in my immediate family which makes it hard to relay just how important weekly lessons are or making sure my horse is in the best care possible. For the last three summers, I have independently looked for small horse trailers to rent so that I could attend barrel races and gymkhanas. However, I have faced lacking the finances to make some barrel races and shows or skipping a McDonald’s dinner so that I could cover gas on the way home from a show.

My parents have been incredible supporters, but I could never ask them to exclusively fund me while paying for my college, permanently relocating south, and contributing a large chunk of money into my younger sister’s private college down south as well. Therefore, I stepped up and have worked since I was physically able to afford what I do and keep my horse healthy and happy, all while attending high school and college. However, through all these challenges, I see opportunities to humble myself and learn from experiences to improve.

If awarded the scholarship funds, my plan is to set aside $100 for entry fees towards the

2022 season, while the remaining $500 would go towards buying a project horse as a resell project. I have chosen this approach for two reasons: one being that I can showcase my abilities as an equine trainer with an animal I lack history with. The second reason is to offer this horse a real chance at a brighter future. I am a firm believer in the theory that the best thing you can do for an animal, specifically a horse, is to train it. I am hoping to use these funds to purchase a horse that appears to have no purpose, when in reality it may just need direction. Like I mentioned earlier, my hope is to impact the world, both human and horse. “Saving one animal won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal.” I believe that directly pertains to this situation, and I think that it would be an exceptional way to use the award money.

My hope is to set this horse up for success by starting it, training it, and finding a wonderful full-time home for it after I believe it to be the perfect partner for an approved home. All the while, this process also helps me establish my name, and training abilities in the horse industry as an aspiring horse trainer.

Megan is the Fall 2021 OYES Horse Show awardee sponsored by Dreamers & Schemers.

My name is Megan Rollins, and I am a 17-year-old equestrian in St. Albans, W.Va. I’ve been in love with horses for as long as I can remember, and I first started my journey in the equine industry in May 2017. Since then, I’ve challenged myself with training and riding as many horses as possible and learning anything and everything I possibly can to become the equestrian I aspire to be. I currently have several horse-related goals, my biggest ones being training rescue horses while learning more about the management aspect of running a rescue and shadowing a professional trainer. Some of my smaller goals I’d love to accomplish include getting more experience in the racking horse world (especially speed racking), catch riding/training more horses and getting into the show ring more. A few of these goals were pushed back for a while, but thanks to Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship and the “Horse Show Award” from the last round this summer, I was able to show for the first time in September at a local show. I showed two racking horses I had never met before until the day of the show and ended up with a second place in my juvenile extended gait class. After the unforgettable day and experiences I had thanks to OYES, I found a new passion, and I reconsidered what I wanted to do with horses. It made me realize I really do want to get more serious about riding racking horses. I don’t just want to do it for fun anymore. I want to learn more and get good at it. I never would have had the opportunity or been inspired like that had it not been for OYES and the award I received this summer. I’m so, so grateful, and I can’t wait to see where my journey will take me because of it.

As for future dreams and plans, I hope to eventually run a boarding, training, lesson and sales barn, specializing in training rescue horses. I am also working hard towards purchasing another horse to compete and trail ride with as I haven’t owned since my heart horse, Major, passed at three years old in July 2018. Owning again is really my biggest goal, but I know that it just isn’t reasonable at this time. This is why I want to better myself as much as I can before I am finally able make that dream come true. Until that day comes, I will continue to educate myself as well as work as a stable hand and pet sitter to make sure I am fully prepared.

I would say some of my biggest struggles have been financial. So many things in this sport revolve around how much money you have (or don’t have). Many people will tell you if you don’t have money, you won’t get anywhere and that you shouldn’t waste your time. It is insane how much things cost in equestrian sports today. As a teenager who only has so many hours available after school and on weekends to work, as well as someone who didn’t grow up in a horse-oriented family, this has been a big struggle. My parents are extremely supportive, but they have also always taught me that if I want something, I have to work for it. Sometimes, there just isn’t enough time to make the money I need for riding. And, because I am the only person in my family who rides, I rarely get instruction or help from anyone unless I can afford lessons.

I have also struggled with mental health challenges, especially after Major passed. Since then, it’s been one thing after another. One month after Major passed, a horse I had worked with since the very beginning, Ella, passed. The horse who helped me heal after Major and Ella, and my other heart horse who I had fostered for two years, Legacy, was then moved without warning to a different foster location, and I haven’t seen her since. After that, I tried working with three more horses, each time the horse leaving for a new foster home (after I had said I was willing to foster them). Then, after much consideration, I left the rescue. It absolutely broke my heart to leave the past three years behind, but it ended up being for the best. I still found a way around though, and everything was going great for a while. I was giving lessons. I was training and riding several horses a day. I was even fostering a feral colt for a program through the rescue at a different foster location. But just when things started going right, the lease to the barn was given up unexpectedly. Training and riding horses was gone. Giving lessons was no longer an option. My foster horse who I taught from the ground up left for a new foster home hours away from me. Everything was shut down. Several special horses have passed within that time, too, which unfortunately, is a part of rescue, and is a downside of working with and loving so many horses. All of this has been exhausting, especially on top of my mental health not being so good to begin with.

However, horses are sometimes the only thing keeping me going, and I’m nowhere near ready to give up just because it’s hard. My love for horses, training, and rescue has also inspired me to try and make a living out of my passion. I found that Potomac State University in Keyser, W.Va., has a Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneurship (SAGE) program with a focus in equine management. I ended up taking a tour of the campus, and I think I would love it there, especially after talking with some of the students from the SAGE program who also ride. The SAGE program and the focus in equine management seems like something that I’ll really enjoy and help me accomplish my goals and dreams. That’s why I hope to get accepted into Potomac State and start attending school there in Fall 2022. With this program and a degree in applied science, I can do so many different things with my life, including running my own barn and helping horses in need.

Through Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship, I am hoping to connect with people who can help me learn more about racking horses and people who can help me find opportunities to ride more horses and get more hands-on experience. While my goal is to get into speed racking, I’d also love the opportunity to ride performance/padded horses as it doesn’t seem to be a common discipline where I’m from, and I think I would have fun with it. I am willing to try anything though and simply want to learn as much as I can! OYES has helped me tremendously in just a short amount of time. Without your help from the last round of scholarships, I never would have had the opportunity to show. I never would have had the opportunity to compete alongside some of my closest friends. I never would have found my new passion. There are so many things that I would have missed out on had it not been for OYES.