For the Love of Horses

Local Equestrian Hunter Jumper Becomes National Champion

Laynie Rich is a seventh grader at North Middle School. She is only twelve years old and already has quite an impressive record under her belt. She is a member of the Equestrian Hunter Jumpers and the Interscholastic Equestrian Association or IEA, along with many other groups. As of December 3rd, 2019, she has over 150 ribbons, about 50 of which are blue.

The Journey

Laynie’s grandmother lived down the road from a farm where several horses resided. As a child, Laynie saw these horses and remembered getting very excited about them. She started riding horses at Bluemoon Stables in Geneva, Kentucky.  “I feel like I had a connection with horses. I just loved them so much.” She now has her own horse named “Chip” who she shares a very special connection with.

During competition days, Laynie says there is a lot to remember and think about. The contestants are judged on posture of both themselves and their horse, the jumps themselves, the landings, and much more. She also participates in flat classes, where the participants will walk around with their horses and the judges will ask them to perform various tasks, such as trotting. Laynie competes in both sections, as well as, in dressage and quick recall that is related to horse facts. She also helps with the younger girls on these days, as she is considered one of the older girls in her programs.

Laynie has managed to make it to the National Pony Cup, where she won and became the national champion. The following year, she won $250 for competing in the next step up and also ranked nationally. In IEA, it is possible for anyone to compete. You don’t have to own a horse to participate in these events, as part of the competition is to be able to ride any horse given to you without a prior meeting. The contestants have to be ready for anything and part of their judging is based on how well they are able to adjust to new situations and new horses.

Laynie is part of a team of young horse lovers from Henderson. She is a part of the 4H Livestock club and several other horse related organizations. She started off as the newest member last year, but she has now proved herself to be a strong part of the team and has taken on a large role during competitions. She practices at Bluemoon two or three times a week with her horse, where she does about an hour of riding each time. According to Laynie’s mother, Brea, “These girls are riding in 0 degree weather. They are riding all year long with no exceptions. It’s a big undertaking.”

A Village of Support

Laynie’s mother also commented on how much work it takes to get her to competitions. “It is a huge commitment for the whole family. I came into this knowing absolutely nothing and have learned a whole lot. It’s really a family sport because it takes all of us to get her where she needs to go.” It was obvious she is very proud of her daughter, and the family is very supportive. Laynie told a story about getting a flat tire on the way to a Chicago competition. Despite this obstacle, she and her family were still able to get back up and get to the show. There doesn’t seem to be anything that will keep Laynie and her family from getting where they need to be.

Laynie would like to thank her trainer, Stacy Denton, who spends a large amount of time with her and Chip. She is very appreciative of all the help she has gotten and looks forward to her next competition.