The clicking of hooves, the watching eyes of the judges, and the possibility of failure. There is a lot more to the world of horse shows than just riding on a horse. 

Junior Clara Thompson was raised knowing and working with horses and has been around horses since childhood. 

“It’s just been something that has always been there, like my earliest memories are with horses,: said Thompson. “There’s a whole bunch of my childhood, which is all horses.” 

She does performance in horse shows, which is where horses are judged based on specific skills. While the horse shows can be stressful and sometimes dangerous, Thompson finds joy in them.

“Horse people are some of the coolest, most passionate people I have met,” said Thompson.

She enjoys these shows, even with the stress, because she enjoys having a good ride and seeing her hard work pay off. The people she meets at horse shows also make it more enjoyable.

“They’re like a sporting event,” said Thompson. “Because if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, you’re done.” 

Outside of doing horse shows, Thompson enjoys working with young horses and seeing them grow and improve. Thompson believes that even if you don’t have any interest in professionally riding horses, that you should at least take riding lessons. There’s also horseback polo, archery, vaulting, and even basketball. All activities that can be done on a horse.

“I think it’s always good for you to try something,” said Thompson. “I think if you enjoy it, it has so much variety.”