A common class ice breaker is telling a fun fact about yourself. This is difficult for some people, but not for sophomore Madelyn Selking. She is involved in a unique sport: competitive horseback riding.
There are many different types of horseback riding, but the one Selking does is called eventing. There are three phrases within eventing; dressage, show jumping, and cross country.
“You start with dressage and get a score based on a course of movements you do. Everyone else has the same course and whatever you get in dressage is your base for the rest of the show,” said Selking.
After dressage, the riders go into the part called show jumping. Show jumping involves a little more movement by the horse and rider.
“Show jumping is based off of speed and keeping all the rails off. The more time and rails you get, the more points added to the dressage score,” said Selking.
The rails she referred to are the poles the horse jumps over. The goal is to not knock them over while the horse jumps over them.
Lastly, the competition moves to the cross country part.
“Cross country is a long course track, usually in woods, and around a mile or more longer with jumps around it. You have to come in as close as possible to the optimum time without refusals,” said Selking.
Refusals are if the horse hesitates or refuses to go over one of the obstacles. If you go over the time or get refusals that is added to your dressage score. The rider with the lowest score at the end of these events wins the competition.
A normal competition starts with dressage and show jumping the first day, then cross country the second day. Selking competes in many events each year, ranging all around the country.
“I have around 10-15 full events each year. They range from some in Ocala, Florida and some around here in Lexington at the Kentucky horse park,” said Selking.
Selking practices at Spring Run Farm in Prospect, Kentucky. That is also where she keeps her horse. She has two coaches that are with her when she practices and goes to her competitions with her.
Selking started riding horses when she was young. Her parents spiked her interest in the sport and she has continued riding ever since.
“My mom had always rode horses when she was younger and I loved animals,” said Selking.
Horseback riding has continued her love for animals, and she still enjoys competing. Her passion for horses started when she was younger and has helped her see what she wants to do in the future.
“I do really enjoy riding horses. I have been doing it since I was five and I have learned a lot. I want to become a large animal veterinarian because of it,” said Selking.
