SOTM: Ashlyn Rides to Victory

Ashlyn Klaus earned October's Student of the Month for her dedication to and love of horseback riding. She has spent years training and competing in hunter-jumper events and has developed both skill and a strong bond with her horse. 

Ashlyn first got into horseback riding at a summer camp, which she begged her parents to let her attend. “My dad didn’t really love the idea, so my mom signed me up without telling him, and after he saw how much I loved it, he couldn’t say no to letting me continue,” she said. 

She now competes mainly in hunter classes, which focus on the horse’s control, rhythm, and appearance. Ashlyn’s horse is named Saunter, but she nicknamed him Piglet. She has owned him for a little over a year. She said, “He’s kind of young, so I was the first kid that rode him, and it’s been really fun learning together and building that connection.”

Credit: Ashlyn Klaus

One of Ashlyn's most memorable experiences came from a two-week competition at the Tryon Equestrian Center in North Carolina. After a challenging first weekend, she returned to the next day of competition with a new mindset and won nearly all of her classes. She earned the title of Grand Champion, as well as a plaque with her name on it that hangs inside the center. 

She trains five to six days a week, spending at least two hours at the barn each day. She explained that the sport has taught her discipline and focus, especially in school. “Spending hours at the barn builds a kind of self-restraint, which definitely carries over to other parts of life,” she said. 

Ashlyn highly values the friendships that come with horseback riding. She said, “A lot of people think horseback riders are weird, but there's such a strong community that comes with it.” She met some of her best friends through both the training at the barn and competing in contests. 

She plans to continue horseback riding in college, either at the Division III level, or on a club team.