I have loved animals since the beginning, and my parents were constantly encouraging my brothers and I to try new sports. At the age of 5, I took my first lesson at a local camp. I would not start consistently lessoning until I turned 8, but I was immediately in love with horses. In 2021, at the age of 12, I made the jump from 2’6 local shows to showing in the 3’3 juniors at local A-rated shows. That year, I qualified and competed at my first ever Junior Hunter Finals. 2021 also marked the switch from my local barn, Great Falls Equestrian Center, to training with Havens Schatt at Milestone Farm.
Currently, I ride with both Milestone Farm, and Ken and Emily Smith at Ashland Farms. I compete in the 1.20/1.25 jumpers with my horses at Milestone, and ride Ashland horses in the 3’6 equitation. Most recently, I was circuit champion in the 1.10/1.15 juniors at WEF 2024, and also received numerous ribbons in the 3’6 equitation and 1.20/1.25 junior jumpers. 2023 marked my first indoors series, where I was 3rd in the 1.15 NAL Finals at Capital Challenge, 5th in the 1.15 final at Pennsylvania National, and 6th in the 1.15 final at WIHS. I have also been champion or reserve in the hunters and jumpers at shows like WEF, Kentucky, Blowing Rock, WEC, and many others. I was also a member of my school’s IEA team, competing in the Varsity Open IEA as a freshman and sophomore. As a freshman, I finished 1st overfences at regionals and 7th overfences at zones. As a sophomore, I qualified again for regionals.
I am currently a sophomore at the Madeira School in Mclean, VA, but will transition to American Heritage School in Florida in the fall. I am extremely focused on my academics and maintain a 95% GPA. My school does not offer honors classes. I participate in multiple clubs with my school and received the opportunity to work as a teacher’s assistant at a local elementary school for 5 weeks. I enjoy volunteering, spending time with friends and family, and traveling when I am not in school or competing.
I hope to continue to further my riding career by competing at the collegiate level. I am deeply motivated and very passionate about this sport, and I want to reach my full potential. I am dedicated to finding the right university to be considered as a candidate for their Division I equestrian team. Horses have taught me so much about patience, dedication, and maturity, and I cannot wait to continue my journey.
~ Grace Lowe