Eighteen year-old Sierra Walton caught horse show fever a little later than most girls. This pretty high school senior showed at her first ever horse show a few weeks ago in Winfield, West Virginia with her talented halter yearling gelding, Obviouslee Supreme (Jake), At the four judge split-combined show, Sierra and Jake won two firsts, two seconds and two Reserve Grand Championships.
Originally from Ravenswood, West Virginia, Sierra and her family just moved to Sardinia, Ohio so she can be near her halter horse trainer, Tim Jackson, to concentrate on her last two years of showing in youth competition.
GoHorseShow asked her what it was like for her showing the first time. “I was very, very nervous, but Jake did really well. I was proud of him,” Sierra stated. “Jake and I are both learning to show together. He had been shown twice when he was a weanling before we got him, but he’s basically as new to the show ring as I am. One big plus is that Jake is very laid back, and has a willing to learn and has a pleasing attitude.”
What made her decide to show, you ask? Sierra said that she had been thinking about it for a while. “I used to go with mom when she showed, but that was several years ago,” she said. “One day I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to show, and she immediately started looking for a horse.”
Sierra’s mother, Kim McKinley Walton, says she is very proud of her daughter. “I have waited a lifetime for her to want to show, so dreams do come true. To watch Sierra and Jake together just amazes me,” says the delighted mom. “She has such patience with him, and he with her. They both are learning together, and they just click.”
The proud mom continues, “Plus she has a great relationship with our trainer, Tim Jackson and his wife Gretchen, which is another big plus. Before the show, Sierra told me that if she didn’t like it, she wasn’t showing anymore. After her class, one of the very first things she asked was when the next show was. I believe she is hooked!”
In this team’s second show ever, Sierra and Jake won their first two Grands this past Saturday at the Crossroads Arena in Cloverdale, Indiana. They are now qualified for the Youth World! GoHorseShow congratulates this duo on their success and welcomes her to the horse show family!
