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Every rider’s journey begins with a first step - a first ride, a new challenge or the simple desire to belong.
At Select Riding Academy, we believe riding is about far more than progress in the saddle. It’s about building confidence through preparation, forming meaningful connections and discovering what’s possible when riders are supported, encouraged and believed in.
In this space, we share stories from riders and families who are living The Select Journey in different ways. Some journeys lead from the first lesson or summer camp to the Select Riding Academy to the Class A show ring. Others lead to confidence in school, leadership beyond the barn or a lifelong love of horses.
Each story reflects the values at the heart of Select Riding Academy:
These stories aren’t just about achievements, they’re about perseverance, friendships, mentorship and the moments that matter along the way.
Whether your rider is just beginning or already dreaming big, there’s a place for them here.
Welcome to The Select Journey - where every rider’s path is valued and every step forward is worth celebrating.
A parent’s perspective on confidence, camaraderie and growing up riding horses.
It started with a single question and an instant answer. When a friend invited Colin’s family to spend a day at Select Show Horses and asked if he wanted to ride, four-year-old Colin didn’t hesitate. He looked up and said, “YES!” – a response that would quietly set his journey in motion. In a family where siblings gravitated toward baseball, basketball, soccer and other traditional sports, that simple moment revealed where Colin’s interests truly took hold.
Colin soon began taking riding lessons and even hosted his fifth birthday party at the barn. By then, he was already walking and trotting on his own – a natural in the saddle. As his skills and confidence grew, he joined the Select Riding Academy competition team, with his family cheering him on from the stands. After several years in the Academy, Colin took the next step to Class A, and the family welcomed their first Half-Arabian, Mambo.
“Colin has found his people at Select Show Horses and his passion with horses,” says his mom, Meredith. “He’s made great friends, and they support each other across all parts of his life – from the show ring to the classroom and beyond. It’s a community he truly belongs to.”
That sense of belonging has been matched by impressive achievements. Colin and Mambo earned the title of U.S. Arabian National Champion in his very first year at Youth Nationals in 2023. More recently, he began showing Saddlebred horses, riding a new horse, Abe, with determination and excitement.
For Meredith, the growth she’s witnessed goes far beyond ribbons or trophies. “Riding has given Colin confidence and resilience. It’s taught him responsibility, how to handle pressure and how to commit to something he truly loves. Those are lessons that spill over into school and into how he treats others.”
She also sees the contrast with her other children’s experiences in team sports. “Baseball and basketball have been wonderful for our younger son; for Colin, horses are where he shines. Riding is where his heart is – and where he’s found a community that feels like family.”
As Meredith reflects, she says the impact of Select Show Horses and the Riding Academy is about much more than riding. “They’ve given Colin a place to grow, both as a rider and as a person. It’s where he’s discovered who he is and what he wants to pursue.
That’s something every parent hopes their child will find.”
Curious about helping your child find their passion?
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