At the age of 5, I started asking my mom to allow me to take horseback riding lessons. Even though my mom is a horse lover and grew up with a retired show horse (he was given to her) in her backyard, my mom ignored my requests for several months until one of my good friends Libby asked me if I wanted to take an introductory riding lesson with her. My mom agreed, and from that first lesson, I knew that I wanted to ride regularly, and within several months, I dropped my other activities and started riding several times a week. The barn that I started riding at has a show team, and as I advanced from introductory lessons to group lessons, I knew that I wanted to show horses. My first show was a local open show in Katy, TX (I was 7 years old at the time). I rode in western pleasure and western horsemanship and was the youngest person in the classes by a wide margin. After that show, I was hooked, and I showed at my first Class A show that fall in western pleasure, horsemanship and trail. Although my parents said that if I worked hard, I would get a horse when I turned 10, three months later we were the proud owners of Hollywood Gold Digger (aka “Nugget”). Nugget taught me so much and will forever be my heart horse. Showing on the Arabian circuit provided an ability to become a very versatile rider, and I have been fortunate to be able to ride and compete in a variety of classes, including reining, horsemanship, ranch riding, trail, hunter pleasure, hunt seat equitation, sport horse, showmanship, and other classes. However, as I was aging out of 10-and-under, I knew that I wanted to focus more on reining and horsemanship, and we as a family decided to move to a trainer who shows on the NRHA, AQHA, APHA and Arabian circuits. Since 2021, I have trained and ridden with Gary Ferguson at Slide to Win. That move has accelerated my growth as a horsewoman in ways that I would not have imagined at the time of the move, and since 2021, I have had opportunities to show at the highest levels of the NRHA circuit and have qualified the last three years in the rookie and non-pro divisions at The Run for a Million. Additionally, I was reserve champion in the 13-and-under class at the NRHA Derby in 2021 and qualified for the non-pro finals at the 2023 NRHA Futurity.
I’m currently a freshman at iUniversityPrep High School and am extremely focused on and dedicated to the equestrian sport. My school provides classes online, which allows me to spend extended periods of time at the Slide to Win ranch. Many of my days are spent riding different (often 7-8) horses from a list provided by my trainer, and it is very common for me to ride all day and to catch-up on my schoolwork in the evening. I love working with horses and feel drawn to the equestrian industry.
Having the opportunity to ride at the collegiate level would confirm all the time and effort I have put into my equestrian youth career. I am very passionate about finding the right team to ride with as an NCAA Division I Equestrian. I feel truly grateful for the equestrian opportunities I have had because of the way the experience has matured me, taught me patience, and most of all taught me how to be a humble winner and a respectful loser. My goal has been to ride at the NCAA Division I level for as long as I can remember, and I am excited for the recruiting process and where it may lead!
~ Riley Lallo