Taking the reins on a national stage

Fifth-grader McKaylah Lent rides for the Wachusett Equestrian team based out of Holiday Acres Equestrian Center in Rutland. The 11-year-old recently competed in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s national competition in St. Louis, Missouri, where she participated in the Walk, Trot, Canter, Hunt Seat category. Riding a horse that was unfamiliar to her, Lent took home fifth place in her age and riding level. With more than 15,000 members across the United States, the IEC is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and promoting lifelong involvement in equestrian athletics.

Hunt Seat is an English style riding discipline that emphasizes a rider’s secure and balanced position for both flat work and jumping.

Before getting to take the trip to St. Louis, Lent had to qualify at the Regionals, where she took home top honors and advanced into the Zones. There she finished second and found herself moving onto the Nationals, a first in some time for the Wachusett team. 

“I am a competitive person who loves to win. There is a lot of pressure on you, and you have to make sure the horse doesn’t break [change out of a walk, trot or canter pace],” Lent said. “When they called my name for second place [in the Zones] I was in non-belief. I love participating, but I wasn’t planning on doing so good to be able to get to the Nationals.”

According to Lent, her mother, also an equestrian, put her on a horse at a rather young age and she immediately fell in love with horses. She steadily improved her skills and eventually started taking lessons at Red Dunn Farm in Barre. Being in a riding program at Red Dunn Farm enabled her to try out for the Wachusett Equestrian Team, where she would eventually take her talents. 

The equestrian team at Holiday Acres was started in 2006 by Geralyn Szczurko with just a handful of riders. Today, she instructs 20 to 30 riders a year. While part of the Wachusett Equestrian team, Lent and other riders practice riding lessons and attend horse show from September through December. 

Lent is unsure of what her future in equestrian sports holds, despite achieving such a high level at such a young age. “I love riding horses and being competitive, but I am unsure of what I want to do with this in the future,” she said.

Having accomplished so much at such an early age, however, one can only imagine that Lent will continue riding and competing long into the future.  W