McCOLL, South Carolina — Sumner and Sarah McLaurin have been riding horses for years, but last weekend the sisters walked away with numerous ribbons under their belts.
The two Marlboro Academy students participated in the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association’s Autumn Leaves competition and the 2020 Championships at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford.
“The show was a kind of a combination, so it was a show with the championship weaved into it,” said the girl’s mother Catherine McLaurin. “So they had individual events that they won in and then in the championship.”
It was at last weekend’s show that 12-year-old Sumner and her horse Rocky walked away with first place in three individual classes, along with a second in another class in the Intro Division — but her big win was getting her first championship.
“I was very happy and excited to win,” Sumner said. “It’s a lot of hard work but it’s a lot of fun … I like doing dressage best because there’s always something different.”
Fourteen-year-old Sarah agreed that dressage was her favorite and, with her horse Lilly, she walked away from the competition placing fourth in the championship at the training level — along with getting two firsts, a second and a sixth place in individual classes.
“I enjoy riding because it’s challenging,” Sarah said. “I’ve thought about riding in college because I just want to be able to keep doing it. I see myself continuing to ride for a long time.”
The two currently train with Kelly Bauer and ride with her group RPF Sport Horses. Madison Dwyer has also trained the two girls and helped them pick out their horses.
Sarah began riding at the age of 3, while Sumner began around the age of 6, and the two of them have been caring for their own horses for three and one-half years when Lilly was welcomed to the family.
“We shared Lilly when we first got her,” Sumner said. “And then I got Rocky.”
The two both agree that having the horses have taught them time management as they balance school work, other extracurricular activities — both played volleyball earlier in the year and Sarah will be playing basketball this winter — riding and caring for the horses.
“Sometimes it can be stressful but I love being able to ride,” Sumner said. “They have really big personalities, especially Lilly.”
“There’s a lot more work for them now that they have their own horses rather than when they were riding at a barn,” Catherine said. “But I’d say it’s very rewarding for them being able to do it all.”
Reach Katelin Gandee at [email protected]. To support The Laurinburg Exchange, subscribe here: https://laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com/subscribe.
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