Kayleigh's Hootworthy Journey from Eventing to Entrepreneurship!

In our recent Hootworthy interview, we chatted with Kayleigh, a 7th grader at GCA who's making waves in both the horse eventing and entrepreneurial worlds. Kayleigh started riding horses at the age of five, and her love for horses led her to the exciting sport of horse eventing. Her ten-year-old horse, Bold, has been her trusty companion for the past two years and is a big fan of the horse treats she makes.

Kayleigh's horse treats business began four years ago when she wanted to make special goodbye treats for a horse who was leaving. Using simple ingredients like flour, molasses, and royal icing, her treats are even safe for humans to eat. Friends loved her creations, and soon enough, she was selling treats at shows, via her website, and through Instagram. Kayleigh often walks around horse shows with a wagon full of treats, and her business thrives at these events.

For those unfamiliar with horse eventing, there are three phases: dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Kayleigh and Bold compete in dressage and show jumping but aren’t quite ready for cross-country, even though it’s Kayleigh’s favorite phase. She trains five days a week, working with her trainer to perfect their performance. Kayleigh's commitment to training paid off when she won a contest on Instagram, earning a chance to meet Canadian Equestrian Team athlete, Hawley Bennett-Awad, and her celebrity horse, Jolly Bo, at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where she personally delivered her homemade treats. Check out this article that features her experience.

Balancing her schooling with her busy schedule, Kayleigh appreciates GCA's flexibility, allowing her to attend horse shows and catch up on classes through recordings. She gives a big shoutout to her supportive mom, her fantastic teachers, and of course, Bold, for making her achievements possible. Kayleigh's story is a true testament to what hard work and creativity can accomplish. Stay hootworthy, Kayleigh!