Youth Profile – Rebecca Figueroa
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By Susan Winslow
Rebecca Figueroa is going into her sophomore year at SMU having navigated a truly unique freshman year. The excitement of making new friends, delving into college studies, and riding on the SMU Equestrian Team was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, back at SMU, Rebecca is looking forward to returning to her studies and college life after a busy, horse show summer. While the pandemic derailed her freshman year, Rebecca was able to focus her boundless energy and drive by helping out at her family’s horse farm and preparing her incredibly talented and versatile gelding, Check Required. Working with trainers Carly Veldman Parks and Wade Parks of Parks Show Horses in Sabino, Ohio, Rebecca brought home impressive results, including most recently a stellar 2020 APHA World Show where they won a World Championship in 18 & Under Showmanship and Horsemanship and a Reserve Championship in Performance Halter and Equitation, as well as a third place in Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure. Rebecca and “Bob” also had a successful 2020 NSBA World Show, earning Reserve World Championship in Color Youth Showmanship and a Bronze Championship in Color Youth Trail. The pair also took Top 5 honors in L3 Youth 14-18, L2 Equitation, and L3 14-18 Trail at the 2020 AQHYA World Show.
Big wins like these didn’t just happen overnight. This talented horsewoman has been in the saddle since she was a toddler. Rebecca and her five siblings, Jonathan, Bradley, Raymond, Mary, and Brooke, grew up exploring the woods, fields, and trails on the family’s 18-acre farm in rural Pennsylvania on foot, in the saddle, or on dirt bikes. She recalls, “My parents decided to get some trail horses to utilize our land and barn better. I got my first pony, a black Mustang mare named Lily, when I was four and ever since then I’ve been hooked. For the first few years after I got my pony, I really just rode on our farm going on trail rides, jumping over makeshift jumps, and having fun. It wasn’t until I was nine years old that I started riding with a trainer and going to our local 4-H shows. After the 4-H shows, I got my first APHA gelding and started to show at Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York shows. From there, I could never go back.”
