Diamonds In the Rough

Youth Reyna Rendon-McFarlin and PLB Captain America Climb To the Top With Hard Work and a Can-Do Attitude

Reyna Rendon-McFarlin of Surprise, Arizona, always knew her family didn’t have the money for a finished youth show horse, but she refused to give up her dream of showing at upper levels one day.

“I understood this and was willing to put in extra work to help whatever horse I got perform to the best of their ability,” Reyna says.

Reyna leased a horse to get by, and when the lease eventually ended, she longed for a show horse of her own.

Then Reyna saw photos of PLB Captain America, a very green horse with a price tag to match his inexperience, shown to her by Trainer Lisa Bullock.  “I was in love!” says Reyna, who explains she immediately found “Harvey” to be sweet, funny, and attention-loving.  “He was only three and green broke, but I was determined to work hard and ride this horse. I was a green rider when I got him, which isn’t the most ideal situation, but I knew I could do it with the support and help of my friends and family.

Worked hard she did, overcoming obstacles that tested her ability and determination.  One major hurdle began early in their partnership when Harvey started running to the fence sideways. “Once he started taking off, there was no way I could stop him,” Reyna explains. “He just was way too strong. I was honestly scared, too, and I think he knew I was anticipating for him to take off and so he would just do it.”

Finally, Reyna had just had enough, and she decided to redirect her fear into breaking his habit of running off. She persevered, coming at the problem with a different mindset, and it worked.  “During this, I think something in my mentality about riding changed completely,” she reveals. “At that point, I realized that this journey with him would not be the easiest. There would be a lot of challenges and I would be eating a lot of dirt, but I will always have the option to get up and try again, and I will always get up.”

They kept at it, attending open and local shows, and though Harvey threw challenges at her, they kept working through them together. “ Reyna is one of the hardest working individuals I know, who is kind and supportive to those around her,” says her trainer Lisa Bullock. “Many adults I know would have given up on this horse long ago.  No matter what this horse has thrown at her, she continues to push through it.”

Reyna finally decided to test their progress in 2021 at two major shows with Lisa’s support, and the team was rewarded with a 7th in 11-18 Walk Trot Western Pleasure at the Pinto World Championship Show, and later that year, they earned a 7th in 18 & Under Hunter Under Saddle at the APHA Western National Championship Show.

For Reyna, this was a sign her hard work was paying off, and she was reaching her goals even if it was at a slower pace than others.  She explains, “I remember thinking after my Western Pleasure class at Pinto World, ‘Wow, I remember when Harvey couldn’t even neck rein and look at him now!’” Personally, I think it is just as important to recognize the smaller accomplishments that lead to the bigger picture as well as the big accomplishments.”

Because of their journey together, Reyna has become wise beyond her years as a horseman.  She says, “I like to compare Harvey with an ore. It may look like just a plain rock on the outside, but it has the ability to become something beautiful even if you have to go through a long process and a lot of junk to create that beautiful something,” she says.  “I could recognize and see little glimpses of his potential even when there were a lot of issues I was having with him. I know that eventually he can become an excellent horse, which is why I haven’t given up on him.”

Lisa explains, “Both her mother and I have told her on multiple occasions: you do not have to keep this horse – we can sell him at any time. There is never a hesitation and it’s always the same answer: ‘I will never sell him…. I love him.’ With that being said I told her I’ll be right by her side every step of the way!”

Reyna also explains that now, she’s rather bored as a rider if she’s not being challenged, and she encourages other riders to not give up on their dreams.

“Until you have taken every possibility or opportunity and put in the work while giving it your absolute all, only then can you truly make your decision whether to keep pursuing something or not,” she reveals.  “As long as you have the tenacity to push through some rough patches and keep moving forward, you will always progress towards your goals. Believe in yourself and your horse – you got this!”