How I Prepare For Bareback Equitation- With PtHA World Champion Peyton Weldon

EC Blog by: Peyton Weldon

Hi, My name is Peyton and I recently won the World Championship title in Amateur Bareback Equitation at the Pinto World Championship Show.

I’ve truly been blessed to have had horses since I was born. I don’t think my family ever thought, in a million years, that I’d be as successful as I have been so far, being a holder of multiple World Champion titles in APHA and PtHA, multiple ROM titles, circuit championships, and points at Pinto and Paint horse shows. I’m truly blessed to have the talent I do today, but I can’t say it came naturally… I’d like to credit my mom, Nancy Smith, for always pushing me to be my best, even when it was 110 degrees outside and I thought I was going to pass out. I’d also like to say Happy Father’s Day to my biggest supporter, Kevin Smith!

Winning Bareback Equitation this year meant a lot to me, because I have won the class at the Pinto World Show for four years in a row! Equitation has always been my strongest class, other than Jumping classes. It has also been the toughest for me, because I’m so hard on myself.

To prepare for this class, I practice with no irons as home, two point a lot to get my heels down, and constantly tell myself to sit up and be confident. Going through this pattern, I told myself to stay straight, keep my horse consistent, be confident, and keep forward motion. The reason forward motion is key in a pattern is not only so it flows better, but also so that it’s easier to post while bareback. The stronger your horse trots, the more they throw you up while posting. Staying straight helps you feel for the correct diagonal and also helps with keeping your body straight along with keeping your heels even with your hip and shoulder. The more confident you are in each maneuver, the more confident your horse will be and the more correct each part of the pattern will appear.

Winning this World title truly means the world to me. Showing Big Expectations in Equitation is so enjoyable and fun, because he’s always happy and loves pattern classes. I want to thank everyone for the congrats and tips along the way. Throughout my show career, I’ve had so many supporters and positive comments, and that’s what keeps me going! Yes, there will be tough times, but all you can do is let the bad comments go in one ear and out the other. Let the tough times make you stronger. Keep your head up and never give up on your dreams and goals. Have Big Expectations and fulfill them!

Since writing this piece, Peyton and Big Expectations have also won a World Championship in Amateur Equitation Over Fences, a World Championship in Amateur Hunter Hack, and a Reserve World Championship in Amateur Disciplined Rail English. Congratulations!