Techie Tuesday: Do-It-Yourselfer Makayla Flowers and Formally Yours Team Up With Trainers Via Skype Lessons and Video Coaching
Makayla Flowers and Formally Yours at the 2013 AQHYA World Show. KC Montgomery Photo.
By: Brittany Bevis
17-year-old Makayla Flowers has never been one to let obstacles define how she achieves success. Already in 2014, Makayla and her horse, Formally Yours, are rising up the AQHA leaderboard in Open and Youth Performance Halter, are nationally qualified in four events for the AQHYA World Championship Show, and have earned superiors in two events. However, the journey along the way hasn’t always been a smooth ride.
Described by her mother, Rachel, as a true “do-it-yourself kid,” Makayla began riding at the age of six and broke out onto the Quarter Horse circuit when she was 12. At the age of 13, Makayla teamed up with Don’t Skip The Chips to compete on the New England Quarter Horse circuit. Sadly, the partnership was short-lived. After only two years together, “Skippy” passed away due to complications from a rare cancer.
Devastated by the loss of her beloved companion, Makayla considered giving up on riding all together. However, her mother’s Quarter Horse, Country Treasure, gave her the newfound inspiration she needed to get back in the saddle, and the pair began showing on the hunter jumper circuit.
Photo provided by Rachel Flowers.
Almost one year after the death of Skippy, Makayla flew to Michigan to try out a striking, red mare named Formally Yours. Makayla’s grandmother decided to purchase “Hillary” as an early Christmas gift.
“Makayla began homeschooling so she could follow her passion of showing horses, and we began hauling up and down the east coast,” says Rachel Flowers. “I might mention she did this with no trainer. When we got Formally Yours, she had been trained to show in western pleasure only and Makayla was bored with that. She decided to show the mare in any class she could.”
“Her first show season out was stressful; showing and training a horse to do the horsemanship, equitation, showmanship, and halter with no help other than mom’s encouraging words left her in tears many a time.”
Just two years later, with guidance from two, special horse trainers, Jenny Baker and Amy Radar, Makayla and Formally Yours have turned a corner and began to excel as a team.
“Makayla has proven that a do-it-yourself kid can be just as successful,” Rachel says. “She finished 2013 with many Top Ten finishes at Novice Championships East, multiple Top Ten and finalist positions at the Congress, a Top Ten in Performance Halter at the Youth World, and earned her AQHA Youth Championship.”
Still, Makayla keeps her horse at home and does all of the riding and training work herself. Thanks to the convenience of technology, she can work with trainers by utilizing Skype lessons and video coaching.
“She works at most shows with Jenny Baker and does all her pattern work via Skype lessons with Amy Rader,” Rachel says. “She has recently teamed up with Mark Stevens for trail and western riding work.”
“Skype lessons are fun. I follow her around with the laptop so Amy can watch her and then I pass forward any verbal commands. It’s hard when we are in Ocala and the pattern coach is in Connecticut! We do a ton of messaging and video coaching with her too, when we are at a show.”
Photo provided by Rachel Flowers.
“Makayla prides herself that every win was [a result of] the work she put into her horse and that hard work does pay off. She would love to inspire other kids to be their own trainer to form a more intimate bond with their horses.”
We love hearing stories about inspiring youth and amateur competitors. If you have an interesting story to share, e-mail b.bevis@equinechronicle.com to find out how it could be featured on our website.
