HORSE CRAZY KID
•Three time Grand Champion JR Hunter KY Summer Series 2020
•USDF Bronze Medalist, FEI Prix St. George Competitor, 3rd 2020
National Dressage Festival of Champions, Childrens
•World Championship Hunter Rider, Small Jr Hunter WEF6,
Ranked 2nd Southeast WCHR, 2020
•Grand Champion 2018 USEF Pony Finals & Champion 2019,
Large Pony
•Champion at USEF Pony Medal 2019
•5 Times USEF Horse of the Year Awards 2018
Questions sent in to KatFuquaEquestrian Instagram
66 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
EE
KAT’SKORNER
TRAINING & Showing
“I’m just a regular
who loves & rides horses. I want to share my ups
and downs in the sport, and let you know trying
is everything. Believe in Yourself.”
Kat Fuqua
Luisa Zieglerova. Do you have any ps on geng a pony’s
head down?
Kat: Make sure that you have your pony going forward before
you supple your reins with a light contact. If your pony is
green have paence and take your me.
Dahmoon Alghamdi. How old are you?
Kat: I am 13. I have been riding since my mom put me on my
miniature horse that she walked me around in hand at my
one-year old birthday party.
Giagrigorian.eq. What are your ps about geng into Pony
Finals?
Kat: Focus on your training and riding. Keep praccing and
the ribbons will come. I always watch my favorite riders on
video. I study their posion. Work with your trainer and you
can also get good learning exercises in magazines. Learning &
Praccing is the key. Remember Never Give Up & Believe in
Yourself.
Isabella_poole07. How do you get over your nerves before
going into the ring at a show?
Kat: I always make sure I learn my course well and know
exactly where I’m going. Try to watch as many rounds before
you show. You can learn if the lines are long or short to know
how to ride your pony or horse more forward or collected. Be
prepared.
McKeena Goodson. How do you afford lots of horses? Do
you have a job besides riding & school? Do you want to go
to college?
Kat: I’m only thirteen so I don’t have a paying job. My parents
leased me my first pony. I could not get a second one unl
I let the first one go back. I cried and cried. Because I kept
growing I had to get a medium pony from my small then
eventually large ponies. I always cry every me I have to let
go of my ponies or horses. I had trainers who let me ride their
ponies. I sold my ponies for the next one up. I learned that
nothing is free. That is the hardest part of the sport. I love
them each so much. My parents only support me because I
work hard praccing. I am respecul to everyone, my trainers,
horse helpers and farm staff. I always jump in to do the work,
including tacking up, cleaning tack, bathing my horses, turning
them out and pung them on the walker. I even walk my
courses alone if I have to in case my trainer is helping another
client. I go to regular school full me. When I take a Friday
off I always do the homework or tests in advance. I focus on
good grades, a strong work ethic, eat healthy and sleep well. I
definitely want to go to college, and maybe one will want me
on their Equestrian Team.
Kennedyki.eq. What’s the highest you have jumped?
Kat: I have shown six mes at an Internaonal Hunter Derby
with 4’ to 4’ 3” opons with CupidoZ, Consent & Cornell22. I
have pracced up to 4’ 9” with Cornell22.
Dohmoon. How did you get so far in your career?
Kat: I have been showing and riding for at least nine years,
and competed at WEF for seven years. While other kids are
going to the beach for family vacaons or snow skiing, water
skiing, camping, or traveling, I am always with my horses prac-
cing, showing or just taking care of them.
Katy Hacke. If your parents are dressage riders, what made
you switch to the Hunters.
Kat: I never switched. I started out on a lead line class in the
Hunter Discipline when I was four. I love jumping and my
mother encouraged me to follow my heart. However, she
always brought in top dressage trainers to teach me strong
basics in her sport. At three years old my first real trainer was
Gil Merrick, my mother’s friend who worked for USEF as the
2008 Dressage Team Leader for the Olympics. He also interpreted
with the US Coach Klaus Balkenhol from Germany. He
was really nice to me.
Find Kat on Instagram and submit your questions!
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