OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Sophia Schults discovered her passion for horses early in life, despite having no family ties to equestrianism.

Coming from a lineage of engineers and doctors, her love for riding was uniquely her own.

“I don’t know what it was specifically, but I’ve always been attracted to it,” Schults shared. “That’s why I begged my dad for my first lesson when I was three. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Building a Solid Foundation in Horsemanship

Schults’ equestrian journey began with 4H and county youth fairs, where she explored multiple disciplines, including dressage, jumping, halter, and western pleasure. These experiences provided her with a comprehensive foundation in horsemanship.

By the time she was 10 or 11, Schults had honed her focus on dressage and reining, training with two horses: Zealand for dressage and Sweets for reining. However, a pivotal conversation with her father shifted her path.

“My dad sat me down and said, ‘Okay, you have to choose one of these to pursue fully. We can’t keep doing both,'” Schults explained. “I stuck with dressage.”

The Horses That Shaped Her Career

Zealand, a Lusitano gelding, played a crucial role in Schults’ early growth as a dressage rider. Around the same time, a Trakehner gelding named Safir became another influential figure in her career. Safir took her to Wellington, Florida, for the first time at age 12, introducing her to high-level dressage and the renowned Dressage 4 Kids program.

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“He was also the one who introduced me to the grander scale of dressage. I took him to my first clinic of Dressage 4 Kids in Fruitport, Michigan,” she shares. “That’s kind of where my career took a strong direction and where it was headed for today.”

Influential Mentors

Schults credits many mentors for her success, including Lisa Oles of Bit of Success Stable in Michigan, and judge Lee Tubman, who guided her first season in Wellington. George Williams, a prominent U.S. youth coach, has been a key figure in her development.

“George Williams has had a huge impact on my career. He’s one of my favorite people,” Schults noted.

Through Dressage 4 Kids, Schults connected with Kim Van Kampen of Hampton Green Farm, where she still trains today.

Achieving National Success

In 2018, Schults won the National Equitation Championship at age 17, riding a horse named Samour.

“Going into a big competition like that in 2018, I had hoped that I could potentially do well, but by no means had any expectations of any of that happening,” Shults recalls.

Schults emphasized the importance of preparation and teamwork, attributing her success to both her dedication and the readiness of her horse.

“That’s kind of the beauty of our sport—it’s not just myself that has to be ready,” Schults explains. “I’ve been extremely lucky with how things have worked out for me. I’m very thankful for that.”