By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Melissa Fuller
Most equestrians simply dream about living at the barn, but for Baylee McKeever, it’s the only life she’s ever known. Her family home is nestled on the bucolic property of Castle Hill Farm in Brewster, New York, amid the hustle and bustle of Olympian McLain Ward’s premier training facility. Baylee’s parents, Lee and Erica McKeever, are both renowned equestrians themselves, and have been entrusted with running the finite details of McLain’s business for decades.
Growing up, Baylee was surrounded by famous show jumpers like Sapphire and Rothchild, and it was par for the course for her. It wasn’t until Baylee was 10 years old that she hung up her soccer cleats for good and focused on horseback riding full time. “I fell in love with the horses first—that was easy,” she said. “I rode for fun, but wasn’t hooked on riding as a sport. My parents never pressured me to ride. They actually thought my older brother, Bradlee, would be the rider, but he chose baseball instead.”
Lee and Erica were excited to support their daughter and teach her their trade. “My parents are my biggest role models; they have so much knowledge to share,” Baylee said. “They taught me all about horsemanship, and I always wanted to do everything myself.”
When the McKeevers believed Baylee was ready to begin showing more consistently, McLain recommended she train with Patricia Griffith, a pony specialist at Heritage Farm. “My mom and I would ship in for lessons, and I did all my own care,” Baylee said. “As I proved myself in the ring, I was given opportunities to show different ponies. I never took anything for granted. I learned early on that the life of an athlete is earned.”
Baylee competed on a series of ponies that brought her from the Short Stirrup through the Large Pony Hunter division—and even the Pony Jumpers. “Over the years, I was able to compete at USEF Pony Finals on some special ponies, including Roll Call, Sterling, Tantallon Co-Captain and Valor.”
But it was never about the ribbons for Baylee. “The ponies came first, and I credit my mom for always making it fun. Sometimes my mom would bring my first pony, Polly Pocket, down to the bus stop. That was my favorite!” she said. “After showing, I would take out the braids and give my pony a bath. My mom would tell me stories about how she did things, or how my dad liked to care for his horses.”
Erica traveled with Baylee to competitions, while her father, Lee, was often on the road with McLain. “They both made sacrifices in their lives to support me,” Baylee said. “I appreciate everything they’ve done to get me to this point in my career.”
When Baylee was 13 years old, she graduated to her first horse, Flirt. “He was truly special,” she said. Together, Baylee and Flirt earned numerous championships in the Children’s Hunters up through the 3’3” Junior Hunter Division at venues including the Hampton Classic, Lake Placid and Wellington International, as well as ribbons at Junior Hunter Finals.
Two years into her partnership with Flirt, Baylee leased a horse named Salvatore, with the goal of moving up and qualifying for 3’6” equitation finals. “I rode him all throughout my Junior career, which is unique, as most riders change horses year after year. It allowed us to build a deeper level of trust. It made our partnership much more special in the end.”
Baylee continued to work with Heritage and went on to train with Missy Clark at North Run, as well as Shadow Ridge. “It was never competitive; I was able to learn from so many wonderful professionals,” she said.
Around the same time, Baylee discovered her passion for jumpers. Under the guidance of McLain, her trainer and mentor in the jumper ring, she worked with two special horses: Catalyst and Cylana. “They taught me the ropes in the Low Children’s Jumpers,” she said. “Catalyst and Cylana had so much left to give. They just needed easier, step-down jobs after jumping the Grand Prix, and I was lucky to have access to those types of horses.”
Baylee believes the equitation provides a solid foundation for all three rings. “It’s easy to get hyper-focused on the results,” she said. “My first time competing at USEF Medal Finals, I caught the inside track and left out a stride. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what the judges wanted. I was very proud of our round, but I couldn’t help feeling upset—and that was the wrong takeaway.”
The jumpers have been a great outlet for Baylee. “Of course you have to focus on executing your plan, but it’s not about perfection,” she said. “In the equitation, sometimes it can feel like you have to be perfect, and you can get torn down if you make a mistake. It’s important to see the good in your round even if you don’t end up testing or placing.”
As Baylee honed her skill in the jumper ring, she moved up to 1.30m. “I began riding a mare named Formidable, or Formi in the barn,” she said. “She was coming back from colic surgery. We both went into our partnership with an open mind.”
Baylee and Formi had instant chemistry. That summer, the new pair qualified for the FEI North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, Michigan. “After the first day, we were in fourth place in the FEI Junior Rider 1.40m Division,” she said, “But the next day, Formi failed the jog. I was devastated.”
Baylee was staring down her last few weeks of summer before heading off to Auburn University. “I always rode sales horses. I felt like I had lost my last chance to compete at that level,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if I would ever get this opportunity again.”
That fall, Baylee settled into life at Auburn, where she planned to study agricultural communications and start training as a D1 athlete on the Tigers’ Jumping Seat Equestrian Team. “You can’t expect to just show up and ride,” she said. “Riding is a privilege; that’s a lesson my parents always instilled in me, and it’s the same at Auburn.”
Baylee successfully earned top grades, landing on the academic honor roll multiple times. “College riding is very different from traditional hunter-jumper competition,” she said. “In NCEA, we rarely jump higher than 3’, so when I returned to FEI competition, I felt slightly unpracticed.”
The following summer, Baylee headed to Traverse City with the goal of completing the competition on her trusted mare, Formi. “It was bigger than I had jumped all year,” she said. “Formi and I had the only double-clear round, and finished with the gold medal in the FEI Young Rider 1.50m Division. It was the most incredible feeling!”
Baylee’s full-circle moment truly represents the ups and downs of riding and showing. “One moment, you may want to give up, but you have to keep going or you’ll never experience the sweet parts,” she said. Baylee has been candid on social media about the challenges of the sport. “Instagram can seem like a highlight reel, and that’s not always reality.”
Her win at Young Riders qualified her to compete on a team with Augusta Iwasaki, Alex Alston and Virginia Bonnie in Belgium at the Nations Cup Final in September 2023. “I had to leave school, but my coaches and professors were incredibly supportive,” she said. “It was an amazing experience to compete in Europe for the first time, and to be coached by Anne Kursinski.”
Since that magical moment in Michigan, Baylee has remained focused on her equestrian goals. In March 2024, Baylee and Formi won the $50,000 BrainJuice U25 Series Final Grand Prix at Wellington International. “My dream is to one day represent the United States on a senior team,” she said.
Perhaps the crowning moment of Baylee’s young career was when she competed in the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix CSI4* at the 2025 Devon Horse Show. “We did the 1.40m earlier in the week to get in the ring, and I asked my mom and McLain if I could do the Sapphire,” she said. “It’s the biggest class of the week, but I felt confident knowing Formi is a pro in any situation.”
Baylee walked the course with McLain. “He went earlier in the order, and had one down,” she said. “His advice was to stick to the track, and not to emphasize the crowd.”
That evening, Baylee held her own against some of the biggest names in the sport. “It was my first four-star and we finished in sixth place,” Baylee said. “It’s a moment I will never forget.”
For the Ward and McKeever families, the Sapphire Grand Prix holds a special place in their hearts. “Sapphire, the event’s namesake, is a horse that helped McLain win Team Gold at the Olympics twice. My mother took care of her when I was a child,” Baylee said. “Sapphire was retired at Devon in 2012 and later inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.”
That summer, before heading back to school for her senior year, Baylee competed in her first 1.60m CSI5* Grand Prix, the American Gold Cup in Traverse City. “We had a foot in the water and two on the clock, but I couldn’t have been happier with Formi,” she said.
Fresh off her college graduation in May, Baylee is keeping an open mind about her future—so long as horses are involved. “Whether it’s riding—or working around horses—there are so many paths,” she said.
While she works toward this next chapter, Baylee is enjoying new outlets, including modeling for popular equestrian brands. A natural behind the camera with her favorite four-legged friends in tow, she has posed in everything from straw hats to schooling shirts to pajamas.
In spite of all of her success, Baylee remains humble and grateful. On her off days, you might find her at the barn. “My favorite thing is to go see Formi on a Monday, and take her to graze,” she said. “There’s something so special about the barn being so quiet.”
Follow Baylee on Instagram @bayleemckeever
Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com
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