By Jenna Young
Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek
Many little girls dream of a life with ponies, and at 8 years old, Ainsley Lynch is living that dream. Ainsley not only has a pony of her own that she shows, but is fortunate enough to ride and show other people’s ponies. Training with Jacob Pope, Ainsley learned a lot this past winter in Florida and is excited to keep learning and showing her ponies.
Coming from a family of equestrians, it seemed inevitable that Ainsley would grow up to love horses. “I grew up on a horse farm,” Ainsley said. “Amberway Stables is our family barn. My mom has ridden her entire life and my dad’s business is in the horse world.”
If there’s one person besides her mom that has influenced Ainsley’s riding career, it’s her trainer, Jacob. “My Aunt Grace brought Jacob to my house when I was younger, and he watched me ride,” Ainsley said. “He’s the nicest trainer in the world! When we are in Florida, we take the ponies to Team Rakowsky every day to lesson with Jacob. He explains things very well and is very patient. He’s kind to everyone, including the horses. I plan on riding with him forever and hope to be a trainer like him one day.”
Riding with Jacob this past winter, Ainsley rode five different ponies at the Winter Equestrian Festival—Mr. Bojangles, Real Gem, Real Steel, Woodland’s Peter Pan and Smart Remark. “I moved up from Short Stirrup to Small/Medium Children’s and also had fun in the Itty-Bitty Jumpers,” she said. “I even got a personal high score of 87.5 on Woodland’s Peter Pan!”
Ainsley owns Smart Remark, and while she has learned about horsemanship and jumping, she learned a little extra during the circuit. “I’ve been showing him in the Itty-Bitty Jumpers,” she said. “He is super fun to do tight turns with! I fell off him during WEF, but I learned that I really need to sit up to the jumps.”
Ainsley loves that all five ponies she shows have their own personalities. “Mr. Bojangles is owned by our friends the Mullallys and they are letting me borrow him. He’s an amazing pony, and we have a lot of fun together. He loves showing and treats!” Ainsley said.
Real Gem and Real Steel are both owned by Real Deal Ponies. “I think Real Gem is one of the best ponies ever! I’ve been riding her for almost a year and a half and we get along really well. Her jump is amazing—almost too good—her head disappears and she just launches. She has really taught me how to hold on! Real Steel loves cuddles and would love to live in my bedroom,” Ainsley said.
Thanks to Jacob and Stefanie Mazer, Ainsley also has the ride on Balmoral’s small pony Woodland’s Peter Pan. “He has taught me so much and gives me lots of confidence,” Ainsley said.
While she may only be in the second grade, Ainsley’s goal is to compete in the Grand Prix by the time she is 12, and she says that her short-term goal is to move up to Smalls and qualify for Pony Finals.
In the meantime, Ainsley stays busy helping her mom in the barn and taking care of her special friend Pineapple Cutie Pie. “She is 26 and I still ride her every day,” Ainsley said. “She is so fit. I never use a saddle, just bareback, because that sweet girl doesn’t need to carry a saddle. When I work in the barn and Pineapple Cutie Pie sees me, she always nickers at me.”
Photos by Isabel J. Kurek, isabeljkurekphotography.com
