Shayla Wilson is an unusual woman engaged in a traditional yet unusual sport. She is an equestrian athlete with her mind focused on making it to the Olympics in 2012. The Orlando born recently enrolled in Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia in pursuit of this, her ultimate dream.
The equestrian sport has over 2,000 years of development in its history, and is a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow in popularity. Shayla specializes in the stadium jumping and dressage disciplines. Few women make it to the top of this game, but Shayla is determined to be one of the few. A woman with her skill-set, talent and potential is difficult to find.
 Said Shayla. “Judges, coaches and employers agree that I am a strong contender with Olympic potential.”
African American women are generally not the image that comes to mind when equestrian Olympic athletes are mentioned. This is a sport that is dominated by wealthy middle-aged men. The cost of competing at a high level is great. Shayla is not wealthy, at least not yet, but as an African American woman, her dedication to this sport has allowed her to win major classes at nationally recognized horse shows. For example, Horse Show in the Sun (HITS) at Ocala is a major seven-week nationally qualifying show, and even as an amateur competing against seasoned professionals, she has won classes and been awarded two reserve champions for timed divisions.
Competitively, Shayla is a force to be reckoned with, even though she competes on borrowed horses while other riders have had the opportunity to train and compete on their own horses for years. Says she, “I muck stalls, lead trail rides, exercise horses, groom, and perform other duties to be able to compete. Given my growth and development, drive and winning show record, I am ready to go to the next level.”
As a stepping-stone, Shayla is attending Virginia Intermont College on a $3,000/year academic scholarship and a $1,500/year top award athletic scholarship. Virginia Intermont College is the top equine university in the nation, and Shayla is the first African American to ride on their equestrian team. “I decided to attend this school to receive the training, education and grooming necessary to become a professional in the horse industry and ultimately an Olympic equestrian athlete. Additionally, I have two international and Olympic caliber trainers who are eager to prepare me for the 2012 Olympics once I graduate from college in two years,” said Shayla.
Shayla is likely to graduate with honors. She is more than an equestrian, having just received her midterm report, she shares with excitement that she is also an “A” student.
If the equestrian sport has traditionally been for the wealthy, why has Shayla been able to excel in such an expensive sport, you might ask. Says she, “In the beginning, my parents were able to pay for lessons. They even made sacrifices that enabled me to have my own horse until I reached the 11th grade. At that point, I was able to work for experience. I have worked at Drifton Farms in Monticello, 3H Equestrian Center in Ocala, and Full Partners Farm in Gainesville as a stable hand, show groom, assistant manager, breeding operator, and exercise rider to trade for lessons and valuable experience. I have even held a silent auction and a horse show to raise funds.”
Shayla is still in need of funds. She is currently accepting pledges from individuals and seeking sponsors to cover the cost of riding-related supplies, horse care, localrated and international competition expenses, clinics and training, and tuition so that she may focus her energy on practice and graduation. Donors will receive quarterly newsletters and updates summarizing her accomplishments on her web site, which is (www.myspace.com/packpony).
Since her arrival at Virginia Intermont College in late August of 2006, Shayla has enrolled in the highest level training program available and has earned a key spot on the Dressage team that is sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA). “My spot on this team will enable me to send my resume to the International University Equestrian Federation (AIEC) in hopes of getting selected to compete in international horse shows. The AIEC horse shows are exciting events that are held in different countries all over the world. This year, there will be competitions in Germany, Sweden, and Belgium. These shows have both a stadium phase with jumps set at 4 feet 6 inches high where judges score the riders on style and speed, and a dressage phase consisting of a 2nd level drill test based on the harmony of horse and rider while demonstrating difficult movements. In other words, these shows are the highest level of competition that exist for collegiate riders. Only four to eight athletes in the country get selected for these events to represent the United States. “I intend to be one of the four,” said Shayla. |
