Herriman girl competes in national horse reining competition

People from all over the world descended upon Oklahoma City, Okla., Nov. 30 to compete in the National Reining Horse Association North American Affiliate Championships. One of those reiners was 12-year-old Maddy Park from Herriman.

Park qualified in the Youth 13 and Under category by placing sixth with her quarter horse, Cuttin for Chex at the Mountain West Regional Affiliate Finals in Salina Oct. 5.

Reining requires participants and their horses to memorize various patterns. Then during the competition, they are given a specific pattern and are required to perform it properly. Park began reining only a year ago with her horse trainer Nathan Ivie at the Ivie Ranch in Spanish Fork.

“He’s an excellent trainer and she has learned so much in a year,” Maddy’s mother, Milly Park, said. “It is such a wonderful experience for her. To even be able to go to Oklahoma and compete her first year is huge.”

Maddy began training on a slower Western Pleasure horse, but with practice, has been able to progress to a faster and more responsive quarter horse.

“The things these horses can do is amazing,” Milly Park said.

Maddy was introduced to reining by a friend who invited her to watch her at Ivie Ranch and see if she liked it.

She loved it.

“I watched my friend on the horse, and they were doing weird stuff I’d never seen before, and I thought it was really cool,” Maddy said.

Maddy was too shy that day to ask to try it herself, but enrolled in classes soon after. Now she practices at least three times a week, often every day as she prepares for a competition.

“You know, you can’t get Maddy to speak in front of people, but she will go out in a humongous arena and perform. She’s in her element. It’s a wonderful lesson to find what you love and then just go for it,” Milly Park said.

Maddy and her family flew to Oklahoma City and her trainer, Nathan, drove her horse, which, outside competitions, they call “Big Red.”

“The coliseum was huge and everything was beautiful,” Milly Park said. “It was fancy. You couldn’t help but think, ‘This is the big time.’”

More than 500 participants competed overall. Maddy took 26^th place in her category. She said she's already looking forward to competing again next year.