Bullard girl qualifies for National Horse Reining Competition in Oklahoma City

Published 11:46 am Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Fifth-grader Zadie Fenton from Bullard is among a select group of young horse riders taking on the National Horse Reining Competition in Oklahoma City this Wednesday.

She is the regional champion in the 10-and-under hunter/jumper walk-trot category after winning in Fort Worth, making her a top 16 finalist in this division for the national championship in Oklahoma City.

In Fort Worth, she won champion in both the 10-and-under pleasure class (in which the horse is judged on how well it performs and looks) and the 10-and-under equitation class (in which the rider is judged on how they look and ride).

She will be competing in both these classes at the National Horse Reining Competition.

“I feel very proud of myself to go to this high of a level in competing,” Zadie Fenton said. “I’m just very happy I get to go.”

She has officially had her horse, Asia, since February, but has been riding her even before that, she said. She loves getting to experience new places with her horse and compete with her.

The horse is an Arabian, like others in these competitions, who stays at Oak Haven Arabian Horse Farms in Tyler.

Her parents, Allison and Lance Fenton, are happy to see their daughter do what she loves.

Seeing her thrive as a rider is truly amazing, her mom Allison Fenton said, adding that her daughter has “a God-given talent in her heart and soul” that shows when she and her horse perform.

When Zadie and her horse are together, it’s obvious they trust each other and are a team, she said.

“Asia watches over her as much as Zadie watches over Asia,” Allison Fenton said. “It’s almost like poetry getting to watch them ride, they are so beautiful together.”

Cassie Gillespie, Zadie Fenton’s trainer, has been working with her since the beginning, encouraging and pushing her to be her best. Zadie Fenton and her trainer are like best friends, Allison Fenton said, and she enjoys watching the relationship build between them.

Watching his daughter grow as a rider and competitor is inspiring, her dad Lance Fenton said.

“She has shown me that no matter your age, if you’re passionate about something you can accomplish great things,” he said.