Courtesy photo / Avery Wright of Tyrone is shown competing in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals on April 25 in St. Louis, Missouri.

A Grier School student recently reigned in a national title in her class at the 2026 Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals.

Avery Wright, 12, of Tyrone competed against the nation’s top riders on April 25 in the Future Beginner Walk Trot Canter division at the National Equestrian Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

“It was really awesome, and I was very proud and excited,” she said.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association riders are assigned horses at random, having only 10 minutes to meet their horse before mounting. Wright drew a horse named Regal from Ohio and was judged based on precision, control and form.

Mother Kimberely Wright said Avery is a quiet kid, and Wright knew that her daughter was anxious about meeting her horse minutes before showing.

“It’s very stressful,” Avery said. “You don’t know if it’ll be a good horse or a bad horse.”

While showing her horse, however, Avery smiled at her mother, and one of her trainers, Crystal Wood, said that Avery was having fun.

“That was the best moment,” Wright said. “It makes me cry … for her to smile at me even if it lasted for one second, I knew she was having fun.”

At 5 years old, Avery started horseback riding lessons, but she didn’t switch to competitive showing until she was 8 years old.

Avery took home first and third places at her first horse show, where she competed against adults as well.

“When she came out with first place, we were like, ‘maybe we should look into this more,'” Wright said, stating that her daughter has a talent for showing horses.

Avery has been showing horses since, as she was most recently declared the regional reserve champion in February 2026.

With a national title under her belt, Avery must compete in the next advanced division, the Futures, where she’ll be judged on more advanced movements.

She also wants to keep riding in the future with aspirations of having her own horse and farm one day.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.