Makenna Pulley, age 14, of Norco is a 9th-grade student in Springs Venture online program. She rides horses five days a week with lessons two to three times a week. She has been riding for seven years and owns her own horse, PJ.
She is a member of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and has won many awards in horse competitions, including taking first place in one competing against more than 40 riders and being named reserve champion in the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) hunters zone 10.
She said she cannot picture herself doing any other sport besides riding. She explained, “To me, riding horses isn’t like any other sport, it involves much more responsibility and commitment. You are not only having to make sure you are at your own proper fitness level for this sport, you also have to make sure your horse is at his proper fitness level.”
 |
 |
Makenna’s mother, Jeanine, remarked, “Makenna has always had difficult horses or has had to deal with her horses going lame or getting injured. She has always made the best of it. She is a hard worker and has a great attitude. She’s always thinking about her future in competing and doesn’t ever give up on her dreams. We are super proud of Makenna and all of the hard work that she puts into this sport.”
Makenna says that Venture has been a good fit for her, as without it, “I would not be able to spend nearly as much time with my horse as I’d like to.” Her future plans include getting recruited for a D1-D3 college where she can continue her horse competitions and earn a bachelor’s degree in business. Makenna concluded, “I have always considered myself super hard-working, especially when it comes to horses. Whether it’s waking up early to go feed horses and muck the stalls even after a long day, I absolutely love what I do.”
