Junior Haley Baird began her horseback riding journey when she went to her friend’s birthday party at age six. After trying it out at the party and taking more lessons, her interest in horseback riding transformed into a passion.
Now, Baird takes group lessons with two other horseback riders and private lessons once a week in Portola Valley. With every new horse she rides, she focuses on building a connection and relationship, which helps her grow both in practice and in competitions — an experience she values deeply.
“When we first knew about my horse, we didn’t know anything about her, and we found out she’s very scared of noises and stuff. So I’ve been working with her and helping her get through her fears, and you just really bond with them every time you see them,” Baird said.
Baird participates in monthly competitions every year, except during the winter season. She practices four times per week for about an hour to an hour and a half, but she normally ends up training for closer to four hours to maximize her discipline, commitment, and passion. Under the guidance of a coach, much of her practice is dedicated to jumping over obstacles with her horse.
Baird competes in eventing, a three-day competition consisting of three events. Her favorite is the cross-country event, where she gets to ride as fast as she can.
“Dressage, [is] where you memorize a pattern and you have to compete, and you get a score and the lowest wins. And then [there’s] Show Jumping, which is jumping in an enclosed arena. And then lastly, Cross Country, which is when you have to make a certain time and jump in an open field,” Baird said.
Baird gained much of her riding experience during her four years competing on a team at Stanford.While there, she excelled in jumping events, consistently achieving high point totals.
Prioritizing her mental and physical health is essential to be prepared for practice and competition, Baird said. But riding successfully also requires caring for the horse by feeding it and familiarizing the horse with the competition’s terrain.
“I just have to get a really good night’s sleep because if I’m tired, then it’s really hard to remember where I’m going on the courses for shows. I have to take [my horse] on a lot of long walks during the competitions to get her used to the environment,” Baird said.
Baird’s interest in caring for animals motivates her to keep refining her skills.
“It’s just something I’m really good at, so I want to keep improving. And it’s really interesting to be able to have a bond with an animal in a sport, because no other sport lets this happen,” Baird said.
While she still sees room for improvement, Baird’s dream is to compete in the Olympics as a professional equestrian.
“My biggest goal is to compete in the Olympics when I’m older and for it to be a profession,” Baird said.
