They’ve been through a lot together so when Kayla Tomilson, 16, of Lebanon, Ohio, competes in American Quarter Horse Association shows this year without her sister, Rachel, also in the ring it will be different…and difficult.

Horses have been such a big part of her family of five, she knows she can count on the support she needs from parents, Ted and Jennifer, and brother, Scott. But she has a  special bond with Rachel.

For as long as Kayla can remember, the Tomilson sisters have been competing side-by-side with the same determination, skill and tenacity it takes to be successful in the ring.

So with Rachel off to college now to pursue a degree in nursing, Kayla is focused on  adjusting to a new show partner and on ….

“I know it will be difficult this year without Rachel showing with me.” Kayla says. “I will always be grateful to have her to go to when I need advice. She led me to fall in love with horses.”

Kayla grew up around horses and started riding at an early age, alongside her mother and her sister.

She remembers the one ride that changed her life like it was yesterday.

“My favorite horse of all time was a little mare named Angel,” Kayla says. “She was the first horse I ever rode and it was an unforgettable moment.”

Kayla admits it’s hard to explain how remarkable that one moment turned out to be but says she truly believes that was life changing for her.

In 2007 she was introduced to Xenia, Ohio trainers Matt and Cami Claypool and began her showing career. When she first met Cami, she said it felt like the perfect fit. They have been together ever since.

In 2009 Kayla’s family purchased Catch Some ZZZ, a 2007 bay gelding by Too Sleepy To Zip and out of Perfect Riker. The family raised “Lil Dude” and he eventually became Kayla’s show partner.

Claypool is generally not in favor of buying a young horse for a young rider but from the very first time Tomilson rode Catch Some ZZZ everything started to fall into place.

“Kayla and Dude were special because they grew as horse and rider together,” she says. “I was hesitant when we decided to buy him because he was such a young horse but I knew he was the perfect horse for her.”

In 2012 the team captured the High Point Novice Youth All-Around title in the state of Ohio, earning points in seven different events.

Just before the All American Quarter Horse Congress last year tragedy struck the Tomilson family when Catch Some ZZZ  got cast in his stall one night, broke the whorl bone of his stifle, and had to be euthanized.

“Dude took a lot from me as I learned and he meant the world to me,” Kayla says. “It was hard for me to even think about getting a new horse.”

With very little time between the passing of Catch Some ZZZ and the start of the Congress, Kayla was given the opportunity to show MNZ Sonnys Zippo, a 2003 sorrel mare by Mr Notibily Zippo and out of Sonnys Last Zip, in the National Youth Association Team Tournament Showmanship class representing the Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Association. They placed 12th overall and fourth in the National Snaffle Bit Association portion of the class.

Kayla has since teamed with Hot N Sleepy, a 2010 sorrel gelding by Too Sleepy to Zip and out of Lucy Likes It Hot, for all-around events but they will focus on Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship.

“Merle’ was an unexpected miracle for Kayla, when you consider that two months prior to his purchase she was not looking for a new horse. Claypool found Hot N Sleepy rather quickly after the loss of Catch Some ZZZ and reluctantly Kayla went to try the young gelding. It turned out to be the perfect fit.

“I am excited that Merle is progressing into a phenomenal all-around horse,” Claypool says. “He is such an exceptional horse and Kayla is such a talented rider.”

Kayla knows there will be many challenges and that they have lots of work ahead of them but has set some high goals for this year’s show season.

“I’ve learned to take in each day I have with Merle and to not take anything for granted,” she says. “I can not thank the people enough who have helped me through this whole process. I’m excited to see what Merle is truly like and what we can do as a team.”

A junior at Lebanon High School, Kayla enjoys playing lacrosse when she’s not with the horses. She started playing in the eighth grade and played varsity for her high school team as a sophomore. She will take this year off to focus on showing but hopes to return to play as a senior. Lacrosse is a sport the whole family enjoys. Her brother started playing in middle school and continued to play through part of college. Her father started the club in Lebanon with just a boy’s high school team. Now there are multiple teams and he coaches the varsity boy’s high school team. In addition the family enjoys vacations together. Trips to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, remain Kayla’s most cherished memories because of the time spent with her aunt and grandmother. She also looks forward to attending college herself and plans to study education and ride for a college equestrian team.

“I am extremely proud of Kayla in so many ways,” says Jennifer Tomilson of her daughter’s accomplishments. “She tends to amaze me every day.”