For Erika Collins Sterling, the dirt of a horse show arena feels like home, though her path back to it was anything but linear. At 47, Sterling is navigating a “second act” in the equine world, one only dreamed about by most riders.  After a decade-long hiatus marked by family loss and professional demands, she hasn’t just returned to showing – she has redefined her legacy within the Ranch discipline.

Born in North Fort Myers, Florida, Sterling’s roots were split between the coastal tides of the Sunshine State and the rugged landscapes of the Midwest.

“I played volleyball in elementary school,” Sterling said. “But I preferred to spend most of my free time at the barn down the street or at the beach with my dad.”

That pull toward the land eventually led her to Winfield, Kansas, where she traded beach days for 4-H chapters and weekends running speed events at local play days. When she wasn’t competing, she was working on the family ranch.

Her dedication to livestock grew stronger at Oklahoma State University. While earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science with an emphasis on reproduction and ranch management, Sterling became a founding member of the original club-level Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) team. It was a grassroots effort that changed the landscape of collegiate sports in Stillwater.

“We were so successful as a self-sponsored club, having several riders qualify for nationals, that OSU took notice and created the now current NCAA equestrian team,” Sterling said. “I’m proud to say I was part of the infant stage of that.”

After graduating in 2001, Sterling’s career took a unique turn. While horses remained her passion, her profession became the sea. For 20 years, she owned and operated a successful saltwater aquarium company, designing and installing complex aquatic systems for homes and businesses across Oklahoma.

The business eventually led her to meet her husband, Jeremy. The couple met in 2002 while she was working at an aquarium store. He had purchased a home with an established tank and needed help navigating the hobby.

“Friendship over several years being a regular weekly customer eventually turned into dating, and the rest is his history,” Sterling said. The two married in 2007.

The labor-intensive years of running a business were eventually eclipsed by family obligations. In 2018, Sterling began to scale back her company to care for her father following a Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. Following his death, she stepped up to manage the family ranch and care for her grandmother.

“My grandmother and I were exceptionally close, so that dedicated time together was extra special,” she said.

Following her grandmother’s death in late 2020, Sterling retired from the aquarium industry to focus on the ranch and her return to the saddle.

Sterling’s early showing career was defined by grit. In 1999, she started showing on the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) circuit on a home-bred gelding, lacking the flashy equipment of her peers.

“I didn’t own any show equipment, so I used a plain roping saddle,” she said. “I stuck out, but again, I was just happy to be there in the mix.”

Despite the modest start, she became a formidable Amateur competitor, reaching the finals at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Showmanship. But, as fate would have it, family health needs forced her to again step away from the arena in 2013.

When she finally returned to the pen in 2024, she shifted her focus to ranch events. The results were immediate.

“Coming back as a Ranch rider over 10 years later was where things shined for me,” Sterling said. “I have had incredible success in my first full year of showing this division – more than most deserve.”

That success is credited to a trio of extraordinary horses. Her “heart horse,” a 2019 dun mare named Princess Ice (Siri), has become a mainstay in the winner’s circle. 

In their first year together, they claimed World Championships in the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA), and the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA).

“She’s possibly the sweetest creature on the planet,” Sterling said. “She wakes up a ray of sunshine every day.”

Then there is Xtra Wimpys Catalyst (Zorro), a jet-black stallion by Wimpys Little Step and out of Im Not Blonde. Zorro was a seasoned Reining contender when Sterling purchased him at the 2024 World Show. He transitioned to Ranch events “like a duck to water.” In one year, Zorro secured eight World Championships and three Congress Championships, adding over $55,000 to his lifetime earnings.

“He’s truly a unicorn with incredible hair,” Sterling said.

Rounding out the string is Neonlites NGunfights (JJ), a 2020 bay stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun. While JJ primarily competes in open events with Sterling’s trainer, Matt Gouthro, Sterling joins for select classes. Despite what she calls his “little boy brain,” JJ has collected six World Championships.

As the 2026 season begins, Sterling is focused on consistency. She plans to campaign Siri, Zorro, and JJ across all major ranch events, aiming to build on the momentum of a record-breaking 2025.

For Sterling, the journey from a self-taught rider in 4-H to a multi-association World Champion is a testament to the power of returning to one’s roots.

“Fingers crossed I can continue the successful trend we had,” Sterling said. “I’m hoping they will continue to learn and lock in these new skills.”

Amateur Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for an amateur profile email Corrine Borton, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.