While most kids her age were just learning to crawl, Cheyenne Augsburger was already climbing up onto the back of a horse.

The daughter of Lori and Andrew Augsburger of Loxqahatchee, Florida, Cheyenne was riding as soon as she was able to sit up and has spent very few days of her eight-year life away from the barn.

The Augsburgers help operate Pinetree Quarter Horses, owned by Lori’s parents, Jim and Doris Collier, where they train Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and all-around contenders and coach youth and amateur competitors.

Riding has developed into an unstoppable passion for Cheyenne, affectionately known as “Scooter.”

The Augsburger family resides at Pinetree Quarter Horses in Loxqahatchee, Florida, where Cheyenne lives out the dream of every little girl. Her mother and father have trained Cheyenne to become a fierce competitor in the show pen; but it is her love for all animals (not just horses) that truly captures the hearts of the people who have had the chance to meet her.

When Cheyenne isn’t spending time with her babysitter/teacher, Tiffany Burwell, or fishing with Pinetree Associate Trainer Anthony Douglas, she enjoys helping out on the family farm. This is one of many ways she gets to spend time with her father and her grandfather. Cheyenne is all about family and she loves the vacation her family takes each year to Elloree, South Carolina to watch the Trials and the Quarter Horse races. She’s been to Disney World but still calls it her “dream vacation” because it holds a “magical place in her heart.”

Cheyenne is a third grade student at Ideal School, in Royal Balm Beach, Florida.  She plays the violin and has many friends. But Cheyenne’s passion is animals. She has three dogs (Chevy, Lulu and Malibu) four cats (Oliver, Princess, Raleigh and Jasmine) and often takes Jasmine along to horse shows.

“They know when she comes to see them that they will get a treat,” Lori explains. “She has her own little treat stash that no one is allowed to get into.”

She also has two horses of her own – The Black Force (aka Force), a 24-year-old gelding and An Awesome Fantasy (aka Ava), an 18-year-old mare.

This year Cheyenne is showing Huntin For Candy, a 2008 sorrel gelding by Huntin for Chocolate and out of  Zips Asset, in Novice Youth and 13 & Under All-Around Events. Huntin for Candy has been in training with Cheyenne’s dad, since he was a 2-year-old. She will also be showing Dynamic Allnite Long,  a 2000 black gelding by Dynamic In The Dark and out of Dee Dees Hobby Lady, in Novice Youth and 13 & Under Western Riding.

So this year it’s two new horses to show and a whole new set of goals. But Cheyenne is driven, outgoing and confident that she can accomplish them all.

“She has grown up on two of the best show horses that could have possibly come her way: The Black Force and An Awesome Fantasy,” Lori admits. “They have taught her responsibility. She has rinsed both of them off from a step ladder since she was about 4 years old. They give her the confidence a young child needs to be in the show pen.”

At the age 18 months, Cheyenne claimed her first blue ribbon in a Lead Line class aboard The Black Force. Then, in 2013 she won her biggest prize yet when she rode A Good N Hot Machine (aka Goody)  to a third place finish at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Novice Youth Western Plasure 13 & Under.

Cheyenne adores all horses but she does have her favorites.

“Ava is my all-time favorite Western Pleasure horse,” she explains. “She has the biggest heart and she can do anything and everything.”

Cheyenne’s favorite English horse is One Hot Kat and she hopes to show him one day. Cheyenne’s partial to the gelding because her mom won the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle at the Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Championship Show on him.

“Andrew and I could not be more proud of her,” Lori says. “She has worked very hard for every single ribbon she has ever earned. When you have an 8-year-old who would rather be at the barn helping clean, groom and help ride her horses, instead of being in the house in front of the television, it is a very proud reflection of us as her parents.”