She’s only been riding for two years now but 16-year-old Carley Yosurack, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, couldn’t be more passionate about it.

Her mom, Tammy Conroy, was very much involved with horses during her youth years, but had to take time off due to career and family obligations.

“After 19 years she bought a new horse and got back into showing,” Carley explains. “After a few months of going to the barn with her, and watching her ride, I was finally allowed to get on and ride her horse, Barbie. Although I only walked the mare around, I instantly was in love with working with horses.”

In July of 2013 BSB N Steady, a 2009 bay mare by Art I Sweet and out of Did Ya Go Steady was purchased for Carley and the new team instantly clicked.

“I showed her for the first time in Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle at a show in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, and placed on all four judges’ cards, out of 19 entries,” she says.

Carley was hooked. The Indiana Area High School senior finished out the show year with BSB N Steady, showing under the guidance of Pennsylvania trainers Dan Rawlings and Amy LaMorte.

In 2014 Carley teamed with Invite Me Up (Stedman), a 2007 bay gelding by Green With Envy and out of Magnificent Blue Shy for her first full year of competition.

During the year the team earned 68.5 Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle points and finished sixth in the nation in American Quarter Horse Association competition. They also competed for the first time at the Quarter Horse Congress, placing eighth in 14-18 Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle and 13th in 12-14 Youth Hunter Under Saddle.

This year, in addition to competing in Hunter Under Saddle classes, Carley and Steadman added Novice Youth Showmanship and Equitation to their repertoire.

At the Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championship Show, held in Lexington, Virginia this past October, Carley and Steadman were named Champions of the 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle.

“I came out of the show pen with happy tears streaming down my face and a smile from ear to ear,” she says. “Looking back, I still feel like it was all a dream. I could not be more blessed to have Stedman carry me through it all.”

Carley recently purchased a new Western partner in Always Certain (Slim), a 2012 bay gelding by Certain Potential and out of Beccatha.

“Slim and I have started showing in the Novice Youth Western Pleasure and we have already collected multiple wins and some points. We showed this year at the Congress and made the finals.”

Carley says Congress is her favorite horse show.

“It is exciting to see such great talent everywhere you look, and of course there’s the shopping,” she says.

Her favorite classes to watch are,of course, the youth events because “I like to watch my peers compete,” she says.

But she also enjoys the futurity classes.

“I like to see the new and up and coming horses to watch for in future shows,” Carley says.

When she is not at a show, Carley, a high honors student, spends a lot of time on schoolwork but also enjoys hanging out with her best friend, Shelly. An accomplished point dancer for years, she enjoyed dancing at her local dance school but riding horses stole her heart and eventually became her favorite sport.

Carley lists her mom as her hero.

“She does everything in her power to place the greatest opportunities in the palm of my hands,” she explains. “She works the longest hours at work, home and even at the shows. She gets up at the crack of dawn to braid my horse, supports me even when I fail, and loves me unconditionally.”

Without her mom Carley says she would have never had the opportunity to show horses.

“I would never have been able to participate in this amazing sport with amazing horses and amazing people without her,” she says. “Showing is something I love doing more than anything. It allows me to show determination, passion and dedication. Showing horses allows me to meet new people, spend time with my horse and wear the coolest outfits.”