Bestselling children’s author JK Rowling, who penned the Harry Potter novels once said that “family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.”

Sisters Allie and Madeline (Maddie) Rippeon, of Mount Airy, Maryland would agree.

As fierce competitors on the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) show circuits Maddie, 17, and Allie,15, have faced their fair share of adversity in the show pen. But one thing is a constant –  they always have each other’s back.

“Showing against my sister is probably one of my favorite things about showing,” Maddie said. “My sister and I are very close, but we are also very competitive. It’s a lot of fun having someone by your side who you can cheer for but also “talk a little smack with.” We never get in each other’s way, but we love to joke around about what sister will beat the other.”

For the last three years, Maddie has been showing The Best Ryde (Ziggy), a 2015 bay gelding sired by RL Best of Sudden out of Invite Me Breeze in Youth All-Around events. This past year they won the Level 2 Showmanship at the AQHA Youth World Show and were Reserve in the Level 2 Western Riding. They captured a bronze at the NSBA World Show and then at the Quarter Horse Congress they captured a Reserve Championship title in Level 2 Youth Trail 15-18 and a third place in Level 2 Youth Western Riding 14-18.

But Maddie now has a new show partner in VS Retirement Fund (Robbie), a 2018 red roan gelding, sired by VS Code Red out of Dontskipzips Version.

“This show season I have been successfully showing in the Level 2 14-18 classes,” Maddie said. “I knew going forward I wanted a horse that could step up and be an outstanding Level 3 All-Around horse. Robbie was just what I was looking for.”

In fact, Maddie says the first time she ever saw Robbie she knew he would be coming home to Maryland with her.

“It was mid-September and we were showing in Columbus, Ohio,” she recalled. “Carly Parks, Robbie’s former trainer, brought him to the fairgrounds for us to try. I watched Carly ride him around for a couple of minutes and knew he was going to be the one. I was riding him in breeches, my English shirt and English boots because I still had to show Equitation. I rode him around for about 10 minutes and was already getting so excited about a horse that wasn’t even mine. After we got done riding we did some Showmanship and sat in the arena talking about the possibility of bringing him home. While we were talking he was sticking his tongue out, making us all laugh.”

Maddie and Robbie will make their debut together at the Florida Gold and Gulf Coast shows, competing in Youth Trail, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Equitation and Performance Halter.

Maddie and Allie’s parents, Michael and Deanna Rippeon, own a boarding facility in Mount Airy, Maryland and both girls got their start in the show world sharing a The Terms Are Sonny, a 1997 sorrel AQHA gelding by Good Terms out of Miss Zippo Brandy. Allie showed him in Lead Line and Maddie in Small Fry.

Allie who is now a multiple AQHA Youth World, Reserve and Bronze Champion has also earned NSBA World Show Champion, Reserve and Bronze titles, including being Bronze in the CINCH Horsemanship Invitational  Finals. She has also earned multiple-time unanimous Champion, Reserve Champion, and Bronze titles at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Much of Allie’s success came with Famous N Foolish, a 2008 sorrel AQHA gelding by Hes Suddenly Famous out of Prestons Angel Girl. Together they won NSBA World Championship titles in Small-Fry Horsemanship, Showmanship and Equitation as well as a Congress Championship in Small-Fry Showmanship and the Small-Fry Reserve High Point Champion.

But the real magic started in July of 2021 when Allie teamed with Itzonly Make Believe (Linda), a 2017 bay mare by Machine Made out of Sophisticated Invite. At their very first show together after the Rippeons purchased Linda from Teresa Balkcum at the Big A Circuit the new team won the Novice Youth Trail and Western Pleasure. A month later they won a bronze trophy in Youth 13 & Under Horsemanship and placed Top 10 in both the Novice Youth and Youth 13 & Under Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show. By the time the Quarter Horse Congress rolled around Allie and Linda looked like they had been showing together for decades. They left Ohio with four Congress Championships – 11 & Under Youth Showmanship; 11 & Under Youth Horsemanship; Level 1 Youth Equitation 13 & Under; and Level 1 Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under. They also captured a Reserve in 11 & Under Equitation and three all-around awards.

Allie and Linda compete in Youth Horsemanship, Showmanship, Equitation, Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Riding and Halter.

At this year’s Quarter Horse Congress, Allie and Linda were named 12-14 All-Around Champions AND Youth All-Around Champions with unanimous wins in Youth 12-14 Showmanship and Youth 12-14 Equitation, plus a Reserve Championship in Youth 12-14 Horsemanship plus many top five and top 10 class placings.

Allie also feels that one of the major perks of competing is getting to show alongside her sister.

“Showing with Maddie is incredible because I always have someone to count on,” she said. “She’s always there when I need help and encouragement and can also boost my confidence. But it’s no secret that we are incredibly competitive with each other. She pushes me and I push her back, and that’s the great dynamic of our relationship.”

Both girls look up to many Amateur competitors and try to learn from them at every show.

“Some of my favorite amateurs to watch are Paige Rogers, Katie Jo Jones, Olivia Tordoff, Deanna Willis, Kaleena Weakly and many others,” Maddie said. “My sister and I love to watch these competitors show because we learn so much from them. Even simple things like how their horses perform a maneuver or how they hold their hands while riding.”

In the fall of 2023 the Rippeon family brought decorated trainer, professional horseman and judge Michael Colvin to their facility in Maryland, where Allie and Maddie get to work with him nearly every day.

“Michael is a great person to work with. We ride almost every day and learn something new every lesson,” Maddie explained. “The progress we’ve made as a team is incredible. We have a great group of people in our show barn and it’s so fun to travel with them. Our schedule at home is very productive. The horses have Sunday off. On Monday we work on the horse’s body movement, and the rest of the days of the week we usually switch between all the different classes (Western Riding, Horsemanship, Trail, Showmanship, and Equitation). We have a great schedule that works for all of us. Our horses get turned out every day, and they love it. I love to see Robbie and Linda, out in the fields rolling and eating grass.”

But the girls don’t want to give the impression their accomplishments have come without their fair share of defeats.

At this year’s AQHA Youth World Show, Allie received a major penalty in the prelims of the Level 3 Horsemanship  14-18, a class she had been working hard to do well in.

 “I went back to the stalls, let myself have that night to soak in what had happened, and woke up the next morning excited for the NSBA World Show’s Youth Horsemanship class, which was coming up next,” she said. “Without that mindset, I feel I couldn’t have done so well. I ended up a Reserve World Champion at NSBA, and it made me feel good about who I am as a person knowing I soaked in that failure but went on with a positive mindset despite it.”

And they have plenty of great memories both inside and outside the competition arena at shows.

Allie says her favorite memories have a lot to do with her horse and  less to do with the placings.

“My fondest horse show memory would have to be all the times I got to cherish with my horse,” she explained. “Being able to ride her, enjoy spending time with her and being in the arena with her is what I treasure most.”

Allie says it seems like yesterday she first laid eyes on Linda. Although she was young and green, the Rippeons went to look at her out of respect for Balkcum.

“I do remember vividly walking up to her and petting her face,” she said. “Linda was everything I wanted in a horse – which wasn’t much since I was young – a mare with a cute face. My mom saw everything she didn’t want – a mare, young, and not seasoned to the show world. But even now I can remember the connection we immediately shared.”

Allie is glad they decided to give Linda a chance because she got to see her huge heart.

“I could tell that with some further training and allowing her to grow some more, she was going to be unstoppable,” she said. “Linda has incredible fight and perseverance and also some wild energy. With these things, she fits me wonderfully. She’s extremely competitive and believe it or not, hates to lose. It makes me laugh.”

Even with all they have accomplished Allie still has some lofty goals.

Next year they will compete in Youth 14-18 all-around classes, including Western Riding, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Equitation, Trail, Western Pleasure and Halter. Plus, Allie will show her in Open Senior Trail. They are already planing to attend the Madness in Ohio, The Little Buckeye, the AQHA Youth World, the NSBA World Show and the Quarter Horse Congress. they will end the year at the and the Florida Gold and Gulf Coast circuits.

“My goals for her next year are to continue her success and build her name, win her a globe to take home and keep her as healthy and happy as possible,” she said.

Allie sees Linda as a permanent member of the family.

“I eventually want to breed her so I can have mini-Lindas running around the farm,” she admitted. “I hope eventually I can have a Small Fry that she can cart around so that she’s not competing at the level we are now, but still showing because I believe she would love that very much.”

Outside the show pen the Rippeon sisters stay busy with school work and their other hobbies. They attended public school until Allie was in fifth grade and Maddie sixth. Since then they have been homeschooled. Allie is currently in 10th grade and Maddie is a junior.

“I absolutely love to read and write,” Allie said. “I take up my free time by reading many fantasy and mystery books and also writing them. One of my big-time goals is to publish the Dystopian novel I am currently authoring.”

Maddie will attend Auburn University and plans to major in business or engineering.

“I know after college I will get into business,” she said. “I am super excited to attend Auburn University, the opportunities there are endless.”

She is also obsessed with all things Christmas.

“I love to host people and bake all sorts of goodies, so I enjoy it when my family gets together on Christmas day,” she said. “This Christmas I want to bake a bunch of different cookies and give them to family and friends. My favorite tradition would have to be decorating my house for Christmas. I put on comfy clothes and turn on the Christmas music. My dad and I bring up all the Christmas trees and decorations and get to work.”

No matter where life takes them the Rippeon girls know they will go there together. For now they are focused on being successful in the show pen and enjoying the journey, the one taken with their horses.

“I love showing horses because at heart, I’m a competitive person, and I think that Linda – who might have even more vigor than I do – makes it special and gives me challenges that I love to face,” Allie said. “I’ve always loved horses, so to be able to have a deep connection with them and look fluid together in the arena makes the opportunity to show horses something that I will always cherish and be grateful for.”