Fox Chapel teen equestrian embraces love of competing

Amelia Finn of Fox Chapel is happiest in the saddle.

“I had a huge interest in horses,” said Finn of her early childhood. “My grandmother always wanted me to ride. My mother rode when she was a little girl. It’s a family thing, and it never went away for me.”

Her love of horses has endured and Finn, now 17, is preparing to graduate from Fox Chapel Area High School in a few weeks.

She has committed to West Virginia University and will compete this fall as a freshman for the West Virginia University English Equestrian Team.

“My first out-of-state competition when I was 11 was at West Virginia University. I think it’s a great program,” Finn said. “It’s really cool, and most colleges now have equestrian teams. I want to do this for the rest of my life.”

WVUEET competes under the rules and regulations of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, and each member must try out for the team. The team competes against schools in the greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia areas.

Fox Chapel Area High School doesn’t have an equestrian club, but Finn hopes that changes.

“I absolutely would like to see Fox Chapel have a high school equestrian club. This is the first sport that I wanted to put my all in, and it showed me how if you commit to something, you have to stick with it,” Finn said.

Finn competes in English hunter/jumper, eventing and cross country horse competitions.

Hunter/jumper is a popular form of English riding with hunters emphasizing the horse’s movement and jumping style over fences. Jumpers focus on speed, accuracy and the horse’s ability to clear obstacles effectively.

“It’s probably the most dangerous sport in riding,” Finn said.

She began competing during the summer at age 10.

Her competitions have taken her to Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

Courtesy of Amelia Finn

Amelia Finn of Fox Chapel and her horse Yahto, "Ice Ice Baby."

She competes with her beloved horse Yahto, named for a Sioux word for blue.

“He’s an Appaloosa, and he’s my baby. His show name is Ice, Ice Baby,” Finn said. “His color is gray and white, and he looks like ice.”

Yahto loves to eat pears, and Finn rides often and teaches lessons on Sundays to young riding students.

“It helps me pay off my board,” Finn said. “Sadly, it’s an expensive hobby.”

The perils of riding hit hard when Finn was 11 and suffered hip dysplasia after falling off her horse.

“Horses can spook, and they can be unpredictable. I always wear a helmet. I was out for about a month,” Finn said. “I’ve had some concussions but thankfully haven’t broken any bones.”

Finn sometimes rides to Hodel Farms on trails through Hartwood Acres to train with Rebecca Frances.

She prefers English saddle competition over Western.

“I’ve been obsessed with show jumping since I can remember and grew up watching it on TV,” Finn said. “Jumper competitions are about going fast and having fun. That’s why I like it. It’s just a whole different level when I’m riding and competing. It’s magical.”

Finn loves the one-on-one aspect of her equestrian experiences.

“I like solo sports. Your horse is not a bike or a motorcycle. It’s a complex animal, and making sure my horse is comfortable and safe at all times — it takes a huge toll. If you fall, it’s not just not you. It’s your horse, too.”

When jumping, Finn said, the horse and rider have to work together.

“They know to jump, but you have to notice the distancing and stride and have a certain amount of strides to get them to jump safely and at the right time. It’s a matter of knowing your horse, having good communication and practice.”

Finn wants to bust the misconception that horses know what to do and the riders sometimes just have to sit there during a competition.

“Every single movement, in the English world, is to try and make every single movement of your own and your horse look effortless,” Finn said. “Every movement you see of the horse is controlled by the rider.”

Finn is the only daughter of Anne and Ken Finn and the sister of Dorseyville Middle School eighth grader Tyler Finn.

Anne Finn has witnessed her daughter’s equestrian evolution and noted the skills Amelia has learned.

“Her ability to listen to instructions strengthened. She became a willing mentor of the other riders on the team and learned valuable skills in communication, humility and leadership,” Anne Finn said. “Above all, she learned to trust herself to find and summon deep courage and stay the course.”