Next Stop for Hailey Fox: WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship 

Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) caught up with junior rider and working student Hailey Fox from Tallahassee, Florida, as she prepares for the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship presented by Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, sponsored by JPMorgan and powered by Gary Yeomans Ford, set to take place on February 7 in the WEC Grand Arena.

WEC: Tell us a bit about yourself.

HF: I’m from Tallahassee, and we moved to Ocala full-time a few years ago. I had two backyard ponies growing up, and I really only started showing on the circuit in 2023 when we moved here, and I became a working student. 

Over the last three years, I have improved as a rider, but also made a lot of personal growth. I’ve had the opportunity to ride and show some amazing horses, and on top of that, work with some incredible people. Being patient and using every opportunity to gain as much knowledge as I possibly could has played a key role in my progress both in and out of the tack. 

WEC: Where are you currently riding, and who are you working with as a working student?

HF: I started riding with Stone Lane Stables and Sarah Barge at the beginning of this winter. It’s been such an amazing experience. The people here are great and so supportive and welcoming. I get to be around people who want to make sure that I’m having fun and enjoying the horses. 

At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do the equitation as seriously as I have the past few years, but in the short time that I’ve been with Sarah, my want and urge to succeed in the equitation and as a horse person has really rekindled, specifically with Oakley. He’s never felt as good as he does now, and I’m super excited for the rest of the circuit with him. 

WEC: Tell us about Oakley and your partnership with him.

HF: We imported In Due Time [Oakley] two years ago, and he had a little bit of a slow start. He was more of a jumper than an equitation horse when we got him. It took him a while to transition. A big thing for him was figuring out what worked for him and not so much what worked for me. You have to ride him how he wants to be ridden. I’m still figuring him out! He’s been a challenge for me, but he’s taught me so much, and it’s made me a better rider and person because of that. 

WEC: What has your experience been like as a working student, and how do you balance school with riding?

HF: It’s been challenging to figure out how to be a working student and do school. You have a show schedule to work around, and then you have schoolwork to do on top of it, so it’s been a learning process to prioritize both equally.

I do love school and learning, so it helps that I’m motivated to also get my classwork done. I have some really great teachers in school who have set me up for success, so that’s a huge part of how I’m able to keep up with both school and riding. Having supportive teachers and a supportive trainer helps me to really enjoy both aspects of it!

WEC: What are your goals after your junior career?

HF: I definitely want to go to college. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, being in a new place, and being on my own. I also would love to ride on a Division 1 team; it would be such an amazing experience.

 In college, I also want to study animal science. I’ve always been super interested in the overall health of the horse and what they should eat, how they should exercise, and how each animal is different and how they each have different needs.

WEC: Tell us about the WEC Premier Cup Equitation Championship and what it means to you. 

HF: I did some of the WEC Cup classes last year, but I didn’t qualify and wasn’t really trying to. But when I started showing with Stone Lane, I realized how close I was to qualifying, so it quickly became something that I wanted to do. I qualified at the beginning of the circuit this year, so I am super excited.

The class is so cool! I really want to just go in and experience the atmosphere. The jumps and the course that they set are something that both Oakley and I have never experienced.  I’ve done some equitation finals now, and I just don’t think anything compares to what it would feel like to walk into the WEC Grand Arena. I’ve enjoyed watching the class in the past, but being able to go in there and do it with Oakley is going to feel so rewarding. 

WEC: What do you enjoy most about showing at WEC – Ocala?

HF: I came to WEC – Ocala with my medium pony when it first opened, and it was the coolest experience. So to be able to live in Ocala and be at this horse show every day, little me would be over the moon. And even now, I still am! 

The atmosphere here is so special. It doesn’t feel like any other horse show. The management here is great, the people are great and the rings are great. And despite how big the horse show is, it still feels like home. 

Thank you to Hailey Fox for taking the time to speak with us, and best of luck in the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship. 

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes! 

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.