Gift
Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
World Equestrian Center logo World Equestrian Center logo
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
    stay-with-us-lgBtn
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
    HomenAway
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship
Gift Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
WEC / Blog / Equestrian / Featured / Sunday Spotlight: Sophie Carlin

Sunday Spotlight: Sophie Carlin

13 Feb 22 | Wilmington, OH | SHARE
Sophie and Hazel (Cabochon) competing in a national derby.

This week’s Sunday Spotlight shines on twenty-two year-old amateur/owner Sophie Carlin of Columbus, Ohio. Sophie is a 2021 graduate of Elon University in North Carolina, where she studied sports management and rode on the IHSA equestrian team. She has been riding since she was just six years old and now competes in both the hunters and the jumpers. She took time to chat with us about her new mare, her career and her passion for the sport.

WEC: How did you start riding?

Sophie: My mom rode when she was younger – not super competitive or anything. She always wanted to do more. It was funny because she once went to see a palm reader and the reader told her that horses would be a big part of her life. She brushed it off, but when we moved to Ohio she got me into riding lessons and we haven’t looked back. I’m sure my dad thought it would just be a few riding lessons, but now here we are. It’s kind of a coincidence that the palm reader said that to my mom!

Riding Pippa (Visto’s Bespoke) at WEC.

WEC: Tell us about your current horses

Sophie: I have two horses right now – a hunter and a jumper. Hazel is the horse that I showed in this week’s Derby. She is seven and I have had her for almost a little over a year. I rode jumpers more as a kid and my trainer wanted me to get back into it. 

WEC: Tell us about your career after college

Sophie: I graduated in May and worked in sales for a few months. A few months ago I began working for Ride Equisafe doing the air vests. We have stores in Tryon, Ocala and here in WEC Wilmington. We travel around to shows and primarily focus on the safety vests. I love my vest! It is our goal to promote safety in riding. You never know when you might come off and these vests are becoming just as important as wearing a helmet. All of the girls I know wear them, from the ponies to the young hunters and I show with it on in the A/O’s. 

Young Sophie competing on her tride-and-true horse, Rocky.

WEC: What horse has been the most influential on your riding career?

Sophie: Most people who know me know the answer! My horse, Rocketman, whose name was Rocky… I got him when I was nine and I just lost his back in December. He was twenty-eight years old and lived a good, long life. I had him for over ten years. He brought me from the 2’6 to the 3’6. I did the jumpers on him, but once he got a little older it was hard on him so I did hunters. He wasn’t the prettiest hunter ever but he jumped around and we had fun! In the ten years of riding him, I never came off of him and he was the most solid citizen. He had a lot of confidence. I rode a lot of ponies too, but usually the naughty ones. It was nice to have a solid guy that I could go out and have fun with. 

Watching the WEC Grand Prix with friends, Michaella Gerlacher and Jake Delgreco.

WEC: What are your goals for 2022?

Sophie: I just moved Hazel up to the 3’3 A/O’s this year. We had a super successful 3’ year last year. She was OJHA Horse of the Year and Zone Horse of the Year for the young adults, and Green Champion for OJHA. I want to continue to be successful in 2022 and stay consistent at the bigger height. She is doing the 3’6 Greens with Michaella Gerlacher, who rides as a professional for True Course. I’d love to continue doing more derbies with her and even a big derby with Michaella. I just started with Pippa this year – so I am working on getting back used to riding jumpers. I took a fall, so we moved back down for the time being to build my confidence. 

WEC: If you could try a new riding discipline, what would it be?

Sophie: I think vaulting is the most interesting event that I’ve ever seen! My friend who knows nothing about horses asked me if I did gymnastics with my horses… She thought that was what jumping was. I sent her a video of vaulting and she couldn’t believe it! In Kentucky, they have a practice dummy for vaulting, and my friend and I tried it. We couldn’t do any of the cool tricks, but it was so fun to try it out. 

Thank you, Sophie, for chatting with us! We wish you the best of luck in 2022!

Post navigation

Previous: Skylar Wireman Drives Away with WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship Victory
Next: Santiago Lambre & Comtess 202 Prove Unstoppable in the $75,000 Adequan Grand Prix

Recent Posts

  • Brooks Hull & Zechariah 3:9 Top the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic at WEC – Ocala
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Wilmington Sunday Spotlight: Joshua Graves
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Athlete Information for 2023 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship Powered by Gary Yeomans Ford
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Aaron Vale & Cristo Beech Best the Field in the $100,000 Alltech Grand Prix at WEC – Ocala
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Nicole Loochtan & It’s Me Du Bosquetiau Earn Second Consecutive Win in $30,000 Grand Prix at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Lisa Goldman-Smolen & Sovereign Prevail in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix
    |  Shows
    Read
  • World Equestrian Center – Ocala to Host FEI Jumping Competition in March 2023
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Tiffany Cambria & Malibu Ken Emerge Victorious in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Kristjan Good Earns Back-to-Back Wins in the $15,000 USHJA National Open 3’ Hunter Derby at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Kristen Vanderveen & Bull Run’s Faustino De TIli Claim the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix Victory
    |  Shows
    Read

Categories

  • Shows
  • Magazine Issues
  • Uncategorized
  • Results
  • Ocala, FL
  • Equestrian News
  • Wilmington, OH
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Equestrian
  • Featured
  • Conventions & Trade shows
  • Weddings
  • News Releases
  • Visit

Our Affiliates

TAKE2 second career thoroughbred program
OPHA
us equestrian
ushja
ohio hunter jumper association
wisconsin hunter jumper association
hunter jumper association of michigan

Join Our Mailing List

Ocala

  • Equestrian Events
  • Visit
  • Real Estate
  • Conventions & Tradeshows
  • Sporting Events
  • Canine Shows
  • Weddings
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors

Wilmington

  • Equestrian Events
  • Stay
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors
  • About

  • Events

  • Contact

  • Blog

  • Media

  • Worship

  • Careers

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place
Contact Us
Ocala Equestrian Operations: 352.414.7900
Hotel Reservations: 866.478.9267
Wilmington Equestrian Operations: 937.382.0985
X
Quality. Class. Distinction.
Privacy Policy | User Agreement | © 2023 World Equestrian Center, Wilmington OH & Ocala FL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship