Wilmington, Ohio – This week’s Wilmington Sunday Spotlight shines on Katie Finley of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The young rider training out of Houdini Farms has spent a majority of her junior career building her resume at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington with her horses Co-Pilot and Quality Street. Recently, Katie has dedicated her riding to her late barn-mate, Taylor Orlowski, and honors her with purple braids on derby Friday. We caught up with Finley to learn more about her riding journey, her horses and her special friendship.
WEC: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am from Pittsburgh, and I ride with Spencer Turnblacer at Houdini Farms. I am pretty sure my first time riding was at a birthday party. I begged my parents for a horse for years after that and they said no. They finally started to get on board with me and here we are!
I am a senior in high school, and I am not planning on riding in college. I am going to take my horse Oso [Co-Pilot] with me to ride separately. I am taking a gap year because it would interfere with my last junior year.
WEC: Tell us about your horses, Co-Pilot and Quality Street.
Co-Pilot, also know as Oso, is my main boy. He has been my main equitation horse. He is my favorite horse ever. I love how big he is, and his personality is perfect. He will stay with us and retire in our backyard. We were horse searching and Spencer found Oso for us. I tried so many horses and couldn’t find one. I missed my first day of sophomore year just to drive to Kentucky to try him!
Quality Street, also known as Cleo, is newer to me. She has been my first junior hunter and I love her to death. We bought her to sell her so we will have her for my last junior year. We bought her as a project.
Both of them have been so fun to do in the derbies! Oso is my equitation horse but he can kill it in the derbies. Cleo has really gotten great at the derbies too.
WEC: You had a very successful 2023 season with your horses. Tell us about it!
I did all of the finals in 2023 with both Oso and Cleo! I started at Junior Hunter Finals with Cleo. I didn’t go in with expectations and she just killed it. She changed her whole mindset and went into the ring so confidently. I was so proud of her.
I did USEF Dover Medal Finals, Maclay Finals and EMO Finals with Oso. They were all so fun. Cleo did all of it. I did the junior hunters at Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Capital Challenge, and the National Horse Show. Oso also was Reserve Champion at the Zone 2 Equitation Championship.
They really have both given me all of my mileage. I did my first 3’6 classes on Oso and Cleo has been my first true hunter, so it was so special to do all of my first finals with both of them. They go so well together. They both love their job and try so hard.
WEC: How has WEC been influential for you during your junior career?
This is where I was able to actually learn on both of my horses. This is my favorite show, especially in the winter. The decorations are so great for the horses. They get the exposure here and are so well prepared to go and do all of the finals. They have had the Maclay Final jump in the equitation here, so it is great to practice that. I think it really set me up for a successful year.
WEC: What is your favorite part about riding?
I love riding other horses. I have recently ridden some different ponies and just flatted other horses. Their personalities are all so different and it is fun to interact with different horses.
As always, I want to honor Taylor! WEC was one of her favorite shows and she always was so excited when she would get reposted on social media. We dedicate Fridays to Taylor now and use purple yarn in our braids for the derby.
Thank you, Katie, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you continued success with your mounts and we ride for Taylor.
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.