Summer Star
Youth Spotlight
Summer Kyniska Star is 10 years old and lives in Tucson, AZ. She attends Sunrise Drive Elementary and
will be entering the 5th grade this fall. She is also a
type 1 diabetic and an honors student as well as being a budding horsewoman. Summer tells us: “I have
been riding all my life. I love to play with my dog and
ride my horse. I started riding western stock seat, and
about 2 years ago I started riding English hunt seat.
The best part about riding my horse is that I always
have something new to do and I never have to repeat
the same thing over again.”
1. How long have you been riding?
I have been riding ever since I can remember
2. Name of horse/horses you ride:
My first horse was a miniature horse named Happy. I
went on trail rides with my family when I had Happy.
My second horse was a paso fino mare named Peaches. She was very energetic and exciting to ride. Then
I started riding Xila Star, a purebred Andalusian mare.
She was the first horse I took to the IALHA National
Show, and I won the walk trot equitation class in 2009,
when I was just 6 years old. Today I ride Reina Amberina and on a few occasions I ride my mom’s favorite
horse Belle Star. I have shown Reina 2 years at the
Nationals. Reina is a very special horse to me, she is a
friend.
3. What is your favorite discipline?
Working Equitation
4. Was this year your first time attending the IALHA
National Show? If not, how many times have you attended?
No, it was not my first. I have been attending the national show for 3 years now.
5. What was your favorite moment of this year’s National Show?
My favorite moment of this national show was when
I entered the dressage ring for working equitation and
everyone looked so surprised that a girl was competing.
6. Who is your favorite horse? Why?
My favorite horse is Reina. I love her because she
wants to work and move forward, she is not at all lazy.
She is a beautiful buckskin with lots of dapples and she
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