Oct 30, 2018 4 min read

Maggie Burnett is like most 13-year-olds. She argues with her sister about doing chores and loves gym class. She is unique, however, in her passion and natural ability for horseback riding.

“Ever since my first lesson, everyone knew I would be a good rider,” Maggie said. “I was never scared of them.'”

Burnett started taking lessons in 2014, when she turned 7. From the beginning, she’s trained with Amanda Pierce at Seldom Seen Farm in Ruff Creek. She started participating in saddlebred competitions in 2015 and is the first in her family to do so. Maggie began riding a horse owned by Seldom Seen Farm, also named Maggie, but now rides her own.

“Maggie has been very blessed with a natural riding ability. Everything just comes easy to her,” Pierce said. “Her horse and her are every trainer’s dream. She is one of those riders who I don’t have to drill technique into. She just has it.”

In April, the Burnett family purchased an 11-year old horse from a farm in North Carolina named King’s Carma. Maggie started competing with her new, thousand-pound companion later that month. Since beginning to ride together, the pair has been undefeated in competition.

Maggie’s first show with King’s Carma was in Columbus, Ohio. From there, she won shows in Springfield, Ohio; Brown County, Ohio and Syracuse, New York. In both Ohio shows, Maggie competed in the 17-and-under age division. In New York, she competed with all ages, including adults.

In July, Maggie won the first leg of the saddlebred triple crown in Lexington, Ky., for the 13-and-under age division. In August, she won the second leg of the triple crown in Louisville, Ky. Louisville was also the World’s Champion of Champions title for her age division. There, she competed with riders from all over the country.

“The first year, I showed I had no idea what I was doing,” Maggie said. “But when I found out achieving (Champion of Champions) was really hard to do, I knew I really wanted to do it.”

On Nov. 2, Maggie and King’s Carma will head to Kansas City, Mo., the third leg of the triple crown, to compete in Nationals for her age division.

“She’s one of those kids that when she hits the show ring, she owns it. She goes in there with confidence and just takes over,” Pierce said. “A lot of kids don’t have that aggressive drive at that age, but she does.”

Two to three days a week, Maggie spends an hour after school practicing with King’s Carma at Seldom Seen Farm.

“Maggie is also very observant,” Pierce said. “She listens when I coach the other kids and applies different things she hears me saying to her own riding.”

Maggie and King’s Carma, nicknamed Shorty, have a solid bond. She said he responds to his nickname and she knows his favorite treat: a brown sugar Pop-tart.

“I really trust him,” Maggie said. “He’s ornery some days but is really friendly and loving. He’s never done anything bad.”

Maggie prides herself on knowing all the horses at the barn. She said she can walk the row of stables and call each of the horses by nickname. She knows their snack preferences and personalities.

“All summer she was there with me every day and helped me with the younger kids,” Pierce said. “She’s a good role model and just jumps right in and does whatever needs done.”

Maggie said her goal is to continue winning championships and eventually work as a horse trainer for the rest of her life.

“I have other interests, but none of them are my passion like horseback riding,” Maggie said. “I was made to do this.”

Seldom Seen Farms is located at 225 Hemlock Road in Ruff Creek. For more information, call 724-998-7335.