Lydia Harrison, a senior at Lancaster Mennonite School in Pennsylvania, has spent over half her life in the saddle. Now she’s taking on her biggest competition so far: a U.S. Equestrian Federation event featuring Olympic-level talent Feb. 9-22 in Ocala, Fla.

Harrison began riding at 6 years old and fell in love with the sport. Competitive riding was new territory for her family. They’ve embraced the adventure together, building a horse barn on their farm property in York.

Each day, Harrison attends classes at Lancaster Mennonite before heading to B.W. Training Stables to train with her horse Archer, while her regular horse, Ella, rehabilitates in Virginia due to a muscular disorder.

She’s set her sights on increasing her jumping height — currently 0.9 meters (3 feet) — with the goal of clearing 1 meter (3.3 feet) for the Florida competition.

Her discipline of choice is show jumping. The goal: complete the course cleanly and with the fastest time, without knocking rails.

On occasion, she competes alongside former LM student Caden Nolt, which she says adds an element of fun.

To stay strong and injury-free, she dedicates hours each week to stretching, conditioning and cross-training.

“Jumping higher takes so much energy,” she said. “I have to take care of my body just as much as Archer’s.”

Strength, balance, agility, endurance, injury prevention and teamwork with a horse are all central to the sport.

Although Lancaster Mennonite does not offer equestrian as a sport, Harrison receives varsity recognition thanks to the U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program. Riders must complete at least 100 hours of training or compete in at least three sanctioned events each year.

“The horses and the equestrian environment have played a huge part in my Christian faith,” Harrison said. “Horses are very much spiritual animals and, in my eyes, are a symbol of God’s love.

“Ella was sold to my family by a wonderful woman named Stacy, who taught me how to connect my faith with horses. I felt the presence of God as I was with Ella, either handling her or riding. Before every ride, I’d pray with her. She carried me with a gentleness that felt divinely placed, as if God were speaking through her.”