Back in the Saddle Again!

After a 25-year break from the competitive horse show circuit, OCS High School Science Teacher Laura Paxson is back in the saddle—literally. Rediscovering her childhood passion, Paxson has made an impressive return to the world of horseback riding, earning multiple world titles alongside her daughter. This past summer, the mother-daughter duo hit the road, bringing home several awards from major competitions across the country.  

Paxson discovered her passion for horseback riding at the age of 13, and even earlier according to her parents who claim her very first word was “horse.”

By the time she was 15, she was competing in local riding competitions and after high school, she quickly became one of the top amateurs showing Quarter Horse events on the Pacific Coast.

However, she took a 25-year break from competing while raising her children, (to be a “horse-show mom”) and only resumed about five years ago when her youngest child left for college. Both of Paxson’s daughters also share her love for horses. Her daughter Rebecca works as a professional horse trainer, and they frequently attend shows together with her older daughter Elizabeth.

This past summer, she left California with Elizabeth and two of her show horses and a living quarters horse trailer. They hit the road for nearly nine weeks making stops at Pinto World in Tulsa, OK, and Palomino World in Springfield, IL.

Pinto World is one of Paxson’s favorite shows, and this summer was especially memorable with Elizabeth by her side as the two teams came home with 12 world champion titles and 13 reserve World Champion titles.

At Pinto World, she and Elizabeth earned three world titles and five reserves. At Palomino World, they won a total of nine world championships and eight reserve world championships.

“Showing with my daughter is so much fun. We work together as an efficient team to get the horses ready. It is great to share the experience with someone else that loves the competition”

In the horse show world, there are multiple specific competition events, from showing a horse on a lead for conformation, to working cattle, to show jumping – and much more in between.

One of the most challenging aspects of competition for Paxson is the "trail" event, which requires both skill and a bit of geometry. In this event, the horse must step precisely, and the rider must count steps to negotiate each obstacle correctly. If the horse's foot hits a pole incorrectly, it can throw off the entire routine.

“This is an event that I had to re-learn when I started competing again. My horses are good, but if I do not set them up properly, they will hit every pole and that’s on me. Three of the World Championships I won this summer were in trail, and that is what we practice the most at home. We change up the obstacles about once a week to keep the horse sharp.”

Living in Simi Valley, Paxson has an arena in her backyard where she practices with her three horses daily, often riding for several hours.

“Consistent practice and dedication are the keys to success in competitive riding. Even if someone buys a great horse, a rider still needs to learn that horse and learn to work together as a team. For example, it took two years of working with Daizy before we started consistently winning together,” she said.

For Paxson, the goal of attending horse shows isn’t just to win. She enjoys competition, the camaraderie, and the atmosphere, often forming friendships with like-minded individuals. One friend she met at a show this past summer has already visited her in California. Her mindset is that she competes with herself primarily and strives to improve with each show.

“I don’t feel nervous, and my focus isn’t on the victory,” she said. “I am simply happy when my horse and I perform well.”