Nearly five years ago, she didn’t know how to hold the reins or post. Grace Tuton, then 10 years old, only knew that she wanted to ride.

Her mother, Michelle Tuton, approached Sherry Templin, at Sherry Templin Stables in Scottsdale, Ariz., to inquire about lessons. 

“I don’t have school horses,” said Templin. “But I just happened to have one of the best ponies I’ve ever had available to lease: Nicodemus.” 

Grace, of Paradise Valley, Ariz., took lessons regularly the Welsh cross medium pony, and within a month she attended her first show. She was hooked, and USEF Pony Finals became her goal—a goal she achieved just one year later.

Since then she’s gone from strength to strength on one pony and horse after another. Last year at this time, she was celebrating having won the overall champion and reserve at the West Coast Pony Hunter Finals with Shine On and Woodland’s Huck Finn.

This year, she’s transitioned successfully to the over-14.2 equines and the children’s and junior hunter divisions. She rode her Sorbet to the top of the children’s hunter, 14-17 division at HITS Desert Circuit (Calif.) last winter and showed Lautento in the West Coast Junior Hunter Finals in July. She’s also debuted in the 3’6″ equitation on Lautento. 

Grace Tuton on Sorbet at the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit, where they were the children’s hunter, 14-17 circuit champions. Photo by Flying Horse Photography

Funnily enough, her 2013 West Coast Pony Hunter Finals champion, Shine On, a Welsh-Thoroughbred cross, was “accidentally” purchased at the 2012 USEF Pony Finals. 

“With the excitement of the sale, the hands went up, and we went home with a pony that we didn’t really know anything about,” said Templin with a laugh. 

Shine On turned out to be a project. “He was definitely pretty hard, and Sherry and I put in a lot of work all year to train him,” said Grace. “He became a lot more rideable, and we still have some challenges, but it’s night and day. I got along with him really well, so it’s worked out. He seemed afraid, and so getting him forward and more confident and helping his brain slow down is what we’ve been working on.”

Grace enjoys not just the show ring success, but also the journey to those ribbons. “It’s nice to practice on them at home and once we get to the show see how far they have come,” Grace said. “When I started riding I was stronger in my left leg and Sherry and I have worked on this so now I am much more even. There are always problems to conquer but when Sherry notices something we focus on it and work hard to fix it.

“I’ve only been riding for four years, and all my competitors have been riding so much longer,” Grace added. “So I felt I had to get to everyone else’s level. I worked extremely hard and I feel I am now very competitive. 

She has no intention of slowing down either. “I hope to be doing Young Riders, big medal finals, grand prix, hunter derby, everything!” she said.

“I have trained many children over the past 40 years, but have never had one this interested and dedicated, who lives and breathes horses,” said Templin.

Some riders deal with the nerves associated with a big show or a move up to a new division by keeping a lucky charm or wearing a particular piece of clothing. For Grace, it’s all about the hair.  “I have to have my hair up perfectly, and then I am good!” she said.

Bumps In The Road

Grace shares a love of riding with her mother, who also takes weekly lessons. Grace and Michelle also share a bone condition, which Michelle worried might cause Grace to more easily break a bone if she fell. But Grace hasn’t let the issue slow her down, and she’s never broken a bone so far.

When Grace started taking lessons, her father firmly informed her they were never going to own a horse—yet now the Tutons now own nine horses. 

“Grace won’t sell the horses—she just keeps accumulating,” said Templin. 

“I don’t have a favorite, but I have had Nicodemus the longest,” said Grace, who has no intentions of selling the pony that started her riding career. In fact, she’s named her farm after Nicodemus. 

“But Golden Heart and Shine On really helped my riding a lot,” she added, then paused for a moment. “However, Crystalized was the fastest jumper ever, and she never hit rails.”

Crystalized and Grace Tuton showing in the children’s jumpers. Photo by Flying Horse Photography

The horses’ well-being are Grace’s utmost concern. When Crystalized fell ill during the HITS Desert Circuit this winter, Grace quit showing during Week 3 and drove home to be with the gray mare. She slept in front of Crystalized’s stall off and on for two weeks until the mare finally lost her battle. “Grace has such an extreme dedication to her horses; it’s incredible,” Templin said.

“We lived in the barn for a couple weeks,” said Grace. “We checked on her all night, checking her temperature every hour and giving her her medicine. She was very worried and did not know what was happening so she needed people watching her. She was looking very promising, but at the end it just wasn’t something she could come back from,” Tuton paused for a moment to compose herself. “Sometimes things just happen.”

She admitted that the loss of her horse is hard to come back from. “It’s very heartbreaking for me. It is hard to ride and focus,” she said. ”I did show a month later, and Sorbet and I were reserve champion at Showpark Ranch and Coast. But the next few shows were tough.”

Grace, who attends an online school, has a support group of friends and family at the horse show. 

“I ride or show during the day, and at night I go back to the hotel or home and do my work,” said Grace. “Mondays I just do homework all day. It is definitely worth it to be able to ride. I know I am lucky that I can ride every day and be at the barn all day every day.”

She’s also an ambassador for Just World International, an organization focused on assisting children in impoverished countries. 

“It’s such a cool thing that you can help people while doing something that’s super fun,” said Grace. “This year I will be more involved—I joined at the end of the year last year so there weren’t many events to help with.” 

Grace doesn’t have time for much besides horses and homework, but she did confess: “Sherry and I do like to find new restaurants. I love all Asian food! And I love Indie Rock genre. It’s kind of strange music, but I like it.”  

Do you know of an inspiring competitor who is One To Watch For 2015? If so, email us and let us know about them!