Paisley Roberts Wins 2014 NRHA High School Reining Championship
June 27, 2014
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Incoming University of South Carolina freshman Paisley Roberts won the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) High School Reining Championship at the 2014 NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City.
“This is a big win for Paisley and we’re all excited for her,” South Carolina associate head coach Ruth Sorrel said. “She rode against a great group of riders today and her win today speaks volumes about the type of rider that she is. We’re looking forward to having her join us this fall and she’s going to be a great addition to our reining team.”
Roberts, riding Custom Made Pistol (owned by Marlene L. Scott), posted a score of 149.5, topping second place finisher Alex Johnson and Commander of Chics (owned by Joel R Pfisthner) by one point. There were eight riders in this year’s field representing the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHYA) and the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA).
Paisley trains with NRHA trainer Brandon Brant and IEA trainers Ollie and Debbie Griffith.
Paisley will join the Gamecocks this fall with an impressive youth career resume. Last year, she was the Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Youth 14-18 Champion, and she also won the Derby Non Pro Level 1 Championship on Wimpy’s Little Step. Roberts also was the 2013 Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Youth Weekend Champion. In 2012, she earned a top-15 finish at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in NRHA 14-18 Youth Reining, while also finishing in the top-10 at the NRHA Derby in the 14-18 Youth category. Roberts was the Reserve Ohio State Reining Champion, and she also was the Ohio Valley Reining Horse Association Rookie Youth Champion and the Youth Weekend Champion.
Roberts has enjoyed a successful career in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, the league that hosts middle and high school competitions. In 2013, she was an Open Varsity Reining Regional qualifier, and before that, she was a Zone 5 qualifier for five straight years and advanced to the IEA National Finals in four of those years. In 2010, she won a pair of championships as the IEA Zone 5 Finals in individual horsemanship and team reining. At the 2010 IEA Nationals, she finished third in the individual horsemanship and was on the reining team that finished fifth.
The Jonathan Alder High School graduate is a member of the National Honors Society has maintained a 3.5 GPA throughout her entire career. She has made the honor roll each year and is a two-time Student of the Month award winner. During her junior year, Roberts was nominated for the All-American Scholars Program.
Roberts plans to be a nursing major while at South Carolina. She chose the Gamecocks over Baylor and Auburn.
