There’s no quit in Kendall Myers.

Kendall, 16, of Saxonburg, has competed and sometimes placed in state 4-H horse competitions in Harrisburg in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

But this year, Kendall and her trusty quarter horse, Roxy, took the top prize at state 4-H competition, which was held in Harrisburg from Oct. 26 to Oct. 29.

“I achieved that, and now I can cross it off my list,” she said.

The Knoch High School student won a sash, small silver plate and a jacket for placing first in the “low equitation over fences, ages 14 to 18“ class in the hunter-jumper category.

Kendall explained low equitation means prizes are based on the rider’s ability while on their horse as opposed to most classes, which are based on the horse’s performance.

She rode Roxy, whose official name is Invest N Me, through a course in the show ring while fluidly guiding her mount over eight jumps that were 2 feet, 6 inches high.

Kendall, who is the daughter of Nate and Shannon Myers, said she felt as if she was completing the course almost perfectly, and thought she might take the blue ribbon.

“And I always pray before my classes,” she said.

She knows her success at state competitions would not have been possible without the unfailing support of her parents.

“I don’t know what I’d do without them,” she said. “I’m incredibly thankful.”

Before Kendall got the chance to demonstrate her equine skills in Harrisburg, she first had to win in the class at the “roundup” level, held at the Big Butler Fairgrounds, as well as district competition, which was held in Crawford County.

Now that she has taken home a state win, Kendall said she will not likely return to state 4-H competition, as she has competed there four times.

“I want to let someone else have the experience,” she said.

Kendall said her obsession with all things equine began at age 5.

“I have just always loved horses, and I begged and begged my parents to let me go riding,” she said.

Her folks set up riding lessons at a farm in Jefferson Township, where she rode as a barrel racer on one of the stable’s mounts until age 7.

Young Kendall decided to switch to jumping and moved to Henderson Equestrian Complex, also in Jefferson Township.

There, she met Cortney Shipley, who was hired by her parents to train their daughter in the hunter-jumper category.

“She has been my trainer since I’ve been 7 or 8,” Kendall said.

She then moved to Shipley’s facility, Legacy Pines Equestrian Center in Oakland Township, where she boards Roxy and her other quarter horse, Reese.

Kendall makes the drive from Saxonburg to Legacy Pines nearly every day.

She spends about two hours at the center on weeknights and four to five hours on weekend days.

“I try to give myself one day off, but sometimes I have to come up on that day,” Kendall said. “You can’t take a horse you ride once a week and expect it to win.”

Horses are the only activity outside school Kendall participates in.

“I (am bad) at everything else,” she said. “I took gymnastics for, like, a month.”

Kendall started horse 4-H at age 10, when she joined the West Sunbury Wranglers.

Because she didn’t know anyone in the club, she gathered her horse friends to talk about maybe starting a new club out of Legacy Pines.

At that time, Shipley expressed an interest in restarting her defunct 4-H horse club, and the two events converged to become Lucky 7 Horse Club.

The club started when Kendall was 13, and now boasts 10 to 15 members, all from Legacy Pines Equestrian Center.

She said 4-H has various advantages in addition to making friends with similar interests.

Kendall will likely apply for a 4-H scholarship when the time comes to go to college, and membership in a club also looks good on a college application, she said.

Anyone can join an animal-related 4-H club, which is another benefit of the program, Kendall said.

“For kids who cannot have their own animals, they can still be involved,” she said.

Amy Metrick, a 4-H educator with Butler County Penn State Extension, said 10 youths went to the state 4-H horse competition in Harrisburg.

She is delighted, yet unsurprised, that Kendall and Roxy brought home the gold.

“She’s a good kiddo, and we’re proud of her,” Metrick said.

She was also glad the Lucky 7 Equine Club restarted about three years ago.

“The more kids we can have in 4-H, the better,” Metrick said. “We always say we are growing great kids in Butler County.”

Kendall has no plans to give up her passion for riding as she gets older and takes on more adult responsibilities.

“I think it’s because I’ve just dedicated so much of my life to (horses) and I’m constantly trying to reach a new goal,” she said of riding.

Kendall plans to compete in horse shows locally during her college years.

“I don’t want to go (to a college) too far from home,” she said.

She plans to get her business degree so she can pursue some sort of sales job, which she hopes will be lucrative.

“I would like to have enough money one day to have my own little barn and horses,” Kendall said.