LECANTO, Fla. (BVM) —  Freshly graduated from Lecanto High School, 18-year old Lauren Stokes wasted no time making headlines outside of its walls. In one of the more obscure sports nationwide, horse riding, Stokes has dominated statewide. 

With her horse, IB Majestic, Stokes showed that her background in horse riding, inspired by her mother, has not gone to waste. At the Florida State 4-H Horse Show, Stokes totaled 39 points, with a bevvy of first and second place finishes making up that final score.

In a list showcasing many high placements, Stokes and IB Majestic finished like this:

• First place in Stock Type Geldings;
• First place in Senior Western Pleasure;
• First place in Senior Western Trail;
• Second place in Senior Western Horsemanship; and,
• Second place in Senior Western Showmanship

Stokes, along with nine other Citrus County riders, was awarded Reserve High Point for Large County. Due to her individual effort, she will also be invited to the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships in Perry, Ga. 

In the mean time, Stokes and IB Majestic will shift back into their normal training routine, which includes countless hours of time navigating practice obstacles like bridges, gates, boxes and poles. With IB Majestic being 7-years old, the age of a horse’s peak performance, winning the Southern Regional seems within reach.