Local sisters' dedication earns them spots on South Carolina equestrian team

CLYDE - The writer of “Jingle Bells” may have had a one-horse open sleigh, but Jordyn and Karly Humbert’s parents gave them something even better when they were young: a four-horse barn.

Now, the sisters are heading to the University of South Carolina to join the school’s Division 1 equestrian team.

Jordyn, 19, is a 2023 Clyde High School graduate, and Karly, 17, is a Clyde High School junior. They are the daughters of Aaron and Joline Humbert of Republic.

“I was super shy when I was young, so my parents took me to riding lessons, and Karly and my brother came along,” Jordyn said. “My first year riding, our parents built a four-horse barn for us. That’s how it all started. It was storybook from there.”

Sisters began competing in 4-H, open shows

The sisters showed early talent when they began competing through 4-H and in open shows.

“Our trainer at the time wanted to move us up,” Jordyn said.

The girls eventually began training under the tutelage of Adam Winter, an accomplished trainer in Michigan. The family’s continual travels north made it difficult to keep up with schoolwork, so the girls eventually switched to an online school that allowed them to maintain their positions as Clyde High School students.

“We spend a lot of time with Adam. We move in with him part of the year,” Jordyn said. “That’s why we do high school online.”

The girls won multiple competitions throughout the years.

Jordyn qualified for the Level 3 Horsemanship finals at the 2023 America Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) World Show in Oklahoma City and placed third in 4-and-5-year olds, non-pro trials at the 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Karly was the Level 2 Equitation Champion at the 2023 AQHYA World show and was the 2023 Hunt Seat Equitation Congress Champion.

“I worked really hard for it. I had no sleep and did a lot of riding,” Karly said.

The Humberts are dedicated to practicing all year

The week prior to a major competition is focused on intense training, but the girls are dedicated to practice all year long.

“We work with our trainer. He works with our horses and with us,” Jordyn said. “We tweak things through the year at all the shows we go to, so when we go to big shows, we do well.”

Their commitment pays off.

“Being that dedicated every day, riding every single day, makes us do well,” Karly said. “It helps that we know our horses so much.”

Karly was asked to make an official visit to the University of South Carolina and was offered a spot on the Division 1 team. When the university realized that Jordyn had not yet chosen a college, they offered her a spot on the team as well. She will begin classes in January, and Karly will attend in the fall of 2025.

Jordyn plans to major and in business and minor in sports management with the ultimate goal of becoming a horse trainer.

“I’ve worked for Adam and other trainers, and I love it,” she said.

Karly said she will likely lean toward the hospitality field and plans to expand her family’s meat stick business.

“We’ll both continue to show as long as we can,” Jordyn said.

In the meantime, they are looking forward to attending school together briefly in a couple of years.

“It will be fun,” Jordyn said.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at  sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Humbert sisters heading to U of South Carolina to join equestrian team