Story by: Mitzi Oxford 
Eighteen is a big milestone in life. The age you become an adult. To many people, becoming an adult seems scary or even stressful. But to a few others out there, turning 18 is their ticket to freedom. These new adults can own property outright, vote in an election, serve on a jury, get married and run for office.

Then there is Harper Grider. Her focus is slightly different, guided by her love of Tennessee Walking Horses. She comes by that naturally as the fourth generation in the business, following in the footsteps of her great grandfather O.E. Grider, grandfather Ronnie, her dad Brent, who started training horses in 2002, uncles Tommy and Donnie, and cousin Julie Grider.

“She started riding when she was six- years-old. She’s had a lot of teachers in our family. I’m so proud of how hard she’s worked and how much she has accomplished,” said her dad, Brent, owner of Grider Stables in Columbia, Kentucky.

Even before Harper’s milestone 18th birthday, many who have known her in the walking horse industry describe her as an old soul trapped in a young body. They mean it as an ultimate compliment to some one with wisdom, maturity and insight beyond her years.

“One of my early favorite memories was showing The White Mask trained by Tommy Loid. It was 2014 and my first world championship ride in the Youth 6-11 Riders on Walking Mares,” said Harper.

“I had ridden pleasure horses before, but it was my first show on a performance horse. I remember going to The Celebration when I was very little, but after winning, I really understood what it meant.”

Harper developed a passion for showing, riding, being at the barn and around horses in general.

HARPER BUILDS A LEGACY

“Generations of my family’s hard work showed me how much it takes to succeed. It inspires me. It also taught me
a valuable lesson to never give up. If you want something badly enough you will succeed.”

That she has done over and over again. Aside from a world championship ride on The White Mask, another standout memory followed in 2015, when she won another world championship title on Silverado Spirit.

“That was special to me because Silverado Spirit was owned by my family and trained by my dad, Brent.”

In the following years, Harper won 11 more world championships in pleasure and performance classes including with Out There And Lovin It, Mr. Deeds, Be Cool, Talkin Dirty To Me, Checkpoint Charlie, Scarlet O’Hara, Betrayal, Mystic Jazz and Ruby Lipstick. Trainers included her dad, Hannah Myatt and Laurie Toone.

She followed up with six world grand champion titles on Talkin Dirty To Me, Scarlett O’Hara and the inaugural Youth All Day Pleasure World Grand Championship title aboard Betrayal. Three other world grand championship wins came on board Checkpoint Charlie in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Checkpoint Charlie’s trainer is Laurie Toone at Circle T Stables in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He is owned by Tamara and Sean Hader.

“When the Haders decided they would not be showing him, I knew he had many more great years of wins and I suggested finding a good youth rider,” said Toone. “I asked Harper if she would come ride Checkpoint Charlie. It was a great fit.”

In 2022, the title was special, but different, when she was named Miss Kentucky Celebration. “I’ve never been a ‘dressing up’ kind of girl but my mom, Courtney, wanted me to do it. I looked at it as being an ambassador for the breed.” 2023 was another banner year for Harper when she finished in the top three in the TWHBEA Youth Judging Competition. That resulted in getting to work alongside the judges for The Celebration for a night. She also earned the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association Youth of the Year honor. That award meant a lot to her because “it was an acknowledgment of my work and perseverance.”

Harper was the scholarship recipient for 2024 at the Kentucky Walking Horse Association Banquet held in January. She also received the 17 & Under High Point Award with Dominick and the 17 & Under Pony High Point Award with Pixie’s Dixie.

Now her accomplishments are captured in this Year in Walking Horses dedication. There is no doubt that this is an honor in the story of her young life but at her age and with her tenacity, many more chapters will be written.

“No one is more deserving than Harper of this dedication. I will forever look at her as a little girl, but she has grown into an amazing young woman. When she puts her head to something, there is nothing she can’t accomplish,” said Toone.

“She is a good kid, a special kid and has worked hard for the tremendous honor of the YIWH dedication,” said Brent.

A PROMISING FUTURE

For now, Harper is heading back to school at Morehead State University where her goal is studying in the Pre-Vet program. Morehead State’s veterinary technology bachelor’s degree program has been named the top program in the state of Kentucky and #8 in the nation by BestColleges.com.

She is ready for the challenge. Besides growing up in the horse business, Harper has a love for all animals. She has raised rabbits and Nigerian Dwarf goats. She also works part-time at Coffey’s Veterinary Clinic in Columbia.

“My sights are set on eventually being accepted and attending the Veterinarian School at Auburn University. I want to specialize in horses.”

It’s no surprise that her world revolves around the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Harper’s 18-year-old milestone brings about another change. She exits the youth ranks and graduates to the Amateur division in the upcoming show season. She will be on board Dominick and, no doubt, other winners as the 2025 show season unfolds.

As she mentioned, her family has inspired her to work hard for her goals and never give up. Look out world, Harper Grider is coming!