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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | July/August 2026
t just 15, Audrey Haywood’s show
record already tells a story of talent
and determination. But behind her
collection of ribbons, top rankings and rated
circuit championships, Audrey is a young rider
who loves the process—and the horses.
While Audrey is competitive, her success
is not what has shaped her most. It’s the way
she keeps showing up after the hard rounds,
the young-horse moments, the imperfect rides,
the days that test her resilience—while never
giving up.
“The more I’ve believed in myself with horses,
the more I’ve been able to accomplish in every
part of my life,” she said. “I made the top honor
roll at Benjamin this year with all A’s, which was
not easy. Horses are my happy place, and I’m
honestly not sure what I would do without them.”
AUDREY
HAYWOOD
THE WORK BEHIND THE WINS
By Sarah Welk Baynum • Portraits by Melissa Fuller
FALLING IN LOVE WITH HORSES
Growing up in Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, Audrey was introduced to horses
early through her father’s British roots
and visits to her grandmother in England.
Although Audrey tried other sports, including
gymnastics and ice skating, horses were
something she always loved.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when
she was 10 years old, that early fascination
with horses grew into something more when
friends introduced her to beginner lessons at
Desert Rose Ranch, which quickly became
the center of her world.
“I really loved taking care of the horses and
just spending time with them,” Audrey said. “I
would take group lessons with my friends on
weekends, or after school, and after a while, my
family decided to lease a pony with another girl.
We would go to local shows sometimes, but
honestly, I mostly just loved being at the barn.”
Audrey later moved to Jupiter Farms,
Florida, and began training with Terry-Jean
Rautenbach at Sapphire Creek, where she
continued to strengthen her riding foundation.
Along the way, horses like Huckleberry,
Audrey’s first owned pony, and then Andy,
shown as Boca’s Anarchy, her first heart horse,
helped deepen her love for the sport and build
her confidence in the saddle.
Audrey and Andy continued to grow their
partnership: He was an athletic show horse and
quite different from the beginner lesson ponies
she had ridden before, which helped Audrey
become a stronger, more confident rider.
Audrey Haywood with
London Boy, aka Climo.