Carleigh Cooper

Carleigh Cooper – Texas
Nomination & Photography by Jennifer Yates Photography
Issue 83 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Carleigh Cooper exemplifies dedication, excellence, and inspiration. Balancing a rigorous academic schedule, she thrives in the demanding field of eventing. Her resilience is particularly evident when she continued to excel despite her horse, Ellie, experiencing vision loss. Carleigh's courage and determination have earned her recognition in Eventing USA Magazine and a top-40 national ranking at the American Eventing Championships. Her perseverance and passion demonstrate that any challenge can be overcome. Beyond her personal achievements, Carleigh shows remarkable leadership by teaching young riders, helping them build confidence and skill while maintaining stellar grades. Her character and work ethic are truly exemplary.
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Photography by Jennifer Yates Photography

Tell us about your career in eventing.
The very first time I took a horse back riding lesson, I absolutely fell in love with the sport. I just knew it was meant for me. I started learning to ride when I was almost ten years old, and started competing a little over a year later. I have been eventing competitively for almost eight years now. It takes up a lot of my time, but it’s extremely worth it. I like to stay busy, and being busy with horses makes it ten times better. Looking back at where I was in the sport of eventing eight years ago versus where I am now is absolutely astonishing. I have learned so much from the sport of eventing throughout the years. It has taught me patience and perseverance. I have gone up the levels of eventing while building relationships with different horses along the way.

What do you love most about the sport?
What I love most about eventing is the community. The people of the eventing community are always so welcoming. Everyone is appreciated by their peers, and competitors are supportive of everyone around them.

What is the hardest thing about training?
I would say the hardest thing about training would be the setbacks. This sport takes so much patience and time to build a relationship with your horse in order to achieve goals, and when one little whoopsie happens, it can take a long time to get back into the right mindset to keep going.

What do you think other people don't realize about eventing?
I do not think other people realize how difficult eventing is. People don’t even realize how difficult horseback riding is in general, but eventing itself is one of the most dangerous sports in the USA. The blood, sweat, and tears put into this sport is almost unimaginable. I do wish more people truly understood what eventing was and the type of mindset a person needs to have in order to succeed.

Tell us all about your horse.
My horse, Elianna Mae (Ellie), is a 15’2 hand thoroughbred mare. She just turned eighteen this past April and is the best horse in the world. Although Ellie started her career as a race horse, her previous owner had been eventing with her. Ellie has helped me move up the eventing levels with confidence and has impacted my life in the most special way. Everyone who knows Ellie truly loves her!

How have you and your horse handled the vision loss?
When Elianna lost her eyesight in her left eye, we both lost a lot of confidence in not only ourselves, but in each other too. It took many long, hard months to be riding as a pair again, but we never gave up on each other. Now yes, there were times I thought about giving up. I was losing all of my confidence and just wanted to quit, but I remember telling myself that I was not going to give up, because I knew Ellie didn’t deserve that. While it took numerous months to become champions at the sport again, I am so proud of Ellie and me for gaining back our trusting relationship.

What was the American Eventing Championships like?
The American Eventing Championships were an absolute dream. The venue, the people, the arenas, I mean just everything was perfect. I had been dreaming of competing at the American Eventing Championships for years, and when I finally qualified, I couldn’t even believe it. It was definitely the most exciting show and atmosphere in which I have ever competed.

What is a moment you will never forget from that event?
I will never forget galloping between the finish flags after cross country. That cross country course is, and probably will always be, my most favorite cross country course completion of all time.

What do you love most about teaching young riders about eventing?
What I love most about teaching future eventers is the idea that I am starting a child's future. I get to help create their love for the sport of eventing. I have the ability to teach someone my favorite sport and all that it entails. I am the person who is creating future eventers, right in front of my own eyes.

What is your strongest leadership skill? I would say relationship building is my strongest leadership skill. I believe building strong relationships with others is one of the most important things you can accomplish in life.

What is next for you in the sport of eventing?
My goal is to finish my senior year of high school doing eventing with Ellie, and then see where life will take me from there. I know eventing will always be an important part of my life.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
While my nomination portrays who I truly am as a person, I feel an inspiring characteristic about me is my time management skills. While balancing horseback riding, academics, a job, and spending time with family and friends, I have found numerous ways to equally maintain a healthy relationship with everything in my life. While it can be stressful at times to have so much on my plate, I always choose to keep looking on the bright side of everything.

Tell us about your family. Where do you fit in and where do you stand out?
My mom is an elementary school teacher, and such a joy to be around. I would love to grow up and be a teacher just like her. My dad works for Verizon and is always on top of his busy schedule. His time management skills are immaculate, and I hope to one day be just as immaculate with my time management skills as he is. My younger brother, Cole, is very silly and loves to joke around. He can always make me laugh when I need it. I feel like we all understand each other and always want what is best for one another. We are a close family and lucky to have each other.

What is a family tradition you hope never ends?
My most favorite family tradition is putting streamers on our bedroom door for our birthdays. When I wake up every year on my birthday, my favorite thing is getting to walk through the streamers hung on my door. Thanks, Mom!

What is your friend group like and what do you like to do together?
My friends are the most amazing people. They are so fun to be around, and I love getting to hangout with each and every one of them. We love swimming, eating ice cream, and movie watching. Even if we are all just laying on a couch together, I love every minute of it.

What else would you like to talk about?
This past year, I toured many colleges with my family looking for a place I felt at home. I have narrowed it down to a few different colleges, all of which are in different states! I am looking forward to attending college next year and starting my next adventure.

What do you plan on going to college for?
As of right now I plan on going into education. My dream is to teach first grade at an elementary school in Texas.

What are you going to miss most about high school?
I am definitely going to miss all of my friends and family. I know I will not get to see them as often as I do now, so I am trying to spend as much time with them as I can.

What are you most excited about doing at college?
I am super excited to get to experience college life. I am looking forward to living on my own, possibly being in a sorority, and living in a dorm. I am honestly stoked about all of it!

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
The passion I feel for the outdoors is like no other. Waking up in the morning to walk outside and feel the breeze and the warmth of the sun is almost indescribable. The pleasant feeling of rain on a lazy day makes me feel refreshed. When it's hazy outside, it always makes the day go by slowly. Looking up at the beautiful moon at night with all of the stars surrounding me is one of my favorite things of all.

How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
I found my wonderful photographer, Jennifer Yates, through Instagram. I had been looking for a senior portrait photographer for quite some time, and I came upon some of Mrs. Jennifer's photos and immediately fell in love with them. My experience of the shoot was amazing. She helped me coordinate my outfits and poses which helped every single one of my photos turn out incredible. What I loved most about my photography session was how sweet Mrs. Jennifer was. Even though it was super hot outside, she kept a great attitude throughout the entire shoot!


If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
Everyone who knows me knows the answer to this question. My bed. If you don’t know where I am, just come check my bed! It’s my favorite warm and cozy place to take a nap, do my homework or even just lay under my covers to relax.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
I am super excited to graduate after my senior year and spend my last summer as a highschooler. Summer has always been my favorite season, and I am thrilled to spend it with my family, my friends, and my boyfriend.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I have ever accomplished was my very first day of sixth grade. I don’t think I have ever been more nervous than I was that day. I was so scared everyone was going to think I was weird, or an odd person, but I made so many friends that day. I don’t know how I accomplished that day all by myself, but I did and I will forever be proud of the younger me for doing it all on her own.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
I would tell that person to never give up. No matter how hard life gets, I promise there will always be a bright side.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In five years I would like to be on my way to graduating college, finding an elementary school to teach 1st grade, and possibly looking for an apartment to live in after college.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
I am obsessed with playing Sudoku. I play the game on my phone or computer whenever I get the chance. I even make my boyfriend play the game with me, too!

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
I can pop both of my hips at any time. This hidden talent is not necessarily a good thing, but I love telling people about it.

3 Things on your bucket list
First thing on my bucket list is to travel to Mexico with my boyfriend. We have been talking about wanting to go to Mexico for quite some time now, and we are both determined to check it off our bucket lists. Another thing on my bucket list is to travel to all 50 states. I have been to about 16 states but would love to see them all! I would also love to go watch the Olympics. It just seems so much better to watch it in person rather than at home on the couch.

Who do you find inspiring?
I find my mother a very inspiring woman. She works so hard for everyone around her and always has the biggest smile on her face.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I think my gratitude is very inspiring to others. I am always grateful for everything I have ever been given, and never take anything for granted.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I really appreciate everything Inspiring Teen Magazine has been doing for teens all over America!


Look for Carleigh in issue 83 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
*Interviews are not edited after received from our inspiring teens - what you read is who they genuinely are!

click here for more information on issue 83

click here to nominate an inspiring teen