Wakefield junior Kinsley Dishong claimed the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Bronze Medal at the March Magic Dressage Show held at the Carolina Horse Park. Riders earn this award by achieving six qualifying scores across three progressively higher levels of dressage — an equestrian sport wherein a horse and rider perform precise movements while judges evaluate their harmony and athleticism. Achieving this award requires years of hard work, with the fact that some older professional horse trainers have not attained this award making Kinsley’s achievement especially significant.

Kinsley’s interest in horse riding continued a generational lineage of horse riders, originating with her great-great-grandfather. She began riding at age two when her sister received a horse, sparking a lifelong passion. By age 12, Kinsley was already competing at a high enough level to earn her first qualifying score for the USDF Bronze Medal. As her work with dressage would eventually lead her to her future accolades, she knows the ins and outs of the various challenges that are associated with the sport, especially when it comes to the work that went into attaining the USDF Bronze Medal.

“It’s a very big accomplishment, even some adult horse trainers haven’t gotten it. So, it definitely puts people on the map to have it, and it qualifies you to do so much more,” Kinsley said. “[When I found out I won], it felt great. I was crying. I wasn’t even thinking about pictures [because I was thinking about how] I’ve been through so much with so many different horses and so many different people, and so many people in the past haven’t supported me when they probably should have. It was just so nice to have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it.”

Despite numerous setbacks and challenges, Kinsley’s own personal work coupled with the support of friends, family and her trainers has allowed her to persevere. Throughout middle and high school, Kinsley has dedicated herself to working hard with her horses. Juggling time and energy between academics, in-school sports and training was a massive undertaking. The support of school faculty who respected her work ethic, knowing she had hours of riding and chores to complete after the school bell rang, made navigating this demanding schedule possible. Her efforts would eventually culminate in the North Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association naming her and her event horse, Singular Echo, the 2025 Horse of the Year, recognizing them as the highest cumulative performers in their division during the 2025 show season.

“You have to have discipline. It’s much harder than any other sport that I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a million sports,” Kinsley said. “At the end of the day, horses are horses. You can work for years to have the perfect show record, and your horse will get injured at the last minute, and all your hard work goes down the drain so quickly.”

As Kinsley’s work with her horses began to accelerate in middle school, the idea of graduating early from high school became apparent, growing alongside her passion for the work she was doing. Now, as her junior year of high school nears its end and her accomplishments stand tall, she will indeed be graduating a year early in order to pursue her horse riding career. Ann Dishong, Kinsley’s mother and long-time supporter, remarked about Kinsley’s early graduation.

“Kinsley’s goal of graduating early to pursue riding originated in middle school. We, as her parents, did not shut down the idea but honestly, we thought it would change in time,” Ann said. “We are very proud of Kinsley’s drive, devotion and maturity, and we are thrilled to support her as she stays the course and continues to go after her dream of becoming a top rider.”

Kinsley’s achievements are special for a multitude of reasons. Achieving one’s first qualifying scores at 12 years old and winning the USDF Bronze Medal just six years later is beyond extraordinary, especially when accounting for the many challenges and setbacks she faced on the way to her big achievement. Of course, without Kinsley’s determination to achieve as much as possible, she would not have attained any of this. As she now graduates from high school, she hopes to jump on new opportunities available to her and continue her work in looking toward pastures beyond the USDF Bronze Medal. Dawn Valentino, a visual arts teacher familiar with dressage, commented on Kinsley’s achievements.

“As an equestrian and former endurance racer of decades, I can speak to Kinsley’s courage and versatility in her disciplines,” Valentino said. “I have a deep admiration for her accomplishments, dedication and the deep bond, trust and patience she must have with her horses to achieve these great honors. Congratulations to her and may her future in the equestrian world shine bright.”