Tag Archives: Michael Nyuis Scholarship

Payton Smith Discusses How Earning the Scholarship Will Affect Her Show Year

Payton Smith and Cancun. Photo By: Totem Photographics.

Hard Work and Dedication to Show Jumping Lead Payton Smith to Apply for the Scholarship

We want to share with you a behind the scenes look at the 2015 Michael Nyuis Scholarship winners through a series of profiles. We hope you enjoy and congratulate these riders as they work their way through the show season!

Payton Smith is a fifteen-year-old rider from Woodinville, WA and she projects a friendly personality full of enthusiasm for her equestrian passion. It’s evident from speaking with her that she has real goals and the determination to succeed. When faced with a challenge she seems to apply good old-fashioned practicality and hard work to meet the goals. It was this practicality and determination that led her to apply for the West Palms Events’ 2015 Michael Nyuis Scholarship. Winning the scholarship meant an opportunity to open doors for her beyond the resources available to her now.

The scholarship is named in remembrance of the late Michael Nyuis, nephew to West Palms Events’ Dale Harvey. Michael affected others through his positive, friendly personality and an I Can Help You attitude. He was always happy to help and support others whenever he could. He would be proud to have been part of the scholarship to help riders accomplish their goals with financial assistance at the shows. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on through the annual Michael Nyuis Scholarship program.

“I am very happy to support riders in their journeys in becoming professionals in the Equestrian industry,” says Dale Harvey. “Naming the scholarship in in remembrance of Michael was natural because he was always going out of his way to help others and positively affect friends and family. He will always be missed.”

Payton began riding at the age of four on her family farm, Archway Stables. Her mother, Corene Smith, and grandmother, Clare Warren, have always been her trainers. Payton competes on her horse Skyline, a Hanoverian mare, owned by Archway Stables. Earlier this year, she planned to attend HITS horse shows at Thermal. But when the stables weren’t able to provide the funds necessary to travel that didn’t stop Payton at all.

“I was really looking forward to it. Skyline was just coming back from an injury and it was going to be our first show back together,” explains Smith. No stranger to body clipping at the family farm, she devised a plan to clip all the horses stabled there and raise the money herself. Just in the nick of time she was able to earn the money and get her and her horse to Thermal!

Though she has competed in Hunters and Jumpers she focuses her efforts on the 3’6″ medal classes. While she does well in Washington State, what Payton really wants to do is test herself against top equitation riders in California.

Smith said, “I want to learn what it takes to succeed in the higher ranks of the 3’6″ medals. It’s really going to put my riding and skills to the test. I’m sure it will form an even better bond with me and my horse as well.” As an aspiring professional, Payton believes this will provide an invaluable learning experience for her and Skyline too.

Payton has never competed at a West Palms Events show but she said, “I’ve heard a lot of great reviews about West Palms’ shows. They are well run and the staff is really nice to work with. That stands out in the horse show world.”

When she was 5 she attended the Del Mar International Horse Show as a spectator and it must have made an impression. Payton says the 2 week Del Mar International in October is the West Palms Events show she most wants to attend with her scholarship funds. When she learned that she had won the scholarship she was in total disbelief. She said, “I thought my mom was pulling a joke on me. I was beyond ecstatic. I was so grateful and blown away!”

West Palms Events congratulates Payton Smith as a recipient of the 2015 Michael Nyuis Scholarship. We look forward to supporting her growth as a rider. Please help us congratulate her and wish her well on her future success.

West Palms Event Management
www.westpalmsevents.com

Three Outstanding Candidates Chosen for the Michael Nyuis Scholarship

Ariel Black and Zamira. Photo Provided by Ariel Black.

West Palms Events is excited to announce and congratulate the recipients of the first annual Michael Nyuis Scholarship: Ariel Black, Payton Smith and Ian McFarlane! Each rider will receive a $6,500 Scholarship for West Palms Events’ Shows for the 2015 season to assist them with gaining more show miles and competing at shows they may not be able to attend otherwise!

The Michael Nyuis Scholarship program was created to assist younger riders who have a passion for pursuing a career in show jumping, but lack the necessary financial support to compete at California’s premiere shows. The scholarship has been named in remembrance of the late Michael Nyuis, nephew to West Palms Events’ Dale Harvey. In Michael’s honor the 2016 Michael Nyuis Scholarship will include a new fourth scholarship for a Canadian rider!

Michael was always happy to help and support others whenever he could. His love of his family, friends and life resonated with all of those he met, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He brightened the lives of others with his smile, sense of humor, and dare-devilish personality. Whether he was snowmobiling, bungee jumping, climbing construction cranes, or No Boarding, you could find him enjoying life and living every moment to the fullest. Michael will be missed dearly, but the memory of a caring, supportive, entertaining man will live on.

“Michael was an incredible nephew and friend,” says Dale Harvey. “His presence was influential, always enjoying life and making the most of his time.

He had a vibrant personality that you could not forget and was always trying to make an impact in others’ lives. This scholarship is a wonderful way to remember his giving nature and what an amazing man he was to everyone he met. He worked on the Thunderbird ring crew as a teenager, and loved the sport because I loved it.”

Black, Smith and McFarlane all have different backgrounds and experiences, but share a common goal to become professional equestrians and better themselves and others in the sport.

Ariel Black

Ariel Black is a senior at Arizona State University, studying business management and also works for Betty Beran at Smoke Tree Ranch. Previously, Black had the opportunity to be a part of an IHSA Team in college at Virginia Intermont.

“I want to do everything I possibly can to add to my riding skills, but especially excel in horsemanship and the welfare of the horse. You can never have enough knowledge about horse care, team aspects, teaching, hauling, equipment, schooling exercises as well as veterinary care and experience,” explains Black of her goals for herself in her application. “Teaching and mentoring young students is something that is very rewarding me as well. To see improvement and success as well as be there when things get rough and be able to fix them is very fun for me.”

Payton Smith

Horses have always been a part of Payton Smith’s life. She is now a working student at her family’s farm and attends school online to provide flexibility with her schedule so she may dedicate a great deal of time to her riding. Smith has an entrepreneurial spirit and focuses her efforts on how to grow as a rider and also have the ability to attend shows.

“I created a budget, started a body clipping service and clipped 12 horses in two months to pay the expenses (for Thermal),” explains Smith in her short essay. “While competing at shows I do all the care, grooming and braiding of my horse; this allows me to know exactly what is going on with my horse at all times.”

Ian McFarlane

Ian McFarlane was raised in the equestrian world and is no stranger to the hard work and dedication it takes to be successful as a professional. He is a junior in high school and balances riding and schoolwork, maintaining an impressive GPA while riding six days a week.

Ian McFarlane and Cruise. Photo By: Alden Corrigan
Ian McFarlane and Cruise. Photo By: Alden Corrigan

“I dream to put on a red coat and represent the USA both overseas and domestically. I understand that this dream is one that is very difficult to achieve,” Ian discusses of his goals in his short essay. “Nevertheless, I aim to do whatever is necessary, and I am willing to work as hard as I need to in order to accomplish this dream.”

West Palms Events’ team was moved by all the applications received and would like to thank everyone who put in the necessary time and energy to apply.

“We received a great deal of impressive applications and would like to thank everyone who took the time to put together the whole application, including a video,” says Harvey. “It is important to invest in the riders who will become the professionals in the future, and West Palms is very happy to be able to do our part. We look forward to this becoming a great yearly scholarship to help riders become better competitors and overall horsemen and women. We cannot wait to see Ariel, Payton and Ian utilize their scholarships this season!”

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West Palms Event Management | 2683 Via de la Valle | Suite G #717 | Del Mar | CA | 92014