Every time 13-year-old Maverick Wright goes down centerline, he remembers his father’s advice: “He always tells me to smile lots and to just go out and have fun.”

And how could he not aboard 22-year-old Maple Lane Kero, or “Peach,” as he’s known around the barn? 

The pint-sized Welsh Cob gelding (Mill Gate Hercules—Canterbrook Marmalade, Trevallion Royal Consort), owned by Linda Susan Krook and bred in Canada by Anne Corden, stands out in the ring, not only for his unique cremello coloring, but for his talent across two disciplines—dressage and working equitation.

The pair are competing this weekend in the childrens division at the US Dressage Festival of Champions—happening this week in Wayne, Illinois—fresh off their medal-winning appearance at the Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship, held July 30-Aug. 3 in Williamsburg, Michigan. 

Maverick and Peach represented Region 6 in the inaugural childrens division, earning individual bronze. While their three-person team was unable to complete due to one pair failing the first horse inspection, Maverick was thrilled with his first NAYC finish on his partner of two years.

“I thought all of [three tests] were really good, but I was most happiest with my individual test,” he said, which scored a 72.25%. “I think both me and my pony tried really hard. And since it was the last test there was, we had gotten feedback from the first two tests, and we really, really worked on what the judges wanted. And I think that really paid off.”

Maverick lives in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, with his parents, Kenton and Tiffany Wright. Kenton runs a training business focusing on Lusitanos and working equitation, and he also stands a Lusitano stallion. Maverick has been riding since he can remember and became interested in dressage when he in kindergarten or first grade.

“I started just moving up the levels and started training and working to be better and better,” he said. “Now I’ve [gone] to NAYC, and it’s a great honor.”

In Peach, he’s found a partner well qualified to show him the ropes. This week will be Peach’s second trip to the Festival of Champions—in 2011, he won the inaugural USEF National Pony Rider Championships with former owner Allison Cyprus. 

The senior pony has schooled through Intermediaire and has competed through fourth level with Maverick, who has earned his U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal on the gelding and is partway to his silver.

“I think he has a really good personality, and he is always eager to go out and work,” he said.

When asked what keeps Peach happy in his senior age, Maverick said, “I think it’s part of the Welsh hardiness, their fire and their eagerness to go and just keep going. We also try to give him some supplements, but besides that, we just keep him in good work, good fitness, and just make sure he’s happy and give him a lot of treats and make sure he’s on a good work schedule.”

Peach enjoys a variety of training at home, including trail riding, where he gets to cross a river, some canters in the open to stretch his legs, jumping and working with cows. And for all of it, all he requires is a treat.

“He really likes treats,” Maverick said. “He will follow you around the barn just for a treat. And he’s very food motivated, and he has a lot of energy, and still has some spice left. Miss Susan was going to retire him, but she knows how much spice he has left, and he didn’t want to retire.”

He says that Peach has no problem switching from the dressage ring to the working equitation, which has several phases including a dressage test in a short ring, an obstacle course and sometimes events working cows.

“We’re just so grateful to have Peach with us,” Tiffany said. “He’s just been a joy. He’s super easy to have in the barn. He’s low-maintenance and just all around a good boy. We’ve been really grateful for Maverick to have the opportunity to do this level of riding with him.”

Maverick rides another pony for Krook in dressage and enjoys competing in working equitation with his father. He also helps break and back the young Lusitanos they breed. His mother is the assistant and manager of “both of us boys,” says Maverick.

The family enjoys the Lusitano breed for their minds and trainability and has around 50 on their farm, including 10 broodmares. 

“They’re just a really fun horse to ride,” Maverick said. “They’re really smooth, and they have really good movement, and they’re just a very good all-around horse as well as a really good competition horse. You can go out there and win at a top dressage show, and then go out the next day or a couple days later and go on trails, and they won’t care. They’ll just do whatever you task them to do.”

For his dressage goals, Maverick is hoping for another strong performance in Illinois this weekend, and beyond that, he has high hopes for his career.

“My goal is to get my silver and gold medal and possibly, if I have the right horse, and it’s the right time, go to the Olympics with a Lusitano,” he said.