Nicole Layne riding in national competition

Nicole Layne of Stow, Maine. Will be competing in The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Finals, Thursday, May 8, in Burbank, California.Layne is in her third year at Johnson and Wales College in Rhode Island. and has been on the riding team for two years, competing in IHSA shows. This year Nikki compiled the 35 points needed to make the regionals. From there she moved on to the zones in Mount Holyoke, Mass., picking up a second place finish in the Novice Over Fences division, to gain her a spot in the nationals.Layne has been riding since she was about 4 years old and made up her mind at an early age that horses would be her life. At age 5 Layne started lessons with Ryan Mcdonald of Lovell. Four years later Ryan went off to college, so Layne then moved on to Lori Smith of Fryeburg. Three years later she hooked up with Sheri Donadedian in Freedom. From there Layne picked up a job at a local girls camp, Forest Acres in Fryeburg, feeding and caring for horses in exchange for ridding lessons from C.J. Law. She quickly moved up to riding staff with Law helping her hone her riding skills.Now Layne rides under the guidance of coach Dirk Fogg with C.J. Law keeping an eye on things.Layne has two horses at home, Autumn and Tahoe. She got Autumn at age 10 from the Human Society. Then, at age 16, she rescued Tahoe from a slaughter house in Nebraska. Layne has ridden Autumn in 4H shows winning many events in English and Western riding styles.Layne has been training Tahoe in hunters and equitation but plans on competing with him in dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping in the future.When she finds some spare time in the summer, Layne gives ridding lessons in Stow. Nikki Layne is the daughter of Vicki and Frank Layne. Both are very proud and will be flying out to watch the show.