Today’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with eventer Kaylawna Smith-Cook. The daughter of top five-star eventer Tamie Smith, Kaylawna has become a successful eventing rider and trainer in her own right and currently has a promising string of up-and-coming eventing mounts who proved their talent at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials last spring.
While she continues to help run her mom’s sales program at Next Level Eventing in Temecula, California, the 29-year-old now owns and operates her own training program, K. Smith Equestrian, with around 22 horses and has cultivated solid partnerships with owners who are invested in the sport and the horses’ well-being.
Even with her eventing super-star mom, Kaylawna didn’t take riding too seriously growing up, but after high school she realized she wanted to take her eventing career seriously. Throughout her formative training days, she grew up under the tutelage of her mom, as well as Australian show jumper Scott Keach, eventers Gina Economou and Bec Braitling and dressage rider and trainer Niki Clarke. She completed her first CCI3*-L at Galway Downs in 2019 aboard her longtime eventing partner Passepartout or “Pasco” and went on to complete her first CCI4*-S in 2020 and her first CCI4*-L in 2021.
In her eventing program, Kaylawna is keenly focused on listening to her horses, learning what they’re telling her and applying that knowledge to bring her eventing mounts along at their own individual pace.
In today’s podcast, she talks about growing up under the tutelage of her mom and her other mentors, her current string of super-star horses, how she balances motherhood herself with such a demanding career and how she perseveres through the inherent ups and downs of the sport as she chases her goal to be a top U.S. eventer.
About This Episode’s Sponsor, Equinavia
Summer is full swing—and so is the new collection at Equinavia! From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride.
The ride begins at Equinavia.com. You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram.
