At the end of October, Eilis DiIorio of West Hempfield competed in the 2023 4-H State Horse Show in Harrisburg. DiIorio and her pony, Leap of Faith, acquired first-place victories in the categories of Open Trail Ponies and Working Hunter Ponies.

For the Open Trail Ponies challenge, DiIorio was tasked with riding Leap of Faith through a type of obstacle course. The course is designed to test the pony's versatility and agility, as well as the rider's level of control. DiIorio rode her pony around poles and through cones at various speeds during the challenge, and she credited her success to her determination when practicing. "I don't stop practicing something until I get it right," DiIorio said. "The challenge tests how well your horse would do in a setting where you need control, so we did a lot of work for (Leap of Faith's) muscular fitness and attentiveness to commands."

The Working Hunter Ponies course featured eight separate jumps, which the rider must complete in a specific order. The challenge can prove tricky for some riders, as it requires fine control over the pony's canter as the pair approaches the jumps. The rider must also pay close attention to the distance of the jump, as well as the speed of the pony as it lands before the next jump.

This is the fifth year DiIorio has competed in the state horse show, and although she has won awards in the past, this is the first competition for which she has acquired first-place trophies. DiIorio typically rides four or five times a week, and she said her victory this year was made possible through a combination of her competitive nature and connection with her pony. "I tend to be very competitive, which motives me, but (Leap of Faith and I) have a great time together," DiIorio added. "He wants to listen to me, and it's taken six years of hard, continuous work to improve at the challenges." In total, DiIorio has been riding for nine years.

DiIorio is the president of Saddle Cinches 4-H Club. As president, she leads the group's meetings, creates meeting agendas and delivers announcements. DiIorio also spends time teaching skills to new members of the club and coordinates trivia activities and award ceremonies at the end of the year. Members of the club receive information on various practical skills that come in handy when owning a horse, such as how to manage visits to the veterinarian and how to buy a pony. "I love being able to help everyone have a really good experience with 4-H like I have," DiIorio said.

DiIorio is a senior at Hempfield High School, and she plans to study agriculture after graduation. "Even if I'm not in a club in college, I will probably ride for the rest of my life," said DiIorio.