When Liv Resnick was five years old, she rode a horse at a fair. When she was nine, she went on a field trip with her Girl Scout troop to a stable and, after riding for a second time, she knew she was in love.

By 2019, she was riding for sport, with a focus on English-style riding. Currently, Resnick is committed to the University of Kentucky and planning to major in equine management, the study of horse anatomy, the racing industry, stable management and equine therapy. “It’s something I’m really interested in doing because it puts something that I’m passionate about into a career. I’m specifically really interested in management and industry because I really like the racing industry and learning about thoroughbreds and rodeo, and I think the sport is very unique,” Resnick said.

The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, known as the horse capital of the country. The school is also known for having top tier research opportunities, industry connections and offering scholarship money to out-of-state students. “There are a 100 horse farms in the city of Lexington. It’s known for their horses, and throughout history, they have been known for breeding thoroughbreds, and it’s so beautiful as well. And there’s a lot of other people who are interested in the same thing that I’m interested in there. I’ll be able to get the best education about horses that I can at the University of Kentucky because specifically of its location. Because this major is not offered at any Maryland schools, I’m getting in-state tuition at the University of Kentucky,” Resnick said.

During college, Resnick hopes to explore other styles of horse riding. In Maryland, English-style riding has been popularized, but Kentucky offers more opportunities for Western-style riding, which emphasizes speed. “I wish that I was able to learn more with horseback riding here, but unfortunately it’s so expensive where we live that it’s just really difficult to have access to riding around this area,” Resnick said.

In the future, Resnick hopes to own a stable, board horses and work in the racing industry. Whether it’s looking after her own or clients’ horses, she hopes to care for horses in any circumstance. “I’m a very nurturing person and I love animals, and I want a career where I can help these animals as much as I can,” Resnick said.

For Resnick, the horses have always been part of her vision for herself. Junior Nasrin Sari is a friend of Liv’s who admires her dedication and passion for the sport. “Her passion and interest is unrivaled by a lot of people that I know, especially at this age, to be able to go into, like, such a niche field and love it so much and have so much like care and and thought in your heart and in your mind. It’s really powerful,” Sari said.