Photos courtesy of Kailani Clark Lay.

Kailani Clark Lay is not your typical 16 year old. With multiple businesses, high school graduation on the horizon, and an unwavering dream to become a professional barrel racer, she is determined to turn her ambitions into reality.

Her journey began in Illinois, at just three years old, during pony rides at a local fair. That brief moment was all it took – Kailani was hooked. Though formal lessons were out of reach for someone so young, her mother saw the spark in her daughter’s eyes and made it her mission to find a way. After some searching, they discovered an instructor who was willing to teach her, despite her tiny frame. “I was so small my feet didn’t even reach the stirrups,” Kailani says.

From the very beginning, Kailani had her sights set on owning her own horse. “I started saving birthday money, holiday gifts, and whatever I earned from small jobs,” she says. “Every cent went into my horse fund.”

When her family relocated to Clark, Colorado, Kailani’s passion for horses only deepened. Around the age of nine, while helping at the local rodeo, she crossed paths with the horse that would eventually become her partner. A young colt – just six months old and untouched by human hands – formed an instant connection with Kailani. “He truly sought me out and chose me,” she says. The owners noticed the bond between them and decided to save the horse until she was ready to buy him. Three years later, at just 12 years old, Kailani purchased Pendleton with the cash she had saved.

Though she had grown up riding English style, her first taste of barrel racing came in 2019 at a summer camp – and it was love at first gallop. By 2021 Kailani had transitioned fully into barrel racing, this time with Pendleton by her side.

 Kailani’s entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force behind her ability to pursue her passion. Managing the costs associated with horse ownership is no small feat. “I’m responsible for half of Pendleton’s expenses – everything from therapy and chiropractic treatments to competition fees,” she explains. “From a really young age, I had to learn how to prioritize and truly understand the value of money.”

To support her dream, Kailani runs two small businesses that blend passion with purpose. In 2020 she launched Kailani’s Kanine Ice Kream, a dog friendly, Greek yogurt-based ice cream she initially sold lemonade-stand-style at the end of her driveway. Today the business has grown into a delivery service, with Kailani dropping off orders once a month. The ice cream flavors change with the seasons, keeping customers, and their pups, coming back for more.

In addition to her canine venture, Kailaini earned a certification in Equine Therapeutic Massage, becoming the youngest person to complete the program. The Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage even lowered the admission age after her achievement. “The motivation to get the certification was to be able to help my own horse and to eventually transition into a business that could sustain me for my future,” she says. Equine massage, much like human massage, improves performance by reducing lactic acid build up, increasing blood flow, and eliminating metabolic waste from various areas of the body.

Balancing school, businesses and riding could be overwhelming, but Kailani found a way to make it all work. She attends Colorado Connections Academy, an online high school, which has given her the flexibility to spend more time in the barn. “During the pandemic, I realized how much I loved having extra time in the barn,” she says.“Once I discovered I could graduate early and still focus on my goals, the choice was easy.”

Kailani will graduate this spring, and her next chapter is already mapped out: She plans to grow her businesses while continuing to train for a professional barrel racing career. By the time she turns 18, she hopes to compete professionally – and with her grit, resourcefulness and determination, it seems likely that Kailani will ride her way to the top.