Peyton Goto-Lynch ’29 has been horseback riding for nearly as long as she can remember. She first rode ponies at Griffith Park when she was just two years old and began taking lessons a few years later. 

“There wasn’t a specific spark for equestrian sports; it was just a part of my everyday life,” Peyton said. “I started seriously competing when I was 11 years old, and it wasn’t until then that the possibilities of going far in the sport felt real.”

Today, Peyton trains five to six times a week at Mark Watring Stables in Thousand Oaks, working with accomplished international equestrian and Olympian Mark Watring.

A major turning point in Peyton’s competitive journey came in November 2025, when Watring helped her find her horse, Erne Mountain Dew, known as “Dew.”

“With Dew, I started to improve my riding and jump higher,” Peyton said. “We were getting top ribbons as my show season went on.”

During the 2025-26 season, Peyton and Dew earned multiple first-place finishes, including Division Championships at Desert International Horse Park and the Flintridge Horse Show. Peyton also represented Viewpoint in IEL competition, finishing the season as the IEL Varsity League Reserve Champion in Jumpers.

Balancing school with training and competitions requires careful planning, and Peyton credits her teachers with helping her stay on track when traveling for shows.

“I’m thankful to all my teachers for being willing to help me while I continue to pursue my equestrian goals,” she said.

Looking ahead, Peyton hopes to qualify for Nationals in Las Vegas this November and continue advancing to higher levels with Dew. We look forward to cheering her on throughout the season!