My name is Harper Morris, and I’m a junior at Coastal Academy High School in Oceanside, California, graduating in the class of 2027. For as long as I can remember, riding has been my biggest passion. I started lessons when I was 5 years old, and now I can’t imagine my life without horses.
I currently train at Oceancrest Farms in Encinitas, California, with Alicia Saxton and Alysia Lynch-Sherard, and I also ride for the Chestnut Hills High School IEA Team coached by Shayne Wireman in Bonsall, California. I’m now entering my fourth year of showing and third year competing on the A circuit, and I feel so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn and grow at this level. Some of my favorite recent accomplishments include:
- Winning the 2025 CPHA Child/Adult Medal Finals (Southern California)
- 5th in the 2025 HITS Del Mar Equitation Championship
- 2025 HITS Del Mar Champion in 2’9″ Junio/Adult Equitation Championship on a green catch ride
- 2025 HITS Del Mar Reserve Champion in USHJA 2’9″ Junior Hunter Championship on a green catch ride
Building on these experiences, my goals for the 2026 season include showing at multiple weeks of the Desert Circuit and competing in the R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship. I also plan to qualify and compete in many of the 3 ‘3 medal finals on the West Coast and East Coast, such as, NHS Hamel Foundation, Jumpseat, Huntseat, USEF/NCEA, CPHA Foundation, and CPHA style of riding. I am also looking forward to competing in the Whitethorne Equitation Championship, NHS Hamel Foundation Regionals, and Las Vegas Nationals alongside other shows.
Academically, I’ve always been motivated to challenge myself and maintain a high standard. I have maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA all throughout high school, earning 3 Honor Roll awards. This year. I have worked towards a 4.41 weighted GPA and ranked in the top 1% of juniors in mathematics and top 4% of juniors in English on the STAR test. Currently, I’m taking multiple AP/honors courses, including AP Language and Composition through UC Scout, and I plan to continue increasing my academic rigor next year. I’ve also taken 4 years of Spanish and just started taking American Sign Language this year. Taking multiple languages has helped me strengthen my communication skills and appreciation for different perspectives.
~ Harper Morris