A family affair: horse riding, showing comes naturally to Peters Township siblings
Courtesy of Lauren Stopperich
Paige, Jillian and Lauren Stopperich
Courtesy of Lauren Stopperich
Jillian Stopperich and her horse, One Hot Big Leaguer (Dodger)
Courtesy of Lauren Stopperich
Paige Stopperich with Cowboys R Hot (Larry)
When it comes to equine, the Stopperich girls of Peters Township don’t horse around.
What Paige and Jillian Stopperich have accomplished in showing and riding horses is hard to imagine. They have an uncommon touch.
That is not surprising, considering their mom, Lauren, is an award-winning rider as well.
They have another aunt, Shannon Cairone, who also has a strong background in showing and riding. And still another aunt, Susie Macik, lives on a farm with horses.
The sisters grew up on a farm in Washington owned by their parents, Wayne and Phyllis Ross, who are deceased.
It’s certainly a family affair.
“Our family had a horse boarding operation, and my sisters and I showed horses as kids,” said Lauren Stopperich. “My kids were born into it. When Paige was born, she became obsessed with horses. Jillian would later fall in love with them.”
Lauren and her sister, Shannon, have returned to showing and riding since Paige and Jillian have grown.
Paige is a lawyer in Boston. Jillian is a freshman at the University of Georgia and starts on the Bulldogs’ Equestrian team. She was recently the recipient of the Markel Insurance Overall All-Around Youth and AQHA All-Around Youth 14-18, with her horse – One Hot Big Leaguer – for 2021. Both girls are Peters Township High School graduates.
The American Quarter Horse Association recognizes individuals and their American Quarter Horses at the end of each year through the association’s year-end high point awards program.
The top point earners in each division of every AQHA event are recognized annually.
“Earning an AQHA high-point award is evidence of the year-long commitment to excellence in the show pen from both horse and rider,” said Justin Billings, AQHA chief show officer. “To earn an AQHA high-point title is no easy feat and is permanently etched in the AQHA history books.”
The Stopperich females have made their marks. In addition to her recent awards, Jillian and her sister, Paige, and her mom’s accomplishments are:
Jillian:
• 2021 NSBA High Point in Youth Horsemanship and Reserve High Point in Youth Trail
• Multiple AQHA All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion and Reserve Congress Champion
• Multiple AQHYA Youth World Show Top 5s
• Multiple NSBA World Show top 5s
Paige:
• 2013 American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Champion
• 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion
• 2016 American Quarter Horse Association Amateur World Champion
Lauren:
• 2020 American Quarter Horse Association Select World Championship Bronze winner
• 2021 National Snaffle Bit Association World Champion
• 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress Reserve Champion
Not to be forgotten is their father, Dr. P. Shawn Stopperich, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in McMurray. The Stopperiches reside in Peters Township. In addition to Paige and Jillian, the couple have two sons, Alec and Aidan, who participate in more traditional sports, Lauren Stopperich said.
“We’re a close family, and horses and shows and riding just makes us closer,” Paige Stopperich said. “It’s created a bond on a different level. Our love of horses and passion for competing we share is just an incredible link and a deeper level of connection between us.”
Paige, a University of South Carolina graduate, said Jillian’s rise came from watching her compete. It drives her younger sister to be the best she can be and to make her own mark.
“I think she started with greater interest after my first real success in 2013,” Paige Stopperich added. “After she saw that, it gave her confidence she can do it and the drive to do it even better.”
Jillian said she always felt safe around horses.
“I always felt comfortable around horses and riding them,” Jillian said. “I fell in love. Once my sister started doing well and had such a nice horse, I wanted to be like her. She was my role model in a sense.”
Jillian competed with her Georgia teammates in the Southeastern Conference Equestrian championships last weekend.
Lauren Stopperich, a Chartiers-Houston graduate, would rather talk about her daughters’ successes, rather than her accomplishments.
“I didn’t ride for 20 years,” she said. “I was able to get back into it when the girls got older. It’s a really a nice way to stay connected with them.
“I do OK. I’m much prouder of what my daughters have accomplished and the many lessons they have learned from competing with their horse.”