Equestrian sports are not for the lazy, weak or easily discouraged. So much can go wrong when you are working with an animal that you hope will perform on show day the way it does at home. It takes daily practice, sacrifice and skill: all things 15-year-old Alex Coombes knows firsthand. His hard work paid off this year, as he travelled to the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and came home with several awards.
“I have been around horses my whole life but only been competitively showing for the last five years,” Alex says. His parents, Tracy and Jim Coombes, own Clayfied Stables in Olympia, where Alex rides and trains. They specialize in Morgan and Arabian horse breeds, which is how Alex was introduced to them.
“What I love about Morgans is their beauty and versatility,” he says. “They are a very personable horse and make a great partner. I also really like the Morgan community and people that are there and support me.”
Olympia Youth Wins at Morgan Horse World Championships
This year, Alex rode and competed on three Morgans: BMF Mastermind, an 18-year-old gelding owned by Alex; FCM Zephyr, a 14-year-old gelding owned by the Coombes family; and Meadowcreek Bay B Fe GCH, an 18-year-old gelding owned by Melissa Monty.
Alex and BMF Mastermind, whom he calls “Jack,” competed in local and regional shows throughout 2025, bringing home champion or reserve champion at every show…