They’re the superstars of the junior ranks. The medal winners. The Under 25 Grand Prix champions. And, when they’re not on horseback, they’re busy hitting the books. Squeezing in a high school education between iced coffees and jump off rounds.

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The top junior riders in the country are juggling the equivalent of two full-time jobs. And they’re killing it at both. How do they manage it all? With professional help, of course.

We caught up with 2015 ASPCA Maclay Final winner McKayla Langmeier and Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix series leader Madison “Maddy” Goetzmann at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Both are students of theUpper Echelon Academy by day. And of elite show jumpers, also by day.

It’s a long day…

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Horse show days start early and often end late. When do you squeeze in school and homework?

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Goetzmann: “The early mornings on the weekend are a little hectic. I usually sleep in a bit on Monday. My Upper Echelon tutors come to the house. After I’ve worked with them, I’ll take a break and then spend the rest of the night finishing homework.

“During the week, I text my tutors in the morning to confirm the time. With horse shows, some days you’re not done exactly when you think you’ll be and I might need to move my tutoring around. My Upper Echelon tutors are very flexible. They understand the whole competing component of my life. If my regular tutor is isn’t available because of a time change, the Academy usually has extra tutors working who can jump in and tutor with me.”

Langmeier: “I take class [on site] at the Academy. [Upper Echelon has an office in the Chancellor South Professional Building on Southshore Boulevard]. School starts at 10 a.m. on Monday and goes until 2 p.m. Unless I get all my work done, then it ends at 1 p.m. Usually, I wake up early, around 8 a.m., to do my homework before school starts. I try to fit it in periodically throughout the week, too.”

You’re in high school the rest of the year. How does that transition to and from tutoring work while you’re in Florida?

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McKayla Langmeier ©Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group

Goetzmann: “I started with Upper Echelon Academy two winters ago. They originally reached out to my teachers at home to get their email addresses, so we both have them.

“My Upper Echelon tutors are in touch with my high school teachers 24/7. They are always letting them know where I am in the lesson plans and how I’m doing. The transition going from Florida back home is perfect. I feel like I can go in class and be on the same level as any other student with the work. I never feel like I’m behind.”

Langmeier: “I go to East Granby High School in Connecticut. We have parent teacher conferences a few weeks before I leave for the winter. My mom talks to the teachers and gets their email and contact information, then passes that information along to my tutors at Upper Echelon Academy. A lot of the work we do gets emailed to my teachers at home, so they’re very involved in the process. It works quite well.”

What’s the biggest misconception you hear about your unique schooling arrangement?

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Goetzmann: “My teachers are very supportive of me being down here. Some of my school friends are a little confused and jealous, I guess. When I tell them I’m going to Florida, they imagine me sitting by the beach, doing nothing. I don’t know if they 100% understand it. But, for the most part, people are really supportive.

“A lot of kids will ask how much time I spend at school. Most days, I tutor with Upper Echelon for one or two hours. They’ll be like, ‘That’s not enough! We’re working for six hours.’ I get a lot more work done when I’m working with a tutor one-on-one and I feel like it’s a lot more helpful to me.”

Langmeier: “Definitely. When you’re working one-on-one with a tutor, it’s so much easier. You get through the work much faster. Your tutor is always available to answer your questions. You can go at your own pace.”

So “working” hours isn’t an issue. What part do you find challenging?

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McKayla Langmeier ©Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group

Goetzmann: “My biggest challenge is finding the time to do everything and make sure the day isn’t rushed and that you’re taking the time to slow your brain down. During the weekend, my trainer is always reminding me to slow down, think slowly, especially running ring to ring. Riding different horses can be difficult—you need to go very smoothly.

“Also, trying to find time to talk to your family during the day. My family is up in New York so I have to always check in with my parents, let them know how I’m doing. Sometimes my father will call me at the end of the night asking where I was the whole day. Time gets away from you at a horse show.”

Langmeier: “The biggest challenge I face with balancing school and horse showing is getting all the school work done on time. I tend to stay at the barn too long on the weekends so by the time I get home, school work becomes a morning chore.”

What about the social side of it? Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on important school events for riding or vice versa?

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Goetzmann: “I definitely miss most of our school dances and assemblies. I’ve never really had the time to go to after school football games—after riding and doing homework the school days get really long. As I’m getting older, the social part of school is fading away. I always find myself riding. I have great school friends. I used to care [if I missed events] when I was younger, but now I’d almost rather miss them.”

Langmeier: “I don’t think I miss too much. I can’t really complain about missing a dance when I’m riding horses in Florida and it’s snowing in Connecticut.”

Let’s flip that around. Do you feel like there are lessons you’re learning at the horse show that you can apply to your life outside of it?

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McKayla Langmeier ©Emily Riden/Phelps Media Group

Goetzmann: “It’s funny because in high school tenth graders are with tenth graders, ninth graders are with ninth graders. You never really see different grades hanging out. The seniors run the school. They’re the scary ones. Here, age doesn’t matter. I’ll become close friends with someone and our ages won’t come up for weeks.

“I feel like you grow up faster here, for some reason. You’re dealing with your trainers, who you have to have a lot of respect for. You have to update your tutors daily on your riding times and class conflicts. You have more responsibility.”

Langmeier: “When I’m in not Wellington, I find that you learn a lot about life juggling riding and school, about organization. I think you learn a lot riding horses that you can apply to the ‘real’ world.”