Featured Athlete /// Ava Dit mer, Fulton HS


Decorated mid-Missouri equestrian to represent U.S. at INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Story By: Grace Gilles Photography By: Howard Schatzberg, Holly Willis


It’s a craft not many can say they’ve mastered. But Ava Dittmer has been a natural on a horse since she was just 5 years old. It all started when a family friend gave her riding lessons for her birthday. “I’ve been riding ever since,” Dittmer said. By the age of 6, Dittmer had already fallen in love with the sport.  “It takes a lot of my time,” Dittmer said. “There have been times when I have missed going to games or events with my friends, but most of the time I would rather be at the barn anyway.” Now a freshman at Fulton High School, Dittmer began to hone her com- 


96 /// May 2026


Also known as “Locked In”, the 9-year-old American Saddlebred helped push Dittmer to new heights. “We’ve grown a lot together,” Dittmer said. “He’s more timid but very trustworthy and always wants to please.”


From there, Dittmer became a regular show contestant, taking part in at least one competition per month from April through November. Her talents have taken her all across the region, from Lexington, 


“I usually ride at least three times a week,” Dittmer said. “I have one lesson during the week after school, and then most Saturdays I will have a performance lesson on my show horse and a group


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