This is a story from The Tower – Volume 2, 2024
Kaitlyn Ayers saddled up for her first horseback ride when she was only 2 years old. She began taking regular lessons, and by age 13, she had her own horse and was competing in barrel racing and pole bending competitions at rodeos in and around her hometown of Sikeston, Missouri.
“Although no one in my family rode, I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember,” Kaitlyn said. “As my skills as a rider developed, I wanted to try new things and push my boundaries, which is why I began competing in rodeos. I’ve been training and competing ever since.”
Her passion for riding eventually led her to the 2019 Miss Rodeo Missouri Pageant, an annual event where contestants from across the state demonstrate their skills in horsemanship, public speaking, modeling and more. At the end of the rigorous three-day competition in Kansas City, the judges named Kaitlyn Miss Rodeo Missouri.
Kaitlyn spent her year as titleholder representing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), traveling across the United States to educate people about rodeo, agriculture and the Western way of life. She attended all seven of Missouri’s PRCA rodeos as well as events in Florida, Wyoming, Kentucky and Colorado. Her reign culminated with the Miss Rodeo America Pageant held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“I served as an ambassador for the sport of rodeo,” Kaitlyn said. “During each rodeo I helped with the flag presentations and pushing cattle back into their pens. I interacted with the crowds before, during and after the rodeos and answered their questions about the sport.”
Kaitlyn also graduated from Vanderbilt University with her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2019. When her reign as Miss Rodeo Missouri came to an end, she was ready to begin her next chapter.
“From an early age, I knew I wanted to do something where I could help people,” Kaitlyn said. “Getting chiropractic care throughout my life has been very beneficial, and I feel passionate about being able to help others in the same way.”
Kaitlyn, who is currently a trimester 7 Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) student, chose to enroll in Logan’s program for several reasons.
“Every chiropractor I’ve ever visited was a Logan graduate,” Kaitlyn said. “Growing up, I always thought that if you wanted to be a chiropractor, Logan was the place you went. Plus, it’s close to home and my horses.”
Horses experiencing problems with their bones, muscles and joints can get relief from chiropractic care. Kaitlyn witnessed this firsthand when one of her older competition horses started showing signs of a musculoskeletal problem. Fortunately, her veterinarian was also an equine chiropractor specializing in treating injuries and disorders that affect horses.
“We noticed a difference in her abilities as soon as she started getting chiropractic adjustments,” Kaitlyn said. “No one ever believed us when we told them how old she was. I give credit for how well she was able to compete until she was almost 30 to the chiropractic care she received.”
Inspired by her horse’s improved health, Kaitlyn plans to obtain her certification in animal chiropractic from the Animal Chiropractic Certification Commission (ACCC), a certification body of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). This will require her to complete an AVCA-approved animal chiropractic program and then pass written and clinical ACCC examinations.
“I believe that both humans and horses can benefit from chiropractic care,” Kaitlyn said. “My overall goal is to integrate my experience treating all types of athletes to ultimately provide the best chiropractic care to anyone with a spine.”