In the moments before Wiscasset High School freshman Lindsey Gordon and her horse Nina head into a competition, she tells the 10-year-old thoroughbred that it is the mare’s time to shine. Then Nina does.

They both did, at a recent state-level event at Skowhegan Fairgrounds. The duo, who have been training together since last spring, took first place in “modified hunter on the flat.”

The category, which was open to all ages of juniors and amateur adult riders who qualified, called for the horse to use three different gaits, but none of the jumping Gordon and Nina do so much of together.

“I was surprised,” Gordon’s mother Deanna Gordon said of the win.

Her daughter qualified for the event, the Downeast Medal Finals, held Sept. 12-14, by placing in other competitions over the summer. In addition to the win, the horse and rider earned two sixth-place finishes in other portions of last month’s event.

The jumping is one of the teen’s favorite aspects of spending time in the saddle.

“To me, it’s like three seconds of flying,” she said.

She and Nina have some things in common that probably help them work well together, Gordon said.

“We have kind of the same attitude. She’s a girl, and she’s kind of a prima donna and I kind of am.”

Gordon, 14, of Wiscasset described the riding and all her time at Stonewall Stables in Nobleboro as a comfort zone for her, calming, like a feeling of being home. She’s been riding there about two years.

“It’s kind of my relaxing place. I’d rather be at the barn than doing anything else.”

Stonewall Stables’ owner Virginia Shaw Nickerson owns Nina, and trains her and Gordon.

“Nina and Lindsey are a great team,” she said.

“Lindsey has great potential in the horse world, (with) her dedication to trying and working hard and really putting her all into  it and into a connection with the horse,” Nickerson said. “I’m excited to see where the partnership between Nina and Lindsey will go.”

Gordon has always loved animals. She wants to study veterinary science. Being around, and on, a horse is second nature, something she’s been doing since about the age of five. Her mother has a horse and has been happy to see Lindsey share her interest in them.

“I totally support it, because I have the same love of horses,” she said.

The teen also makes time to play on Wiscasset High’s girls soccer and basketball teams.