In the past year, Kate Upton’s modeling career has taken off faster than you can say “Cat daddy” - but did you know what she got up to before the Sports Illustrated and Vogue covers started flooding in?

As it turns out, Kate was a champion equestrian and represented the American Paint Horse Association at a national level. In these photos from the APHA, taken in 2009, Michigan-born Kate is posing next to her horse named Roanie Pony.

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The pair won three APHA Reserve World Championships and Kate was named the 13 and Under Reserve All-Around Champion.

Who would have thought the shiny-faced teen in these photos would go on to become one of the most lusted-after women in the world – at just 20 years old?

These days, Kate’s photo shoots involve slightly different backdrops and less clothing. The 20-year-old braved the freezing climates of Antarctica wearing nothing but bikini bottoms and a snow jacket for the shoot of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition.