Horsepeople of the Year: Sarah Chabot

To know Sarah is to love Sarah, and I mean that. Sarah is the most energetic, positive and grounded horsemen I’ve met; and I do mean horseman. Her horsemanship is second to none. Her horses are absolutely well-rounded, well-trained and well-adjusted equine citizens. She always puts the horse first and absolutely is part of every sport for the journey and what it does to enhance her relationships with her horses. 

Sarah is one of the most genuine, generous, kind horsepeople I’ve ever encountered. Her love for horse people is shown through her countless selfless endeavors for various charities and the youth involved with horses. She is a staple and deserves to be recognized for her focus on making the horse community stronger and making the environment a better place for all.

-Emily Brollier Curtis

There are accomplished riders, there are successful competitors and then there are true horsewomen—Sarah Elder Chabot is the latter.

To know Sarah is to understand that horses have never simply been a hobby or a sport to her. They are a lifelong passion, a commitment and a way of life. Her accomplishments in the show ring are extraordinary—multiple AQHA World Championships, multiple Congress Championships and championship success in hunters and dressage—but what makes Sarah truly deserving of being a Horseperson of the Year is the person behind those accomplishments.

Sarah represents everything that the title of Horseperson of the Year should stand for.

For more than two decades, Sarah has dedicated herself to developing meaningful partnerships with horses and continually challenging herself to become better. She has competed successfully across disciplines that require very different skills, including hunter, hunter hack, working hunter, equitation over fences, dressage and other AQHA events. Her versatility is remarkable. She doesn’t simply ride a horse, she takes the time to understand the horse in front of her, recognize its strengths, work through its weaknesses and build the trust necessary to achieve something special together.

Her championship record is proof of what that dedication can accomplish. Sarah has earned multiple AQHA World Championships and multiple Congress Championships, competing at the highest levels against some of the best horse-and-rider combinations in the country. Her World Championship in Amateur Equitation Over Fences and her success in the hunter divisions are accomplishments that very few competitors ever achieve.

But if you ask Sarah about those championships, I don’t believe she would tell you that the trophy is the most important part of the story. She would tell you about the horse. She would tell you about the countless hours of preparation, the people who helped her along the way, the difficult days, the moments when things didn’t go according to plan and the incredible feeling of walking into the ring knowing that she and her horse had earned the opportunity to be there. That perspective is one of the things that makes Sarah such a special horsewoman. She understands that ribbons are temporary, but the relationship you build with a horse lasts.

Sarah’s accomplishments are even more impressive when you consider everything she has balanced along the way. She has pursued her passion for horses while building a highly successful professional career. She has managed the demands of a full-time career, travel, competition, training and everyday life while continuing to compete at an elite level. She has shown that you do not have to choose between professional success and your passion—you simply have to be willing to work for both. And Sarah works.

She is the person who puts in the hours when no one is watching. She prepares. She studies. She listens. She asks questions. She learns from her mistakes. She celebrates the victories but never becomes satisfied with them. Her drive comes not from needing to prove herself, but from wanting to be better for her horses. That attitude has also made Sarah an important part of the horse community beyond her own show career. Sarah gives back.

Through her involvement with the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association and AQHA (Tennessee Quarter Horse Association and AQHA), including her service in leadership (Sarah is the chair of the marketing and membership committee for the AQHA and on the AQHA Hunter Task Force that is working to bring more focus to the Quarter Horse in the hunter industry), she has demonstrated a commitment to making the industry better for everyone, not just for herself. Her support of the hunter division and her involvement in programs such as the Dogwood Classic Hunter High Point Awards, the High Point Quarter Horse Award at the USHJA Amateur Championships and the new English Versatility class are examples of the way she invests in the future of the sport. She understands that our industry is strongest when people are willing to contribute, encourage one another and create opportunities for the next generation.

Sarah also understands the importance of mentorship and friendship. She has benefited from people who invested their time and knowledge in her, and she has carried that same spirit forward. She is the kind of person who will congratulate you after a great ride, encourage you after a difficult one and celebrate your success without making it about herself. That is leadership.

Sarah’s connection to the horse industry is also deeply rooted in her family. Her father, Roger Elder, left an extraordinary legacy in the Tennessee and national Quarter Horse community through his service, leadership, judging, breeding and advocacy. Sarah has inherited that love and respect for the horse but she has also created a legacy of her own. She has taken the lessons, values and traditions passed down to her and carried them forward through her own accomplishments and service.

What I admire most about Sarah is that despite everything she has accomplished, she remains absolutely grounded and humble. There is zero entitlement that comes with the championships. Instead, there is gratitude for the horses, the people, the opportunities and the journey. That is what makes her a horsewoman.

A champion can win a class. A great competitor can win a championship. But a true horsewoman leaves an impression on the horses she works with, the people she competes alongside and the community she calls home. 

Sarah Elder Chabot has done all three.

Her multiple AQHA World Championships and Congress Championships demonstrate her extraordinary ability. Her success in hunters and dressage demonstrates her versatility. Her service to the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association demonstrates her commitment to the sport. Her willingness to encourage and support others demonstrates her character. And her lifelong dedication to her horses demonstrates her heart. For all of these reasons, Sarah Elder Chabot is not simply deserving of consideration for Horsepeople of the Year, she embodies what the honor represents. She is a competitor, a champion, a mentor, a leader and, above all, a horsewoman. It would be an honor to see Sarah Elder Chabot recognized as a Horseperson of the Year.

– Jeremy Martin