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84 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE D R E S S A G E

A Chat With Junior Dressage Rider Rachel Chowanec

By Jan Westmark

Sixteen-year-old dressage rider Rachel Chowanec is the protégé of Olympic star Lendon Gray, who is known for her ability to develop young dressage stars. Rachel has dedicated her life to dressage and even spent a year living with Lendon in order to immerse herself in the sport. Rachel then went to live with Kim Moore and her family at Hampton Green Farm, where she was a working student for several months. Now back home at her family’s farm in Connecticut, Rachel has a full schedule that includes riding and working for Beth Baumert and Lendon.

For the past two years Rachel has been riding Embrujado XI, a 13-year-old PRE owned by Lendon, and she is hoping to qualify for the NAJYRC. At the Gold Coast CDI in Wellington earlier this year, Rachel not only won her class but also took home Trilogy Saddles’ Best Seat Award. “I was completely shocked and never thought I would win something like that,” Rachel said. “I ride three days a week without stirrups but still always fnd a problem or see a way to make my seat better. Of course Lendon would never let me have a bad position.”

Sidelines: What is it like training with Lendon?

RC: Training with Lendon is incredible. She honestly has an answer for everything. She is very tough but it’s what makes you great, by being pushed to do your best. Lendon has helped me accomplish so much, from helping me meet people to helping me to get horses and ponies to ride when I didn’t have one.

Sidelines: How was it being a working student?

RC: I lived at Lendon`s as a working student for a year, going home for weekends or just a day off as much as I could get home. It was the year from when I was 13 to 14. I tried to do online school but soon realized it was nearly impossible to keep up with homework without help from my mom. It was tough being away from home because I’m not one of those kids who doesn’t get along with my parents. I love my parents, which made it tough to be away. I am just so grateful to be working currently for

Beth Baumert who lives only fve minutes away from my house. It makes it great, because I can live at home, go to school and work at the barn.

Sidelines: What is your partnership with Embrujado like?

RC: We call him Mouse and he is the most amazing horse in the whole world. I have been working with him for two years and at frst he was very spooky, and still is, but we have such a great bond. I can’t even imagine being without him. We have both learned to trust each other.

Sidelines: Did you always ride dressage or did you start in a different discipline?

RC: My frst experience with horses was when I was only a couple of days old and my mom put me on one of her horses. When I was a little older I started jumping and then I did eventing with Pony Club, but by age nine I was pretty

much just doing dressage. I would go to Lendon`s every Tuesday for a lesson and then it grew to a couple of days a week and then to summers, just as much as I could get there.

Sidelines: What are your goals in the dressage world?

RC: To get as far as possible with my riding career. I would love to be in the Olympics someday but right now I am happy working to be better everyday.

Sidelines: What has been the highlight of your dressage career so far?

RC: This winter, being in Florida and feeling like we belong!

Sidelines: What do you do when you are home?

RC: My mom owns Newberry Farm where she teaches mainly kids and specializes in teaching therapeutic lessons. I help with lessons in the afternoon after working for Beth in the morning. Then I usually go to class at the community college from 6 to 9 pm.

Sidelines: Do you have a dog that you take to the horse shows?

RC: I have a border collie who is fve months old and is learning to go to shows.

Rachel and Embrujado XI, fondly called Mouse

Photo courtesy of Rachel Chowanec