70 SIDELINES MAY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
Stanford University student Chase Hickok is
experiencing college at its best. The 21 year old English
major from Durham, North Carolina is focusing on her
education while still riding and competing thanks to the
fact that her Dutch Warmblood gelding Palermo has
accompanied her to Stanford.
“I took a year off school to pursue riding, which gave
me the luxury of focusing completely on dressage. Now
I’m focusing on balancing my education while still riding
and competing,” Chase said. “I’m very fortunate to have
Palermo at school and I manage to sneak out for visits
several times a day. My education is extremely important
to me; but riding will always be my number one passion!”
Chase described Palermo as a horse that asks a lot of
his rider. “He can get very hot but also knows when it’s
time to go to work. I’m just so fortunate to ride such an
amazing horse. He has a lot of talent for the upper level
movement; but it’s up to Palermo to tell me how far and
how fast we’ll go. He’s very workman like under saddle;
but is a total clown on the ground. He absolutely loves
bananas and will do anything for one!”
Sidelines:
Have you always ridden dressage?
CH:
I started out doing hunters and eventing and I was
an active member of Pony Club for many years; but I
always liked dressage the best of the three disciplines. I
also rode hunters for a while as a member of the Stanford
Equestrian Team. I love the precision that dressage
requires. Every day brings a new set of challenges;
but it’s incredibly rewarding when you make even the
slightest step forward. I think to be truly successful
in the dressage ring you have to build a very unique
relationship with the horse. The horse must feel safe
with the rider and confdent in his own ability before the
rider can begin to ask the diffcult questions dressage
poses. I love building the partnership with a horse. After
that, the willingness of horses never ceases to amaze
me.
Sidelines:
What do you consider your career highlights?
CH:
Getting to compete at both the North American
Junior Young Rider Championships and the Festival of
Champions the last two years was an honor in and of
itself. However, my career highlight has to be winning
the Young Rider Individual Bronze and Freestyle Silver
Medals this past year. I also ended my Young Rider
career by winning at Devon, which was a thrill and a
great way to fnish off the season.
Sidelines:
What are you doing with your career right
now?
CH:
After Devon, I returned to California to complete
my junior year at Stanford University. I was excited to
bring Palermo out to California and continue our training
on the West Coast. I’m really excited to take the next
step and look forward to making our debut in the Young
Riders Grand Prix.
Sidelines:
What are your riding goals?
CH:
Competing in the Brentina Cup is my immediate
Five Questions for Chase Hickok
goal. It’s a big jump in terms of what’s required from both the
horse and rider. I’m really enjoying working toward this goal
and hope to compete again at the Festival of Champions in
the Brentina Cup Division. I would also love to bring a young
horse up through the levels. I think that’s an entirely different
challenge and experience; but one that creates a very unique
bond.
Sidelines:
Do you have fond memories from when you started
riding?
CH:
I started riding when I was four and got my frst pony when
I was fve. He was a black and white pinto named Texas. He
was the best pony because he was very patient. I’d fall off and
he’d just stand there and wait for me to get back on, only to fall
off again shortly there after.
Chase and Palermo ended their Young Rider career with a win
at Devon this past year
Photo by Susan Stickle