78 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Dani Moritz
For 11 year-old Hannah Rohrbach, it’s all about two things –
jumping higher and riding faster.
Hannah’s riding career began at age two in the saddle with her
dad, Paul Rohrbach, on one of his grand prix jumpers. Growing up
at Wells Bridge Farm, a hunter/jumper facility in Parker, Colorado,
it’s not hard to understand Hannah’s fascination with horses –
specifcally with show jumping. “When my dad frst put me on a
horse, I knew this was my life,” said Hannah.
She says that she was drawn to them in part because of how
they make her feel. “The animals are so sweet and it seems like
if you just talk to someone and nobody wants to listen to you, you
can go talk to the horses,” said Hannah.
Hannah’s mom, Dorothy Rohrbach, said Hannah fell in love
with the horses right away. “When she frst started taking lessons
she was also into gymnastics and she did dance for a little bit, but
horses pretty much became her thing really quickly,” said Dorothy.
“She always wanted to be down at the barn and taking lessons.”
Hannah also has one sister and two twin brothers, but Dorothy
says none of them have the horse bug like Hannah does. Dorothy
jokes that her brothers “don’t have any interest in anything that’s
not motorized.”
But for Hannah, her love for horses has continued and, nine
years later, she is still extremely passionate about riding – so
much so that she jokes the barn is practically her home. “That’s
kind of where I’m starting to live,” said Hannah. “It’s so much fun.”
Every day after school Hannah rides at least two ponies, takes
care of them and then does her homework and chores. Although
both of her parents are accomplished riders, Hannah usually
rides with her dad’s business partner, Corky Shaha. “It is cool
[that my dad is a trainer], just not when he’s screaming at me,”
Hannah joked.
Hannah says the pressure is really on, however, to balance
schoolwork and barn time. “If I don’t get good grades in school
then I don’t get to ride so I try to keep up my grades.”
Currently, Hannah competes in pony hunters in Colorado, but
is always looking forward to jumping higher and riding faster on
bigger horses. Dorothy says her dedication to get through the
levels is admirable. “She’s very focused for someone of her age,”
said Dorothy. “Probably in the last two years we’ve really seen her
develop so much with her level of determination.”
Hannah says she wants to ride horses instead of ponies so she
can jump higher and win more classes, which is what she’s all
about. “[I like] showing and doing the classes and going against
people,” said Hannah.
At the moment, Hannah rides several ponies, but her favorite is
Ultimo DHD – who she is riding for one of her parents’ customers,
NTM Enterprises. Ultimo is from Denmark and Hannah was
able to travel to Europe to pick him out. Hannah said one of her
favorite parts of going to Europe was getting Danish hot dogs at a
restaurant. Of course, she also enjoyed picking out Ultimo.
“She went through that entire process with Corky and Paul and
our assistant trainers and sort of readjusting him into his new life
and teaching him about what he needs to be doing,” said Dorothy.
Ultimo was originally a jumper so Hannah has spent a lot of
time reprograming him for the hunter ring (even if her frst choice
would be the jumpers). What Hannah likes most about her pony
is that he can really jump. But it wasn’t love at frst sight. Hannah
was worried he would be diffcult for her because he had so much
energy. “I wasn’t too sure what he was going to do if I got on him
so that was a little scary for me, but now I love him and I love to
ride him,” she said.
Hannah also rides a pony named Ziggy Marley. Hannah
describes the pony as green and her mom describes him as a
stubborn 12 or 13-year-old who often forgets to go over the jumps
instead of going around them. “He’s a very green pony,” said
Hannah. “He’s too fast and he spooks a lot.”
But that doesn’t stop Hannah. She’s always determined to do
her best, no matter which pony she is riding.
Rocky Mountain High
Hannah with her mom, Dorothy, and younger sister Quincy.
Photo by Kathleen Bryan - www.yourhorses.ifp3.com
Hannah spends a moment bonding with Ultimo DHD, owned by
NTM Enterprises.
Photo by Patrick Brennan - www.blackhatphoto.us
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Rocky Mountains - Cover Story