By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Ella Petereson
Cue the song “Fireball,” and into the ring trots Naomi Dachis, a competitive rider on the Sweet Briar College NCEA equestrian team. Her red hair is tucked neatly up in her helmet, but there’s no denying that this former Rookie Of The Year nominee has earned the rights to Pitbull’s signature song for more reasons than the color of her hair.
Now in her junior year at Sweet Briar, Naomi is in the home stretch of achieving a bachelor’s degree in business administration and becoming a professional equestrian. It’s difficult to believe that a freak accident in 2021 left her fighting for her life and wondering if she would ever sit in the saddle again.
Growing up in Ramsey, New Jersey, Naomi fell in love with ponies at a young age. “A pony ride at the local carnival started my love affair with horses. I started taking riding lessons on my 5th birthday, and to my father’s dismay, my interest in horses quickly escalated,” she said. “My parents allowed me to lease a pony and take multiple lessons a week at a nearby farm.”
It wasn’t until Naomi landed at Hidden Acres in West Milford, New Jersey, with trainers Brian and Jolene Cash, that she felt at home. “A few bad rides can really affect you—especially at a young age. I had had some knocks to my confidence and needed to fall back in love with the sport,” Naomi said. “They saved me, and I am so grateful for the opportunities they gave me.”
Serendipitous Stabling
Naomi enjoyed five wonderful years at Hidden Acres, and in 2018, she joined her barn family in Wilmington, Ohio, to compete at the World Equestrian Center (WEC). “We were stabled next to a young professional named Will Baker,” Naomi said. “My trainers and barn family felt an instant connection and somehow convinced him to come home with us and join our team.”
Will joined the Hidden Acres team at a pivotal time; Brian and Jolene were considering a move back to their native Ireland. In 2020, the couple decided that Will was the perfect fit to take over their business. “Will is an amazing teacher and horseman,” Naomi said. “Jolene was like a second mother to me. I saw her trust in Will and knew everything would be okay.”
After many years in the ponies, Naomi traveled back to WEC Ohio to compete in her first “Big Eq” class. “Jolene actually surprised me and came to the show,” she said. “She watched from the stands, and that helped me to realize I would be fine without her physically at the in-gate.”
Will helped advance Naomi’s trajectory and soon she was living on the road. Like many young equestrians, she decided to break away from brick-and-mortar school, and in ninth grade, she enrolled online at Laurel Springs Academy, making Will her only in-person “teacher.” “Will and I have a wonderful working relationship,” Naomi said. “He knows when to push me, and also when to allow me to take a step back and reset.”
In 2019, Naomi competed at USEF Junior Hunter Finals in the 15 and Under Large 3’3” Junior Hunter Division on her lease horse Real Time. “Despite the heavy rain and mud that year, it was an amazing experience to show at Brandywine,” she said. Two years later, she returned and competed in the Brandywine Equitation Challenge on her one and only equitation horse, Independence M.
“It was a special moment I’ll always remember,” Naomi said. “We imported Independence as a 6-year-old. Brian was there when we bought him, and Will helped me develop him into a winning equitation horse that took me to all of my dream finals.”
In the Blink of an Eye
For Naomi, November 29, 2021, was a day that took some time to remember; soon after, it became a day she hoped to forget. “It took me a long time to be able to talk about my accident,” she said. “Now I hope that by sharing my experience, it might help another equestrian.”
It was a cold, dry, 10-degree winter day in New Jersey, and Naomi had just returned to the barn after Thanksgiving break. “I was a working student and went to grab a young horse from the field to tack up,” she said. “That was the last thing I remember.”
Without warning, the horse she was leading spooked and kicked her in the head. Luckily, one of the grooms was a trained EMT and immediately jumped into action. “From what I’m told, I was bleeding from my ears and my head was bashed in,” she said. “I obviously had a concussion, but they had to move me inside and out of the cold.”
Lucid but in shock, Naomi was air-lifted by helicopter to the hospital where she was rushed into an emergency craniotomy. She spent a week in intensive care, and three more weeks in rehabilitation. “My medical team wanted to make sure I didn’t need a 24-hour aide, but I was healing and determined to get out of the hospital,” Naomi said. “I heard the nurses speaking in Spanish about me, and began speaking back to them. I got cleared within the month!”
By the time Naomi was out of the hospital, her horses had traveled with the rest of the barn to Florida for the winter circuit. “I just wanted to see my horses,” she said. “My parents let me complete the rest of my physical therapy down south. I had to work on building muscle and regaining balance, as the accident affected my hearing.”
All Naomi wanted for Christmas was to get back in the saddle—but she wasn’t allowed. Finally, in April 2022, she was cleared to ride. “I wore my breeches to the appointment with my neurosurgeon,” she said. “In three days, I was back to jumping; my heart was full.”
Naturally, Naomi had to take some time off from school, but she was able to graduate just in time for her birthday. “I lost my chance to compete in the WEC Equitation Cup, but I was determined to achieve my other three goals: attend USEF Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Finals and college.” In the fall of 2022, during her first semester at college, Naomi competed at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the National Horse Show in Kentucky.
Sweet Beginnings
Before her accident, Naomi was actively being recruited to ride on several college equestrian teams. “I had to disclose my injury, and as a result, some offers were unfortunately rescinded,” Naomi said. “Luckily my renewed search led me to Sweet Briar College.”
Based in Virginia, Sweet Briar College is an all-women’s liberal arts institution known for its equestrian program. The Sweet Briar Vixens—under the leadership of Coach Mimi Wroten and Assistant Coach Lizzie Fisch—claimed the NCEA Single Discipline Championship in 2021. The Vixens have also won multiple Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships.
According to Coach Mimi, Naomi has held several important roles on the Sweet Briar NCEA team since joining in 2022. “Naomi has always encouraged her teammates to stay positive,” she said. “Her perspective and gratitude for life is something that helps keep everyone grounded. She has been an important competitive athlete, but she has also helped encourage others on the team.”
Naomi loves everything about Sweet Briar, but believes the equestrian center is the star. “The top-notch facility, coaches and our roster of quality horses are unmatched,” she said. “It’s a second home for us.” Naomi credits the generous alumnae for their donations of older “been there, done that” type horses. “We have absurdly nice horses; the home field advantage is very favorable.”
During her freshman year, Naomi attended the 2023 NCEA National Championships in Ocala. “I was up for Rookie Of The Year, but ultimately didn’t win the title. However, I did win both points over fences,” she said. “After I won the final point, my team rushed in and lifted me up. It was a precious moment I’ll never forget.”
Naomi’s mother, Noelle, attends as many meets as possible. Known lovingly by her teammates as Mama Dachis, Noelle is an opera singer and often performs the National Anthem. Naomi’s parents continue to support her dreams, and created a business called Dachis Sporthorses LLC that she plans to take over after college, applying her business degree. In her free time, Naomi also starts and trains young ponies. She keeps her current pony project, Scamander, as well as her horse, DSH Lord Mydas, at school.
Now an Amateur, Naomi is focused on her studies and college competitions. “Coach Mimi helped bring me out of my shell. She knows I am gutsy, and if I’m worried about a draw, she’ll remind me what I am capable of,” Naomi said. “Coach Lizzie has a lot of dressage experience and teaches me in a way that truly resonates. My flatwork has improved so much under her guidance.”
Naomi plans to travel to The Netherlands to pick out another young prospect to develop. “We plan to meet with my agent, Lauren Kardel, who sold us Independence, in the hopes of finding a new project,” Naomi said. “Some of my teammates are graduating this year, but we’ve daydreamed about joining forces and starting a business together someday. Who knows what will happen, but I know the relationships I have made at Sweet Briar will last a lifetime.”
Follow Naomi on Instagram @naomi.dachis and on Facebook at Naomi Dachis
Photos by Ella Petereson, peterson3photography.com
