The Paisley
www.thepaisleymagazine.com
Role Model Series... Chloe Kershel
Spring 2018
37
By Paisley Ambassador Ellie Laferty
I did my interview with a fellow junior rider who I look up to and think very highly of!! Her name is Chloe Kershel When did you first fall in love with horses? I fell in love with horses the moment I first saw one, which would technically be when I was just days old, but I wouldn't have remembered that so probably when I was two. Did you always know you’d be a professional rider? Since I am a junior, I cannot be a professional at the moment, but I may become one after college. What riding advice would you have give to yourself? If I were to give myself any advice, it would be to put myself out there even more then I do, to ride more and for more people to be aware that you ride well. If you could do any other equestrian discipline what would it be and why? If I were to do any other equestrian discipline it would be dressage. When I first began to ride, I started in dressage, now that I don't ride dressage much anymore, I wouldn't mind doing so again. It's just such a beautiful form of riding that I admire. What is your greatest strength? If I were to choose anything to be greatest strength, it would be the love I have for my horses, and horses in general. It drives me to be the best I can so I can show my love for them. What is your greatest weakness? My greatest weakness would have to be wanting to ride and be around horses all the time, it gets in the way of my school work sometimes... Do you have a routine you follow before a big competition? In preparation for a big competition, I ride my horses everyday leading up to it. Most of those days are spent on the flat and over some poles strengthening, relaxing, etc. A couple of those days end with a jump or two, and maybe even a course. The day before I would go to school at the show would be a trail ride day, just so I would be on the horse. My routine is then like anyone else's once getting to the show, set up, school, clean up, etc.
being structured, she also told me to have fun. The first show I did with her, right before I went in the ring she put her hand on my leg and said "Go in there and have some fun." Now, it's like a habit to go in the ring and enjoy myself while getting the job done. How would you describe your style of riding? I'm my opinion, I think I have a centered, classic style of riding as that is what my current trainer has taught me. What is your favorite guilty pleasure? My favorite guilty pleasure would have to be my obsession with the smell of vetrolin, so basically, smelling vetrolin. What is one piece of riding clothing or equipment you could never do without? I could never do without my smartpack breeches, they're too comfy and colorful to go without. What is your helmet of choice and why? As I have just found out recently, my head fits best in a GPA. It's deep enough that I can get by thick hair up without getting a headache, and, with the First Lady, your eyes are shielded some from the sun. It's also just a really comfortable helmet as well as being really safe. What advice would you offer young riders that are considering becoming professionals? Being a junior who is considering being a profession herself, I don't have any real advice except to go for it it that's really what you want. What is your life motto? My life's motto, (yes this is cheesy) is to sit up and ride, which in a way pertains to every part of my life. Even though you may not be on a horse, like can throw you for a loop and the best thing you could do is to "sit up" and ride it through. What would you like to change about the hunter/jumper industry? If I were to change anything about the hunter/jumper industry it would be some of the bad sportsmanship that goes around sometimes. I would try and make it so that there is none of that at all.
What does winning mean to you? When I win a class, it means more than just besting those in it. It means that I have something to show for all the hard work I have put into my horse and myself. Having a horse who had to be brought into the "show world," winning has not been a very common thing for us, but lately we have been winning more often which means so much to me as I can really see our improvement now, with or without ribbons. How do horses keep you grounded? Horses need someone to take care of them, even if it's just giving them food and water, so they keep me grounded because they remind me that I have a lot of responsibility when it comes to them. What is the best piece of riding advice you have ever received and who from? The best piece of riding advice I have received is from my trainer, Luanne Leonard. When I switched from my first trainer and came to her, I was brainwashed into thinking that this is such a serious sport and you would get yelled at if you rode through a line wrong. When I came to her, while
Ellie Laferty & Gavin