70 • THE PLAID HORSE Grace Klein is a poised young devoted to her weekly lessons at Seven woman with a shy smile and quiet Oaks. Riding Saddlebreds, she learned demeanor – until she talks about her the basics of riding in a productive horses. In an instant, she is all in – lesson program. After leaving Seven explaining with great detail the nuances Oaks to pursue more of a hunterof each of her jumpers, their strengths based riding program at another barn, and weaknesses, likes, and dislikes. At Grace took some hard falls and as a just thirteen years old, Grace speaks result she did not ride for about a year. with focus and detail about the sport to However with the help and kindness which she is dedicated: show jumping. of Michele Muenzenmay, owner of Dressed in her CWD themed attire and Dunham Woods Farm in Wayne, white britches, she looks like many of Illinois, Grace worked her way “back the well-dressed riders waiting to walk in the saddle again”. Initially, when she the Classic course on Sunday morning. arrived at Dunham Woods, she was It is amazing how far this young lady afraid to ride off of a lead line. Her and young rider has come in just a father Joe recalls thinking that “this few short months. Today, she is a top kid being led around was the one who competitor in the High Children’s had competed before. I don’t know if Jumper division. Just a few short riding will work out again.” But Grace’s months ago Grace was just beginning grit became evident as she persevered. her journey to success. Soon she was riding with confidence PHOTOS © ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY. Just about everyone that meets and was part of the gang of barn Grace or talks to her Trainer, Lance kids. Leanne Klein explains, “On the Williamson, asks “How did this happen?” weekends, we would drop her off at “How did Grace skyrocket to such eight o’clock in the morning and pick unbelievable success in just 9 months?” her up at five o’clock at night. She had The answer is clear once you talk to so much fun riding and taking care Grace and get to know her a bit. Grace of the horses all day.” The torch for is a young lady that is devoted, athletic, horses had been rekindled in Grace. determined (her parents may use the Dunham Woods Farm quickly became term “stubborn” every once in a while), a part of Grace’s riding foundation and lets nothing keep her down. She and social life. She combined riding was born with spinal scoliosis and it was diagnosed at the age of 3. with her love for swimming and spent the next few years juggling However, Grace started riding horses at age 4 and never looked back swimming at a Club level with riding at Dunham Woods Farm. or thought that her physical condition created any limits for her. For three years, she took lessons during the school year and Grace grew up in St. Charles, Illinois near Seven Oaks Farm, a even helped to teach in the summer program at the riding club. Grace local barn. At the age of four, she begged her parents to stop at Seven incessantly asked her parents for her own horse. They placated her Oaks, announcing, “I want to ride!” Assuming the impulse was a by saying, “Wait until your tenth birthday,” again believing that she passing fancy, Joe and Leanne Klein stopped at the barn to assuage would migrate away from equestrian interests and toward other their daughter’s wishes. The family was greeted by Toni Knight-Utoff. hobbies. Her Mom, Leanne, laughs, “She had been asking for her Grace pleaded with her parents and own horse since she was four. We Utoff to let her try out riding. Despite kept telling her to wait until she her youth, Grace’s affinity for the sport was ten. Whatever lasts with a child was apparent from this early “trial” ride. from age four to age ten? It seemed Convinced by her training ride and her so far away.” Grace held her parents tenacity Utoff began to train Grace and to their promise and received her the Klein’s equestrian odyssey began. first pony, Whisper, on her tenth For the next few years, Grace was birthday. She describes Whisper as
TPH Young Rider Spotlight:
Grace Klein’s Swift Ride to Success