Rachel Menard
The year 2009 will be one that Rachel Menard will treasure
forever. It is the stuff that dreams are made of and for every little
girl who dreams big, and has the heart and determination to work hard,
Rachel's year is a validation that dreams certainly can come true.
As one of New England's "2009 Golden Girls," her unanimous
win in the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal finals at Oklahoma City in October topped a
year of amazing accomplishments.
Starting off the year with an incredible trip to South
Africa as a member of Team Morgan, Rachel entered the 2009 show season as the
reigning Classic Equitation World Champion. At the UPHA Spring
Premier she trotted into her first show aboard the gorgeous and
high powered BJL Ransom and trotted off with her first championship of their
season. The year unfolded in storybook style as Rachel and Val earned
the top tri-color at Connecticut and Maine, the Medal at Connecticut, and the
Challenge Cup at New England. She pinned reserve at Mass Morgan where
she literally hopped off Val and headed for the airport where she joined
fellow Team Morgan members Nena Marlin and Gaetana Spina as they flew to North
Carolina to compete at Cash Lovell Stables. As captain of that team,
Rachel is proud of the group's team gold medal as well as her
own individual bronze medal that capped several days of intense
competition.
Returning home meant balancing a strict training regimen
with the demands of her senior year of high school and the college application
process. And what a schedule she had! Boot camp has nothing on
Rachel whose riding lessons focused on tough sessions without "irons" as well
as long bike rides on days she didn't ride. Rachel is instructed by
Nikki Rae Woodworth, one of our industry's most dynamic young trainers who has
also been a saddle seat triple crown winner and Team Morgan member, and who
knew just what it would take for Rachel and Val to score big in OKC.
Well, score big they did as the gorgeous team also trotted up for the blue
ribbon in the Senior Challenge Cup Class.
Rachel reflects, "I showed my favorite horse to
the most incredible achievement I have ever received. I don't know what
is next, but I will assure you that I will be involved with Morgans
in some way... forever."