Monica Houweling, 21, never imagined her first year riding grand prix dressage would net such great results. With her partner of three years, the 16-year-old KWPN mare Rifradin – also her mount for her 2012 individual and freestyle silver medals at NAJYRC – the pair have enjoyed victories at Golden State Dressage Festival and have finished top-three in CDIs at Burbank and Del Mar, CA. Far from her hometown of Delta, BC, Monica now calls Malibu home, training with Sabine Schut-Kery and Christine Traurig.
Monica began riding very young and decided she would focus on dressage after two weeks’ training with Karen Pavicic when she was only 12 years old. “After those two weeks I was supposed to go back to the “kids barn,” but I wanted to stay and focus on dressage,” she recalls. “Both my mom and Karen were so concerned that it was going to be too serious and intense for me at such a young age, but I dug my heels in and insisted that I stay. I vividly remember my mom saying that she wanted me to go have fun for a few more years at the other barn before I decided to indefinitely pursue dressage. I remember telling her that the jumping stuff wasn’t fun for me, that it was too out-of-control, and that I just wanted to do dressage.”
Monica’s family owns Houweling’s Tomatoes, long-established greenhouse operations in Camarilla, CA, and Delta, BC. Involved in agriculture since high school, Monica was faced with a career choice at graduation: “After high school, I made the decision to pursue working in the family company professionally over dressage, because so many people had warned me how easy it was to burn out and end up not enjoying what I now love so much. I am excited to pursue my professional path in agriculture, but also hold onto my passion in riding. As well, I love the company that my dad has built, so I couldn’t be more proud to be going to go work for him.”
Although Rifradin was trained to grand prix level when purchased by Monica, she took her time learning to ride the movements solidly at home, getting comfortable with the mare and being careful not to ask too much of the relatively new partnership. “Developing together has been the most exciting part of my time in dressage,” she says. “Rifradin and I have bonded so well; you need a horse that wants to do it for you and Rif gives me that feeling. We have learned to read each other so well. When we are both ready to go, I feel we are unstoppable.”
Taking that first step down centreline in their first grand prix test was “magical,” Monica remembers. “I went down the centerline and the biggest smile crept up on my face. I remember finishing and thinking, “holy crap, I need to get in better shape,” because I was so out of breath, but I don’t think I took one breath throughout the whole test!”
Monica credits the support of her mother, also a competitor, who “has been there with me every step of the way and has encouraged me in both the highest and lowest times. Because she is such a talented rider as well, she truly understands the sport and has helped me get to where I am today. I owe it all to my mom for allowing me to fall in love with horses.”
With plans to continue working towards consistent results in the under-25 grand prix division, Monica has her sights set on riding for Canada in Europe next summer. The future is very promising. “Our accomplishments as a partnership and our success this year have been more than I could have dreamed. I am still awestruck.”
