FEATURES
Mohácsi Makes Her Mark Freshman Cecilia Mohácsi expresses herself through horseback riding, which teaches her teamwork and perseverance. BY KATE NOBLE REPORTER
When walking into freshman Cecilia Mohácsi’s room, soccer and basketball trophies don’t fill her shelves like many of her peers. Instead, medals and trophies from horse riding competitions and shows are proudly displayed. Replacing the normal pictures of teammates are pictures of Mohácsi’s other half, her horse Rupert. After traveling to Germany in third grade to visit family and witnessing her cousin Magdalena’s riding lesson, Mohácsi discovered her passion for horseback riding. “I watched [Magdalena] ride, and I knew it was something that I wanted to do,” Mohácsi said. “I hadn’t really seen or rode horses before seeing my cousin ride, so that was the moment when I decided to start.” Mohácsi began riding when she was 8 years old, and decided to stick with it because of her love of animals and the amount of joy she feels when she rides. After getting her own horse, Rupert, a Quarter Horse Thoroughbred, she’s gained an irreplaceable relationship. “Rupert is the first horse that I’ve ever owned. I’ve had him for about two years now,” Mohácsi said. Out of all the events, jumping is Mohácsi’s favorite thing to do. The improvements she’s seen since getting Rupert motivate her to continue to work for more progress. “I love jumping, that’s what I do,” Mohácsi said. “When I got [Rupert] I was only jumping two foot, and this year I’m showing three foot. I’ve jumped 3’3 on him. We’ve come a long way since I got him.” An important aspect of riding is training. A dedicated and attentive trainer is crucial to improvement. Daphne Thornton, Mohácsi’s trainer since 2012, has witnessed her long-term improvements. “[Mohácsi] has grown from a cute little girl into a lovely young woman,” Thornton said. “She has accepted the physical challenge of competing in a
very demanding sport and has risen to that challenge on every occasion.” Mohácsi has two lessons every week and rides three other times a week at Seven Oaks Ranch. She dedicates her time with Rupert to improving her jumping height and all areas. “The difference between an average rider and a good rider? 5,000 hours,” Thornton said. “Cecilia is putting in the time. She knows that in the end, she will conquer whatever task she has set for herself.” The hard work that Mohácsi puts into her sport during lessons has paid off in local competitions. She won medal finals at a show last year. With her achievements serving as motivation, riding teaches Mohácsi important lessons that are applicable to other aspects of her life. “[Riding teaches] teamwork because you have to listen to your horse, and your horse has to listen to you,” Mohácsi said. “If you don’t work together, you don’t get anything done.” In addition to teaching her to work with her horse, riding has also introduced Mohácsi to some of her close friends, such as Lizzy Kneibert, an eighth grader at Overland Trail Middle School. Kneibert and Mohácsi both ride at Seven Oaks and have grown close. “Cecilia is the sweetest person I know,” Kneibert said. “She is also such a ray of sunshine, she can cheer up anyone’s day.” Her peers don’t just notice her kindness, but her determination to improve as well. Kneibert is impressed with Mohácsi’s ability to stay focused and her can-do attitude, never slacking off during lessons. According to Mohácsi, the friends she’s made since she began are one of the best benefits of riding. “I’ve made a lot of great friends here at the barn, and I think that if I hadn’t ever started riding I wouldn’t have met my friends,” Mohácsi said. “I just love riding so much, I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t started.”
Mohácsi rides her horse, Rupert at Seven Oaks Ranch for practice on the weekends. “Cecilia shows her passion in the only way anyone can, really. She works at it. She rides, she listens, she learns, she thinks, she does,” Mohácsi’s trainer, Daphne Thornton said. (Photos by Kate Noble)
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LE JOURNAL February 2016
