To say thirteen-year-old Caroline Williams of Mount Airy is extraordinary would be an understatement. This awarding-winning equestrian has not only had a decade long passion for horses, but has also become adept as a dancer, thespian, musician and cookfrom-scratch baker. Surrounded by the love and support of her family, Caroline has excelled. At the early age of 2 1/2 Caroline expressed an interest in horses. After riding ponies at Farm Fest and the Autumn Leaves Festival, she was smitten. Every week she went to Mount Airy’s Tractor Toyland to visit storeowners Gail Hiatt and Thelma Allen to buy one more Breyer horse to add to her collection. Just before her fourth birthday, the persistent, insistent Caroline convinced her parents she was ready to get in the saddle. “When am I going to get on that horse?” she eagerly asked her mom at her first lesson. And so her journey began. Initially, Caroline took lessons near her home. More recently, she is training at Hidden K Stables in Pfafftown with Wake Forest University/Salem College instructor Michelle Jordan Hargreaves. “I have learned so much from her,” Caroline said. “She is very laid back and patient and has a wealth of knowledge.” Dressage, which means “training” in French, has been Caroline’s focus. This involves the execution of precise movement by a trained horse in response to barely perceptible signals from its rider. Particularly important are the horse’s pace and bearing in performing walks, trots, canters and more specialized movements. Caroline and her horse, Nobles Drama Queen Diva, (Diva for short) have bonded, each being sensitive to the feelings of the other. Presently, Caroline has raised the bar—she and Diva are learning to jump. Being part of the United States Pony Club required Caroline to learn everything from mucking stalls to properly cleaning and caring for the horse, to providing medical care if the animal becomes ill or suffers an injury. Often, Caroline volunteers to help Michelle at the barn, working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. “My worst chore is poo-picking,” she laughed. “It’s not as bad in the
MEET EQUESTRIAN CAROLINE WILLIAMS WRITER Cindy Martin
Ya d k i n • Va l l e y
PEOPLE
J a n u a r y Fe b r u a r y 2 0 2 2
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