YV People: Caroline Williams

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 Yadkin • Valley PEOPLE

winter.”Caroline’s goal is to qualify for the United States Pony Club Championship. The requirements are strenuous (https://ponyclub.org), but competing as part of a team teaches Caroline and her fellow equestrians the importance of working together, cooperation, respect for others, and communication. Many of them become close friends.

In addition to her homeschool studies and rigorous equestrian training, Caroline takes ballet, tap and jazz dance classes to improve her posture and flexibility. She thoroughly enjoys participating in plays sponsored by the Surry Arts Council, taking voice and piano lessons from Sylvia Lowry at Olde Mill Music, as well as gardening and baking with her aunt and grandma. All things work together to help her learn to be disciplined and confident in her equestrian endeavors.

“Her grandfather, Ted Williams, is very involved,” Hope, Caroline’s mom explained. “He’s been to every practice, every competition, and every show Caroline has been in.” Caroline’s grandparents’ financial contributions and moral support over the past ten plus years have allowed her to pursue her equestrian dreams.

Younger siblings, Georgia, 7, and Jack, 4, share their sister’s enthusiasm. Caroline hopes to share her skills with them and others, passing along her knowledge of all things equestrian. Her parents, Jordan and Hope Williams, couldn’t be prouder.

In addition to her horse, Caroline has a menagerie of pets, including a cat, three rabbits, and four chickens. “I want to be a veterinarian,” she explained. “and attend NC State.” In her spare time, of course…

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