Ocala, FL – This week’s Ocala Sunday Spotlight shines on Rachel Turk (USA). The talented amateur rider from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, began her riding journey all around the Midwest until ultimately taking her skills to the next level, relocating to Florida with her top string of horses. Turk made her way to World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) to make her first CSI3* debut aboard her enthusiastic mare, Elana 22 (Harley VDL x Zwetlana-Imoo). We caught up with Turk after her experience in the WEC Grand Arena to learn more about her journey, her horses, and her experience at WEC – Ocala.
WEC: How did you get started riding?
I was the first one, and the only one, in my family to fall in love with horses! I did the equitation, the hunters, and everything like that when I was a junior.
I am originally from a suburb outside of Chicago and I grew up doing the whole Midwest series. I rode with Kim Gardner as a junior rider and then I was with Nancy Whitehead and a couple of other trainers along the way. I used to show at Traverse, Lamplight, and everything around that area. That was home for me until about two years ago when I moved down to Florida. When I decided to stay in Florida, that was when I started training with Maria Schaub.
I’ve always loved it and it’s always been a huge passion of mine. Within the last year or two years my trainer Maria [Schaub] has done a really great job putting me on a track that I didn’t even think was possible. So, we’re kind of just progressing as we go. We have been looking into options with investment horses and I have two foals over in Europe right now. I am just enjoying exploring kind of different avenues within the sport.
WEC: Tell us about your current string of horses.
I have four horses at the moment. They do anything from the 1.30m to the FEI classes.
My chestnut gelding, Chaloubet, is 15 years old. He’s a great teacher. I’ve had him for almost two years now. I have a new horse, his name is Golden Boy VL, but we call him Spot! He is more of a project for me. We have really good chemistry, but he’s a super careful jumper. So, we’re taking our time with that one. I have another great one who I’ve had for about three years that has just been a confidence buddy. His name is Gaugin D’Avillon and I can take him into the 1.30m or the 1.40m and he is always right there for me.
WEC: Tell us about Elana 22, your mare that did the CSI3* this week.
I’ve had Elana for two and a half years now and she is 14 years old now. The story about that is a little crazy! She came off lease back to the barn and Pablo [Barrios] who owned her asked me to just hop on her and flat around. Then a week later he said let’s jump her, so we did. Fast forward. She is literally the best partner I ever could have imagined, and we really never expected that to come out of one random ride. She’s taken me from my first show at 1.20m and we’ve done everything up to National Grands Prix and Welcomes. She took me through my first U25 season this winter and then we closed out the season with a win in the CSI2*! These past two weeks here have been my first time in the CSI3* and she has been right there for me every step of the way.
WEC: How has your experience been at World Equestrian Center?
This facility is so rider friendly and spectator friendly. Everything for the horses from the size of the stalls to the fans in their stalls, and the climate controlled indoors. The whole setup of this place is just amazing to me!
It’s interesting because normally showing in a place that is a bit new to you feels a bit out of place, but here it feels like we are right at home. That has been perfect for me because I can get a little bit nervous when moving up, but everything has been set so nicely these past two weeks that I have moved up. They asked enough questions of the riders and horses, but it was also a great chance to get step up and get our feet wet.
All in all, this place is just incredible. We would love to make our way up to Wilmington as well and we are definitely planning to add more weeks of WEC on our schedule throughout the year.
I think the awesome thing is that it is all competitive. There are good numbers in all the classes and the schedule carries so well throughout the day. You are never just sitting around here! This has definitely become one of our favorite shows.
WEC: What is a short-term goal and a long-term goal of yours?
I would say short term, I would definitely love to keep progressing with the CSI3* classes, and also potentially get Golden Boy into some FEI. Long term, I would love to look into traveling to Europe for some shows. I also would love to start investing in some sale horses and creating a nice little sales business.