Frankie Chesler returns to North America

Brigitte O'Neill

To have an adventure is to embark on a remarkable and exciting experience. Frankie Chesler of Orangeville, Ontario has had just that, riding, training and showing her horses throughout Europe these past few months. Her adventure started back in June 2004 and took her to both small villages and large cities throughout Holland, Germany, France and Belgium. During this amazing experience, the 24 year old competed against some of the best riders in the business all the while holding her own placing consistently in the top ten at almost every show she attended. Along the way Chesler made new friends, learned the local language, sampled regional delicacies, mastered driving the dreaded 'roundabouts', travelled to small cities, visited historic sights and gained a life time of knowledge regarding the sport and business of horses in Europe.

While in The Netherlands, Chesler and her equine counterparts stayed in the small town of Tull en't Waal at the Shepp & Waldman Stables operated by Egbert Shepp of the Netherlands, the head of the Dutch Breeders Association and Alan Waldman originally from California USA, a Grand Prix rider and trainer. With over two hundred young horses and potential Grand Prix mounts stabled there, Chesler was kept busy helping train and show some of them while also bringing along her younger horses and maintaining her Grand Prix mounts. During her time over there, Chesler competed in five CSI sanctioned shows, qualified and competed at the FEI Young Horse Show Jumping Championships in Zangersheide, Belgium and showed successfully at many National Shows. Chesler then moved from Tull en't Wall, The Netherlands to Grobbendonk, Belgium where she stabled with Axel Verlooy a successful equestrian who has been in business for more than twenty years as a successful rider, trainer and horse dealer.

Although Chesler loved the life of a European rider and resident, she longed for her family and friends as well as the top horse showing found here in North America. This winter Chesler has decided to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington Florida with nine-year-old VDL Nuit de Pomme, eight-year-old VDL Oscar, seven-year-old Picolien Zeldenrust and six-year-old Renville. After the winter, Chesler is keeping her options open, possibly showing in Ontario and Quebec, Spruce Meadows or throughout the United States. Chesler is grateful for the opportunities she has had in the last year and thanks everyone who supported her, family, friends and sponsors.

Visit Frankie Chesler at www.frankiechesler.com