Rebecca Raede is wonderful and we are her biggest fans. No need to mince words. Ever since she was six-years-old she’s loved horses and made her parents schlep her to riding lessons. Rebecca is now a lovely 15-year-old and she continues to take riding very seriously.
Rebecca has lots of friends at school–her popular brother paved the way in Thousand Oaks, California. She’s a good student, runs track, and kids refer to her as Shane’s little sister. But in the horse show ring, people remember Rebecca.
Her success requires dedication . . . from everybody. Everyday, after school, Rebecca is taken to the riding stable by her grandmother, Millie. (Mom and dad’s not available–they’ve taken extra jobs to pay for Rebecca’s expensive equine habit.) Grandma patiently reads a Nora Roberts novel in a chair next to the ring while Rebecca takes lessons on not one, but two horses. Darkness and nightfall finally ends her practice.
Tom Valter is her trainer. He doesn’t think of Rebecca as a young student. He demands, well . . . everything. With no excuses. Why would Rebecca compete for mediocre? As a 12-year-old she won the bronze medal in her division of the USEF Dressage Today Dressage Seat medal finals in Saugerties, NY.
In 2008 ,Rebecca earned Junior Rider of the Year from California Dressage Society and her Silver Medal from the United States Dressage Federation. (The silver medal requires high scores in levels from training level to Prix St. George.)
Most of those scores she earned on Ribbons n’ Curls, a terrific bay mare that Rebecca trained to Prix St. George on her own (with direction from Tom). for 2009, Rebecca is competing for FEI Junior Individual and Team Championships on Claudia Tatum’s Elmegardens Ziam.
Sometimes it takes a clear vision, hard work, along with supporting family and friends, to make dreams come true.
In 2009, Rebecca earned the USDF bronze and silver medals for riding. In July, Rebecca and Elmegardens Ziam traveled to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky to compete in the North American Junior Championships. Competing against 40 dressage pairs from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Rebecca and Ziam lead the USEF Region 7 riders in overall scores and placings. The Region 7 team earned 6th place in the team competition with Rebecca placing 15th in the team test. She placed 14th for the individual test, making her the only Region 7 rider to qualify for the Musical Freestyle competition. Rebecca and Ziam scored 11th place in the Musical Freestyle.
nice post
Great Blog Thanks 🙂
good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW so impressed with Rebecca Raede – I cannot believe the horsewoman she has become – what wonderful dressage success!! These pictures are terrific.
Barbie (Jim Brumfield’s sister)
Barbie!! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment of my daughter! I was just looking at these pictures and they bring tears to my eyes as I marvel at what she has accomplished at such a young age! Thanks again!
Love from the Raede’s
hi! its dennesy from Lindsey Farms. i was looking on this website @ 7:12 December 30, 2011. anyway, happy new year’s and i hope you had a great christmas! i miss ribbons but i know she’s in good hands. i love you raede’s!!!! oh and by the way 2-morrow im going to gatlinburg, tennesse to pigeon forge! I wish you could come because I love u.
Dennnesy Rogers