BY SHELBY VOHSEN, JUNIOR JOURNALIST
Rachel Allen’s hero is her mother, Joanne, who has taught her perseverance
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Rachel Allen and her mom Joanne. |
“She has such a handicap (multiple sclerosis), but she just keeps going and doesn’t complain,” Rachel said.
It has been an important example for Rachel to follow, especially through the challenges she has faced in her riding this year. She has been riding since she was 4 but mainly western. She had never been to AQHA shows before this year and just started jumping.
“I got hooked on jumping from zero to 60 really quickly,” Rachel said.
Rachel will be riding Shez Dun The Town, a 1992 red dun mare, in the hunter hack at the 2007 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. “Dollar” was once Joanne’s show horse, but now Dollar is Rachel’s.
Although Rachel does all the riding, her mom comes to the shows and helps.
“She doesn’t like to ask for help, but you can tell when she needs it,” Rachel said. “The big thing is that she is helping me most of the time. I tend to get nervous and intimidated, and she helps me.”
Although Joanne has multiple sclerosis, Rachel does not think of her mom any differently.
“I’m proud of (my mom). She is the strongest lady I know,” Rachel said. “She does all this and gets tired, but she loves it and us and keeps doing it.”
