September 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2025 12 In Memory of a True Horsewoman The foundation is envisioned as “a pivotal force in nurturing the next generation of equestrians with a core mission to identify and empower aspiring young talents who demonstrate not only exceptional skill, but also a profound commitment to the sport’s highest ideals.” The name of Debbie Haimowitz isn’t engraved on sterling silver trophies, inscribed on Hall of Fame plaques or mentioned in books about equestrian sport. Her contributions to the horse world aren’t the kind that bring fame, but they were fundamental, with an emphasis on teaching the essentials of horse care and riding. Whether she was giving lessons, working with a horse or setting jumps for other trainers, the fine points always mattered. “Debbie was all about horsemanship and teach- ing and learning and really participating.” said Gina Plantz, who knew Debbie from 2011 until the trainer died of cancer in February 2024. An amateur show jumper who rides with Olympic medalist Chris Kappler at Chartwell in Pittstown, N.J., Gina want- ed to do something mean- ingful in Debbie’s memory and came up with an idea in the spring of 2024. She talked it over with Sarah Segal, Chartwell’s owner, and the result is what has just become the Debbie Haimowitz Horse- manship Foundation. It honors Debbie’s “enduring legacy by meticulously up- holding her core principles of horsemanship, continu- ous learning and compassionate equine care.” Gina, Sarah, Chris and his barn manager, Ka- tie Hartmann, as well as Debbie’s longtime friend, Jonna Gaston, the foundation’s president, are board members for the new entity, which focuses on riders between the ages of 18 and 25. They learn not only riding, but also care, maintenance of the horse and the mechanics involved in running a barn. The foundation is envisioned as “a pivotal force in nurturing the next generation of equestrians with a core mission to identify and empower aspiring young talents who demonstrate not only exceptional skill, but also a profound commitment to the sport’s highest ideals.” “We can try to have a resource of American riders who have time and energy put into them where they will be useful to somebody,” said Chris, thinking of other professionals who ask him for recommenda- tions when they’re seeking to hire riders. Chris noted candidates for the foundation pro- gram may be people who are “a little bit hidden that we can try to help identify and bring to the forefront. Just trying to connect people where they can help each other out.” He observed that in this era, “the horsemanship part of it is becoming more and more lost.” So the foundation’s goals include “fostering future instruc- tors, professional riders and devoted equestrians who embody Debbie’s work ethic and genuine connection to horses.” The foundation is formally under way this sum- mer with Clare Friedlander com- ing from suburban Rochester, N.Y., for two weeks of lessons and barn work at Chartwell, in- cluding mucking out, bathing horses, bandaging and learning the right way to take care of the horses. That will be topped off by two weeks of showing, all under her foundation grant. Clare’s mother, the former Stacy Brown, was a riding assis- tant for Chris in the early1990s. She and her husband run a ther- apeutic riding program at their barn, where Clare works. Getting the grant has been a revelation for Clare. “I never had a chance to fo- cus on myself,” explained the 18-year-old, who enters Naza- reth University near her home this fall. At Chartwell, “Just walking into the barn, you get a wealth of knowledge that you didn’t even know was possible. Every person you go to, if you ask a question, they will answer it in depth and not make you feel silly for asking. They want you to learn, and learn the right way.” Izzy Malick, a 19-year-old from Colorado who at- tends South Dakota State University, gave the founda- tion’s concept a test run last summer after Chris saw her progress during several clinics and invited her to Pittstown as he mulled implementing the organiza- tion’s goals. “Going through it once gives you a lot of ideas about how you want to do it the next time,” said Chris. Although the program originally was supposed to last two weeks, Chris decided it was important to add two weeks of showing to the session for grant recipients. “They can see in a month how hard everyone works here and what level of commitment it takes to do something you really want to do, and do it well. I feel like you can have an imprint on people with your ideology of what you’re trying to do,” he explained. “I think they’re at the stage, `Is this something I want to make a life venture or not?’ This is a partic- ularly trying industry because of the hard work, the hours and it’s not easy to make a living in this sport.” But the young women are eager to explore where the horse business will fit into their lives. Izzy came back on her own dime this summer because she found the experience extremely valuable. “Chris is so knowledgeable, I learn something ev- ery time he speaks,” said Izzy, who borrowed a horse so she could participate. “The staff takes such good care of the horses. If you ask Chris a question, he gives a good in-depth answer. He’s a very good connection to have in the horse world.” Gina was a working student in New Hampshire in the 1980s and ’90s, working hard around the barn while learning the essentials of horse care, as well as riding. Such experience was common at one time, but the kids fondly known as “barn rats” who used to work for a lesson or an hour in the saddle are not around much today. What Debbie’s friends are doing in her memory is “an opportunity for us to refocus on horsemanship and making sure people remember this is not just about riding and showing,” said Gina, who didn’t have her own horse until she was 31. She works in corporate management at the envi- ronmental engineering firm Haley &Aldrich, but bal- The girls with Gina Plantz and Jonna Gaston (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer) (Continued on page 41)