Chloe Bates

Meet this week’s featured SEE rider! If you are a BIPOC equestrian and you’d like to share your story, click here.

I've been riding for 15 years - mostly Eventing, then I competed in IHSA with my university's equestrian team, although I mostly ride for the fun of it. I had the opportunity to study abroad in college, which completely changed my life and my fundamental approach to riding. When I got homesick, I began riding while abroad - and ended up embarking on countless riding adventures through national parks, beaches, small towns and ancient cities, mountains, all while learning more about horses and riding around the world. This led to a work exchange during the winter break of my senior year in South Africa, when I was a trail guide at a horseback riding company.

These experiences inspired me to work as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Wyoming after graduating, which taught me so much about working with young horses and teaching horseback riding. Now, I teach lessons as an instructor at an amazing (and incredibly diverse!) barn, work with young horses, and continue to take lessons with my lifelong trainer. I don't plan to ever ride professionally or even competitively, but my dream is to own a small horse farm with lots of animals and some horses to ride for fun and share with loved ones. In the meantime, I want to continue learning everything that I possibly can to become the best horsewoman possible, and to pass on this knowledge to all of my students.

Follow Chloe on Instagram @chloerosebates