Blossom and
Rachael are a
team.

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CI)

CL

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Saddled Pride

STEVE STEIN
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

never con-
vince Rachael Her-
kowitz of West Bloom-
field that a pony is just
a four-legged creature.
Even though she's only
8, Rachael has developed
an understanding of what
it feels like when human
beings and animals work
together as teammates
toward a common goal.
Rachael and her pony,
Northfield's Apple
Blossom, based at Bloom-

Rachael Herkowitz is only 8,
but she sits tall atop her pony.

field Open Hunt Club in
Bloomfield Hills, have
been competing in the
medium ponies class in
horse shows for the first
time this summer and
they've done well.
They jump over 30-inch
barriers, a foot shorter
than the standard obsta-
cles.
Janis
Herkowitz,
Rachael's mother, is happy
to see her'claughter learn
about competition and feel

the excitement of winning
at an early age, but she's
noticed many other bene-
fits from Rachael's brief
but intense involvement as
an equestrian.
"Riding has given
Rachael self-esteem and a
sense of herself," Mrs.
Herkowitz said. "Learning
to ride and taking care of a
pony are both hard work,
but this sport is so reward-
ing. And it's a sport
Rachael can be involved in

for the rest of her life."
The entire Herkowitz'
family — Harry and Janis, it
their son Seth, 12, a tennis
and baseball player, and
Rachael -- have enjoyed c77
Rachael's involvement in
the sport, Mrs. Herkowitz -
said. It has provided an
additional sense of togeth- cn
erness.
It was on a rainy day CD
two summers ago that `c
Rachael first climbed

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