Most 14-year-old ladies spend the week going to highschool, then coming residence, doing their homework and mendacity on the sofa watching TV, enjoying a online game, or speaking with associates on TikTok. On the weekends possibly they will play a sport or some exercise that will get them outdoors however, for probably the most half, it is a lot of the identical with out the college. Most are good youngsters simply doing what youngsters do.
Jeanne Powell is an exception. When she’s not at school, she’s serving to are inclined to the horses at her father’s barn on the bottom at Del Mar. Jeanne is the daughter of coach Leonard Powell. Her time at Del Mar is not some punishment for not cleansing her room. She desires to assist her dad with the household enterprise. She loves being round horses.
“It is one thing that is been an enormous ardour for me since I used to be very younger,” Jeanne mentioned. “Round right here I assist every time the grooms or scorching walkers want something. I simply do no matter is required.”
You will usually discover Jeanne by her dad’s aspect within the paddock earlier than a race, serving to him unsaddle a horse on the observe after a race, and within the winner’s circle after they win. She’s participating past her years whenever you discuss to her, an enormous smile on her face when she’s speaking about horses like Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) winner Anisette .
“I have been right here since she first obtained right here,” Jeanne remarked. “She’s all the time been a particular filly. Generally within the afternoons I’m going sit in her stall and provides her carrots, one thing I take pleasure in as a result of she’s so candy, and he or she has fairly a little bit of a persona. She has good days and unhealthy days and you’ll inform within the morning whenever you stroll into her stall if she’s going to have a great day.”
Whereas some youngsters sleep in till midday, Jeanne is up together with her father and on the barn by 4 within the morning.Â
“I took using classes once I was younger,” Jeanne mentioned. “In the future my Dad took me to the barn, and I’ve come each morning since.”
Besides on college days, per her mother’s directions.
“On college days my Mother would not like me to return right here,” Jeanne acknowledged with a smile. “She says I will be too drained for varsity. My Mother does prefer it (coming to the barn), as a result of I am outdoors all the time. I am not sitting at residence doing nothing. However generally I prioritize the horses over my college and he or she would not like that an excessive amount of.”Â
College is in Burbank on the Lycee Worldwide of Los Angeles the place they train each French and English.Â
“I went again to highschool on (Aug. 28) although I did not wish to return,” Jeanne mentioned, voicing the sentiment of most 14-year-olds.
“She actually enjoys her time right here,” Powell mentioned of his daughter. “She’s been very useful. She would not thoughts getting her palms soiled. It is very good to share a ardour.”
Jeanne additionally has some aspect initiatives she’s engaged on.
“I trip present jumpers as nicely,” she mentioned, “and I’ve an off-the-track Thoroughbred that I am retraining, with my coach, to show him right into a jumper. His title is Excessive Heater. He was with Bob Hess and retired in December. My college has a very nice program the place as an alternative of doing sports activities I trip. That is what I accomplish that I can trip a pair extra days every week.”Â
As for her future, coaching could or is probably not the trail Jeanne takes.
“I am undecided,” she mentioned. “If a chance comes alongside I might like to attempt. I will see the way it goes once I get out of faculty.”Â
This press launch has been edited for content material and magnificence by BloodHorse Employees.
