Names: Regan DeRossett
Parents: Brent and Debbie DeRossett
Hometown: Ozark, Mo.
Equine Involvement: Regan DeRossett, a homeschooled high school senior and dual credit college student from Ozark, Mo., has a long list of equine accomplishments under her belt. She is a CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) Certified Assistant Riding Instructor and uses this certification to teach riding lessons and assist with horse themed day camps and birthday parties at Sac River Stables. Regan also went through a training program in Buffalo, Mo., to become a therapist assistant for Horses of Hope, a therapeutic riding program for disabled children. Regan’s own horse is a black Quarter Horse/Friesian/Draft cross mare named Jet. Jet was formerly abused and her training process has been careful and involved. Regan has patiently and consistently, “worked to bring her out of that state of mind.”
Music and Photography Involvement: Regan is studying Music Education at MSU (Missouri State University). She is a talented violist and has been playing the viola for six years. This young musician is the assistant principal of the Springfield Youth Symphony, a member of both the MSU Symphony and the MSU Chamber Orchestra, and a member of the Broken Light String Quartet. “I came up with the name,” Regan laughed. Regan is also an amateur livestock photographer. Her favorite livestock subjects to shoot are cattle. “I enjoy cows,” she said, “cows and horses are what I have the most experience with.” Her number one photo tip is to, “make sure everything is in focus. My biggest pet peeve is fuzzy pictures.”
Future Plans: Regan plans to continue her work with horses and her music studies. She would like to make teaching children both horsemanship and music a main focus. “I want to teach kids that they mean something,” Regan said. “Everybody needs someone to love them, even if it’s just a teacher at school or someone teaching them riding.”
Story and Photo by Klaire Bruce
