Riding horses is one thing. 

Connecting with one is another. 

Sophomore Alexandra Chambers is no stranger when it comes to hard work. Over the past five years, Chambers has put dedication into mastering the skill and talent of horseback riding, while also learning that success doesn’t depend on just skill, but also a bond she built with her horse, Bella. 

What started as an obsession with animals and nature became something more serious. At the age of 10, Chambers began her horseback riding journey with camps and trail rides, and as she got older, she began increasing her skill and focusing more on practicing and learning the discipline of competitive horseback riding.

“I’ve always loved the outdoors,” Chambers said. “When I was 10, my mom brought me to this horseback riding camp, and then I just kept begging to go back. Eventually, I started taking horseback riding lessons there.”

Her father, Paul Chambers, said the interest in horseback riding started before her first riding lesson. 

“It goes back to her My Little Pony dolls,” Paul Chambers said. “But then she started doing some trail rides. There were some services north of Houston that she could do. She got into it, and then she graduated to quarter horses, and now she’s in the more advanced, more competitive horses.” 

Paul Chambers strives to support his daughter through her horseback riding journey. In the beginning, he provided her with lessons and the proper gear to allow Chambers to further explore her sport.

“As a parent, you want to pursue your kids’ passions within reason,” Paul Chambers said. “I’ve watched her over the years compete and do well at shows, so that’s why we just continue to support.”

Training did not immediately translate into success. Horseback riding requires technique, patience, and most importantly — finding the right horse. Chambers’ first few lessons were located at different stables as she grappled with the norms of horseback riding. She originally started riding lessons at a farm. Then, she moved into her aunt’s place in Cyprus, where she rode her old horse named Star. Chambers then switched to the Barnabas stables, where she began her journey with her current horse Bella.

Finding Bella took a while. Choosing the correct horse rested on a number of factors: the horse’s jumping skills, temper and overall elegance. Horses were divided into two different disciplines: speed and height, and the other was hunter jumping. Chambers was looking for a hunter jumping horse.

Bella would fulfill Chambers’ long term goals as her family believed that she could improve with a different horse. Bella comes from a long line of horses — a German warm blood with a full passport and around 100 years of lineage.

“For Alex, it was just great timing for us that we found the horse that was so compatible,” Paul Chambers said.

Junior Luca Chambers, Chambers’ older brother, believes her relationship with Bella has grown a lot.

“Bella is such a huge portion of Alex’s identity,” said Luca Chambers. “Whenever I’m looking over Alex’s shoulder [while she’s] scrolling [Instagram] reels, they’re all about horses.”

At first, working with Bella was rough for Chambers.

“In the beginning it was hard, because I didn’t understand how to ride a horse,” Chambers said. “The better you connect with your horse, the better you ride, because you understand your horse better, and you understand what they need to do better.”

Chambers visited the barn around four times a week and gave Bella “plenty of treats” to bond faster.

“I would have to just ride her and figure out what I can do to help her focus more and move the way I need her to move,” Chambers said. “The nicer the horse that you get, the more ‘buttons’ [different functions] they’ll have, so there’s more ways that you can move them.”

Chambers struggled most with getting the horse to maneuver her head and step underneath herself, a technique that involves using a bit, which is a piece of equipment that helps guide the horse’s movements.

“It can be really hard,” Chambers said. “That’s why it took me so long to click with my horse, because Bella has a lot of buttons, so I just had to figure out how I can move her, and it took a while. It’s only been recently that I’ve actually clicked with Bella.”

As Chambers’ skill and confidence in horseback riding grew, Paul Chambers couldn’t help but notice how her relationship with Bella had shifted as well.

“I think it is wonderful that Alex’s connection with an animal has grown — not necessarily as a pet, but as an equal part of competing,” Paul Chambers said. “And I think, as any parent would hope for their child to do well at something that requires a lot of hard work, regardless of where she places, just to see her passion for this and to see her connect with her horse is a very rewarding experience.”

Luca Chambers has watched as his sister’s commitment to horseback riding has shaped her life. He’s noticed the long hours she’s dedicated to training and the sacrifices his sister has made for the sport.

“I’ve seen Alex growing, as she’s been riding horses since nine years old,” said Luca Chambers. “She’s gone from going to a small ranch with my dad’s cousin to now doing horse shows every season and actually placing amongst people who have full-on ranches, so Alex’s skills have drastically increased. She’s gone from small little camp stuff to the big leagues.”

As Chambers grew older, academics have increased, filling up her schedule and giving less time to do horseback riding with Bella. To help out, Luca Chambers supports Chambers by tutoring her in math or AP World History work.

“With the strain it has on Alex’s time, I’ve had to fill that academic role to make up for the time she loses, whether it’s at school or just in her free time.” Luca Chambers said.

Despite the challenges, Luca Chambers admires how Chambers is persistent about her passion in horseback riding.

“I really admire the fact that she’s been able to stick with horseback riding for so long,” Luca Chambers said. “For Alex, it’s been an incredible journey, going from riding at summer camps with friends back in fifth grade to now being a big player with her own horse that she competes with and wins at shows. That whole persistence and endurance aspect, I really do admire it.”

Horseback riding also demands both physical and mental strength from both Chambers and Bella throughout the year. Chambers rides with a trainer three times a week to practice jumping and do a practice course. When not with her trainer, Chambers focuses on trying to “control” Bella by extending her legs and stepping underneath her.

“I warm her up, I walk her around and I trot her around so I get her stretched, and then we go over jumps and we do a course,” Chambers said. “It’s all about keeping Bella strong.”

Chambers has committed to other Bellaire teams to improve her skills in horseback riding. She joined the track team to keep her core and leg muscles in shape. 

“If we’re counting outside of actual riding, the workouts that I do to start riding can be up to 15 hours a week — just working out and staying conditioned,” Chambers said.

Paul Chambers acknowledges her diligence in the sport. Her training sessions last 30 to 45 minutes, and then the drive to and from takes a while as well. As a parent, Paul Chambers commits six to eight hours a week in driving and helping maintain Bella for Alex’s sport.

“It has certainly taught Alex that if you want to compete on the level at which she’s competing at, it takes a lot of hard work and a commitment to do that,” Paul Chambers said. “Horseback riding is a true sport that [takes] a demanding toll on you, mentally and physically, just like a number of other sports.”

Competitions can be “nerve-wracking,” and riding can be dangerous, because a horse may suddenly stop before a jump, buck or rear, leading to a fall.

“Bella doesn’t have a temper most of the time, but horses are very fight or flight, so small things can freak them out, and it can be really dangerous,” Chambers said. “I’ve fallen off a few times, but I’ve never broken anything, luckily. Horses can also hear your nerves, so if you’re nervous, then your horse looks nervous. Especially with  Bella, she’s a very anxious horse, so I can’t go into the arena being nervous, or else she’s gonna freak out. 

Not only are the nerves of your own performance worrisome, but watching other performers can also be nerve-wracking. Once, Chambers had to perform right after witnessing a girl break her leg in the arena. 

“There was a time last year that the person who went in front of me fell off, and she snapped her leg in half.” Chambers said. “I had to go in right after her, so I was really nervous about that. But, in the end I laid down a good round and I got second. It can get really, really scary, and you get an adrenaline rush, and watching the people who do the really high jumps can be really stressful.”

Knowing how dangerous horseback riding can be, Paul Chambers bought an airvest for Chambers, offering extra protection in case she falls.

“As parents, you’re just never going to be completely comfortable,” Paul Chambers said. “Once during practice, her horse had stopped before a big jump, and I jumped out of my seat.“

To manage stress, Chambers tries her best to not think of it, and focus on herself.

“You just have to take each moment at a time, you can’t think about it, you can’t let yourself get in your head about it, because if you get too in your head, it can ruin your mind,” Chambers said. “I always just try to breathe before I go in and tell myself that the point isn’t to win, the point is to lay down a good round. To me, it’s more of a win if I just do good.”

Still, Chambers tried her best to give a good performance. Her best competition was in April of 2025 at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. Chambers won second place out of 45 people in her jumping class, and in her flat class, a system to showcase your horse, she won second.

“You have to be doing it for the horse,” Chambers said. “You can’t do it for yourself, because if you only keep yourself in line and don’t keep in mind the well-being of your horse, it ruins your mind. It just makes everything worse.”

Looking ahead, Chambers said she doesn’t plan to pursue the sport in college but wants to make the most of her journey in high school.

“My goal is just to qualify for regional competition and qualify for the national shows, and see how I do there,” Chambers said.

Paul Chambers has seen how horseback riding has shaped Chambers in more ways than just competing. The experience has helped Chambers grow as a person, and her challenges have led to stronger character traits, allowing her to be more focused and driven in other aspects of life.

“When I first thought of Alex doing horseback riding, I thought of it as just horse riding, and I was just being naive, but now I can see that it’s something more,” Paul Chambers said. “She’s spent five to six years really committed to this sport and trying to get better, so I think that’s definitely taught her a lesson that she can use in other parts of her life.”