Superintendent's Spotlight: Mila Chan

Warwick Valley Middle School sixth grader Mila Chan recently achieved an outstanding personal goal related to her hobby, the sport of equitation. Mila also has great experiences to share as both a world traveler and a world champion! But first, what is equitation? Thanks for asking!  

Equestrian associations define equitation as the art of horse riding, emphasizing the rider's skill, knowledge, and position over the horse's performance. At competitions, riders are judged on their ability to maintain a correct and balanced posture while communicating effectively with the horse using legs, seat, and hands.

“You're judged on things like how you’re positioned and how well you handle your horse,” Mila explained. “Because, however you control the horse, is how the horse will react. You have to turn the horse at exactly the perfect amount; there are different pacing, like cantering, trotting, walking, and galloping.”

Mila was named Reserve Champion in Modified Junior Equitation (Crossrails) for the entire 2025 show season of the Western Hudson Valley Professional Horseman’s Association. A little perspective on that: Mila competed in a field of about two dozen riders to earn her title, which recognizes the second-place overall finisher in an equestrian competition. She rode in eight shows throughout the season, collecting an impressive 151.0 points!

Mila gave a rundown on how the point system works.

“So, for the whole year, there’s a bunch of shows, and the more you compete, the more ribbons you can get,” she said. “Every ribbon I got, I got another point. By the end of the year, I was in second place. I actually got a giant ribbon for that!”

Mila was also selected to receive the organization’s Child Equine Education Scholarship for her dedication to the sport of equitation. Mila started training when she was just six years old and began showing at eight, when she was a third grader at Sanfordville Elementary School. Mila’s fellow competitors are riders from different training facilities around the area. Mila, along with other riders who are Warwick Valley students, trains at Crystal Water Farms, right here in Warwick, with Christie Barricella.

Something Mila appreciates about her hobby is the ongoing discovery. It’s easy to learn from losses when you love what you’re doing, and that’s been Mila’s approach to honing her skills.

“It’s like if you get last place, then that can tell you what you did wrong,” she said. “And then you learn what you did wrong so you can get better each time you do it!”

Now... about the previously mentioned world travel. Mila’s family is serious about globetrotting!

“The most recent place we've been to was Portugal,” Mila began. “In the summer, we’re going to Italy. But before that, for a Christmas break, I'm going to the Galapagos.”

Mila's favorite subject is science -- one, because she enjoys discovering new things and, two, because she actually "loves all the note-taking!" Mila enjoys recording her thoughts and discoveries on her family, too, and says her mom is the family’s adventurous leader in planning their travels. It’s been an interest and activity her family has shared for pretty much her whole life. So far, her mom’s itineraries have led the Chans through Paris, Costa Rica, Japan, Turks and Caicos, and…

“There's more places that I forgot,” Mila pondered. “Oh… Cape May!”  

Along with spending time with her family, Mila also loves the learning that comes with visiting new places. Her family enjoys taking in popular landmarks, both the historical and the touristy sites, and experiencing as much of the local culture as possible.

“But, even before I go, I like trying to learn some of the simpler bits of the language,” said Mila. “That way I can speak a little bit if I'm trying to get some food, or, like, find the bathroom.”

And Mila's favorite destination so far?

“Probably Japan,” she nodded. “Oh… Alaska! That's another one.”

Mila’s mom coordinated their trip to Japan with some other families.

“So, on that trip, my friends were there with me, and that was really nice,” Mila smiled. “And I just liked seeing all the sites, and I loved the food there. It was awesome.”

In school, another of Mila’s passions is Odyssey of the Mind, the international performative problem-solving league that combines all things STEAM. Warwick Valley has a long tradition of enthusiastic Odyssey involvement (not to mention great success). It is encouraged as early as elementary school. 

 “Oh yeah, I've done Odyssey since, probably, second grade,” Mila said. “I just love all the creativity and all the art, and I love doing stuff with a team, because you can make friends.”

Last year, in fifth grade, Mila was a member of the world champion WVMS Odyssey team that won first place at the 2025 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. They competed against 45 teams from around the world at Michigan State University. You can read their story here!

With more equitation events and two exciting trips overseas ahead of her, Mila already has a lot to look forward to. Always up for a challenge, however, Mila has also begun eagerly working with her private violin teacher on her All-County Orchestra audition piece for January. (Oh, did we not mention Mila’s musical talents? Dig this story!)

She’s also excited that this year’s Odyssey odyssey is already underway.

“We already had auditions, and I made it,” she said. “It’s pretty much our same team as last year, and we’re doing Problem 2 again. But it’s going to be a challenge! We’re in a way harder division this time – there’s going to be seventh and eighth graders!”