October 9, 2025, 4:35 PM MDT
The two riders, who share the same faith, also shared the podium at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, a national dressage competition held in Wayne, Illinois, from August 18th to 24th.
Charel Garcia, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, won first place with a horse named Virtuous. Second place went to Latter-day Saint Justin Giles, competing in the national competition for the first time. He calls his horse Cookie.
Dressage is a sport where the horse and rider appear to dance. The Olympic website explains that the exam “consists of a number of tests in which horses and riders are awarded points for performing routines involving specified movements.”
“If the Lord wasn’t involved in everything, I wouldn’t be here right now,” Giles told Church News. “I rely on prayer throughout the competition week. My mind is clear and open to the promptings of the Spirit, and I know when and where to help and signal my testing moves,” he added.
Garcia said the season started with a mid-competition power outage due to stress and anxiety, but culminated in peace and a championship ribbon. She attributes her success to prayer and priesthood blessings.
“Every time I stepped in the ring, I had the biggest smile on my face,” she said. “There were no power outages.”
Charel Garcia: “Enjoy”
Garcia was born in the Netherlands and discovered horses at the age of nine. With no horses in her family and no budget for shows, she knocked on farm gates asking to exercise her pony in the backyard in exchange for chores.
At age 15, she got her first horse and began building her training through internships and work at a professional horse farm.
Upon marriage, she moved to Utah. Then, an opportunity presented itself and she, her husband, and two horses moved across the border to Middletown, New York, where she now rides and raises young horses.
Last year was her first national competition and she won the reserve championship.
This year’s path has not been smooth. Previous tournaments had been plagued by bad weather. “It was really difficult,” she said. Out of 33 tests, only three were accurate, she said.
In midsummer, she competed in the Grand Prix, the highest level in sports, for the first time. The expected panic disappeared after prayer.
“The bell rang,” she said, adding, “I immediately felt peace. I heard the words, ‘It’s okay, have fun.'”
That became her anchor. Before each competition, she finds a quiet spot, reads a passage from the Book of Mormon, and says a prayer.
“The hard work is done. Just have fun and have fun,” her husband said during the priesthood blessing.
She said: “I was calm, happy and clear-headed so I could focus on the horse and get the best out of it.”
Justin Giles: Peace comes from prayer
Giles, who lives in Heber City, Utah, started riding competitive dressage three years ago. When he arrived at the national tournament, he had more hopes than expectations. “I was pretty surprised and shocked,” he said of finishing second. “This is my first time participating in such a big event, and I am so surprised, shocked, and grateful to have achieved such a great result.”
Faith is with him in the arena, he says. He sees horses not just as animals, but as beautiful creations of God.
“As I walked around the arena, waiting for the signal to start testing, I realized that I was always praying to not only find harmony and partnership with the horse, but also to learn how to handle him and get the most out of his abilities.”
He, too, felt sustained by the prayers of others.
“My coach is also part of our faith. … Not many people get the opportunity to have a coach who can pull them aside and pray with them right before they step into the ring to compete,” he said. “When she stepped out of the competition ring, she had tears in her eyes and said, “Angels were with me,” which is very special to hear from a mentor or coach.”
He explained that his wife Samantha Giles also encourages him to turn to the Savior during difficult times.
“I love her and I’m glad Heavenly Father put her in my life,” he said. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
find divine help
While competing in the national competition, they both laughed about the reality that the other had received the same divine help they had both sought.
“I thought, ‘Oh, Heavenly Father is on my side, we’re going to make it,'” Giles recalled. “And I looked at Sharelle and thought, ‘So is she. That was interesting.'”
Garcia agreed: “We both do, and that’s great.”
For her, God’s help was not just strength, but joy. “What’s really amazing is how you can actually come out of such high anxiety and stress levels and get back on track in no time. You can immediately feel peace of mind and actually enjoy yourself,” she said.
“Through our work, we can spread what we believe in,” Garcia said. “Things may not always go the way we want, when we want, or the way we want, but if we keep God close, He will make sure we are where we are supposed to be.”
Giles revealed a truth that the sport has taught him over and over again.
“God sees effort and loves it,” he said. “What’s important to us is just as important to our Heavenly Father. As I strive to involve Him in my passions, I’m able to do more.”
