Local equestrian and steed finish competition with Reserve Champion title
Gneiser beams with pride as Jeanne Cross of Steep Hill Farms, left, presents her and Xena with the red, yellow and white Reserve Champion ribbon for the Long Stirrup Hunter division.
Erin Gneiser does not own a horse - she never has. But that has not stopped the Adams Farm resident from enjoying them. In fact, her years of riding at Ledford Farms on Guilford College Road in Jamestown culminated in October with the title Reserve Champion, the second highest award in Long Stirrup Hunter, which she earned with a horse named “In a New York Minute” (a.k.a. Xena).
Gneiser also received three individual ribbons at the final show of the season at Steeple Hill Horse Show, but it was the Reserve Champion title that meant the most.
“It is an accumulation of points earned for wins throughout the show season,” Gneiser explained, also noting that it was her second year to show in the Long Stirrup Hunter division, which includes higher jumps. “Last year we were close to getting Reserve Champion, but missed it by about two points. It was very exciting for me to get it this year. A lot of people were crying because they knew how much it meant to me.”
Gneiser says Xena was a little wild when she first started riding her four years ago. Ledford Farms trainer Melissa Horn let Gneiser help with the horse's training and the three (trainer, rider and horse) have developed a close bond.
A self-proclaimed animal lover, Gneiser did not begin riding horses until after her family moved from Cary to this area when she was 10. They often stopped by Ledford Farms to look at the horses and Gneiser finally put her name on a waiting list to take riding lessons.
“I just wanted to learn more about horses,” Gneiser said. “I didn't know about showing them until after I began riding.”
Gneiser says she leased a horse for a while, which meant that the horse was on call for her when it was not involved with lessons. Part of the lease agreement included barn duty each month.
“That is a good way to get involved with the care and responsibility of a horse,” she said. “You become more active in the riding program that way.”
She began to be more involved with horses, but Gneiser also played softball for a couple of years. She soon realized, however, that horseback riding was her real passion.
“As a freshman in high school, riding took over my life,” she said. “I love showing. It gives me an adrenaline rush.
“When I first started, I had no ribbons, but now I have boxes of them. I don't know what to do with them all,” she added with a smile.
With this year's show season behind her, Gneiser hopes to continue riding at Ledford Farm and perhaps participate in a few Sedgefield C (regional) shows. She also wants to become more involved in the training aspect with younger girls.
As a senior at Southwest High School, she has given a lot of consideration to the college she will attend. She applied to Virginia Tech and Ohio State because they both offer a strong animal science major and have equine programs.
“I would like to go into veterinarian medicine, but there is so much you can do with an animal science degree,” Gneiser said. “I know I want horses involved in my life in some way.”
Between the two universities, Gneiser is favoring Virginia Tech. In addition to the opportunity to get the degree she is seeking and to try out for Tech's equestrian team, she also is impressed with its football program.
“All my family are football fans,” Gneiser said of her parents, Joe and Dawn Gneiser, and brother Ryan. “When my parents and I visited Virginia Tech recently we attended a football game. Football is just part of the college spirit.”
But until she leaves for college in August 2009, she will continue to ride as much as possible and continue her part-time job at James Landing Veterinary Hospital.
“The thought of leaving Ledford Farms is upsetting, but I am looking forward to the future,” Gneiser said. “I am excited about what is to come.”
