People often laugh when I tell them how my passion for riding began… at the tender age of four, my parents bought a $25 Groupon for pony lessons to the middle of nowhere barn as a gift. I took a break after a few lessons because it became too cold and didn’t begin riding again until the age of nine in 2016, but that’s when I realized horse riding was my passion. In 2017, I competed in my first A rated show in Gulfport, MS in the cross rails division with a small chestnut mare pony and I was hooked.
I currently train with Katana Kennedy O’Brien in St. Louis. Some of my competition highlights include:
• Many end-year champion or reserve champion awards in Zone and at the state level from 2017 to 2022
• Winning the 2022 Zone 7 Equitation Championship
• Qualifying for Medal finals, Regionals
• NHS Hamel finals
• Winning several eq classes including the Dover, Maclay, Washington Hunter phase, and 3’3 jumping seat medal at many shows that I attend
• I began my 3’6 junior career in 2022 and recently began competing in low children jumpers
• .95 and 1.05 jumpers where I was Champion 5 of my 6 weeks on the winter circuit in Florida and Texas
I am currently a rising junior at Villa Duchesne Catholic High School (Class of 2025) and I am as committed to my school/studies just like I am with my riding. Balancing my time between riding and schooling can be challenging at times, but I have been able to maintain my 3.75 GPA and have received Villa’s prestigious Outstanding Student Award in Science and History for two of my three high school semesters to date. While I am not in the show ring or at school, I am spending time with family and friends and volunteering my time at schooling shows while helping younger riders at my barn develop their own passion for riding.
Having the opportunity to ride at the collegiate level will allow me to further develop my riding skills while pursuing a chosen field of studies and becoming one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a trainer and sharing my passion with others. Looking back over the last 6 years, the riding opportunities and competition I’ve experienced have really shaped me into the confident, strong, and determined rider and person that I have become. Horses have taught me patience, communication, how to work through difficult situations, and how to keep pushing myself to become a stronger rider and person. I am very excited to find the right college that will give me the D1 equestrian experience that everyone talks about and one I’ve dreamed about for years.
I can’t wait to commit myself to a D1 equestrian program and become part of a team with others.
~ Reagan Gehm