Wilmington Standlee Sunday Spotlight: Karston Gundry

Wilmington, Ohio – This week’s Wilmington Standlee Sunday Spotlight shines on Karston Gundry. From growing up showing on local circuits to developing his top mount, Kasper, into a Grand Prix horse, Gundry has worked his way up ranks. Now balancing online school with a full competition schedule, he continues to build experience and aim for the top of the sport. We caught up with Gundry after his double clear effort in the $10,000 Welcome Stake at WEC – Wilmington to learn more about his journey!

WEC: Can you tell me about your riding journey and how you got started?
I’ve been around horses my whole life. I always joke that I was riding before I was even born. I didn’t grow up on the big circuit, we did local shows and really started from the ground up. My mom is originally from South Africa and built our hunter/jumper program herself after converting my dad’s Western and barrel facility.

I grew up showing on the local circuits with some a Mustang/Haflinger cross in the jumpers and an Appaloosa in the hunters! We only showed a few times a year at first, but over time we were able to get nicer horses, and I started moving up the levels. Eventually I got a former World Cup horse who took me from the 1.0m classes to the 1.20m and into my first Futures Prix. He was tricky but taught me a lot, and that’s really when we started coming here regularly and getting more involved in the bigger circuit.

WEC: Tell us about your top mount, Kasper.
We imported Kasper from the Czech Republic a few years ago, originally for the equitation at the end of my junior career. He didn’t quite fit that job, but once we tried him in the jumpers, he really found his place!

We’ve brought him up from the 1.10m to now jumping the 1.40m. He’s incredibly honest and takes care of me, even when I make a mistake. He’s big, powerful, and has a ton of heart. He really gives everything for you. He’s done most of his development here at WEC. He won his first Futures Prix last year, jumped some great double-clear rounds in the Welcome, and recently stepped up to the Grand Prix.

WEC: Tell us about your experience at WEC – Wilmington.
It’s been incredible. Especially in the winter, when it’s freezing outside, having a facility like this allows us to keep the horses fit and progressing. Honestly, without WEC, we wouldn’t have been able to move up the levels the way we have.

It’s our favorite place to bring young horses and develop them — whether they’re hunters or jumpers — and really give them the experience they need to progress.

WEC: How do you juggle school and riding?
I’m currently in school online. I was originally committed to ride at Midway University, but I didn’t want to leave the opportunities I had at home and with horses like Kasper, so I do my classes online.

Balancing school and showing can be tough, especially during busy weeks when it’s go, go, go, and then you still have to sit down and do schoolwork at night. But we make it work, and I’ve been able to stay on the Dean’s List, so it’s going very well.

WEC: What are your goals moving forward?
My immediate goal is to keep the momentum going with Kasper and hopefully jump a double clear in a Grand Prix and continue moving up. Long term, I just want to keep progressing and work toward competing at the higher-level Grand Prix classes.

Thank you, Karston, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you continued success in and out of the ring!