Wilmington Standlee Sunday Spotlight: Reese Rosinski

This week’s Wilmington Sunday Spotlight shines on Reese Rosinski, a dedicated young rider who can be found spending most of her time in the pony ring at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. From growing up in a horse family to chasing bigger dreams, she shares how her journey began, what makes each of her ponies special, and why she loves the sport!

WEC: How did you get started riding, and where are you now in your riding career?
My mom rode and has always horses , so that was how I got into it. When I started riding, she got me into showing and everything. Riding has always just been part of my life! Now I ride with Kelly [Jones Dervis] at Old Oaks Farm, and I really love it there. I have two ponies and one horse— Rosie, Teddy, and Hayes. My sister, Erin, shows Teddy, I show Rosie, and my mom shows Hayes.

WEC: Tell us about your ponies.
Rosie is my pony. Her show name is Center Stage. In the show ring, she’s really easy and fun to ride, but on the ground she can be pushy because she really trusts her people! One of my favorite accomplishments with her was going to Devon and getting some of my first high scores. She brought me around my first time in the large pony division, which was really special. Hayes is our newer horse, and he’s honestly been more than we could have hoped for. My mom has been showing him, and I’ve ridden him a lot, too. I think I’ll start showing him soon, which I’m really excited about.

WEC: What are some of your biggest goals with your ponies?
I’d love to ribbon at Devon and at all the big indoor shows. That’s always been one of my dreams, especially with Rosie.

WEC: What’s your favorite class to show at WEC – Wilmington, and why?
The national derby is definitely my favorite. I have done it on my trainer’s horse Mia, also known as Astor H.S. I love all the twists and turns, especially when it’s Hunt-N-Go. You start with the classic and then go straight into the handy, and you don’t really have to think about what happened in the last round. You just move on and ride, which makes it really fun. I love to do the pony derby too!

WEC: What do you enjoy most about showing at WEC – Wilmington?
I love the kid jumping area, and I really like seeing all my friends, especially people I don’t get to see very often. I’ve made a lot of friends here, especially in the pony ring, which makes it even more fun!

WEC: How do you balance school with riding and showing?
I do a lot of my schoolwork in the car on the way to and from the barn. My teachers know I ride, so if I miss school for shows, I just let them know and make up the work. Sometimes I do school online, too.

WEC: What is it like to ride and show with your family?
Riding with my family is really special. It can be hard sometimes because we all want to be at the top level, but we get to share the same experiences, help each other, and it brings us closer together.

WEC: What keeps you motivated and coming back to the barn every day?
Probably the animals. I love waking up knowing they’re happy to see me and that they’re always there for me. Being around them every day is my favorite part of the sport.