Wilmington, Ohio – The final Wilmington Sunday Spotlight of the winter circuit shines on Mara Kranz of Algonquin, Illinois. Kranz has been alongside trainer Kim Gardiner at Perfecta Farm for 23 years, beginning through her junior years until turning professional at the age of 18. Kranz was ringside in Wilmington throughout the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series with her students and top mount, Wheeler, in the open jumper classes. We caught up with Kranz to learn more about her background and her special gelding.
WEC: How did you get into riding?
My mom is a dressage trainer, and I’m a fifth-generation rider. My grandfather was the first person to bring in horses from the US a long time ago. He was a five-star general. My mom and my aunt are both good, well-known, dressage judges and I ventured into the hunter/jumper world. I have been riding since I could walk. I used to be afraid to jump. I had a pony that used to put his head down all the time. I wasn’t riding with Kim at the time, but she told me it was very naughty. I’ve learned to hang on since then!
I have been at Perfecta for 23 years. I first started with Kim when I had ponies, then I did the equitation and did the children’s hunters. Once I turned 18, I became her professional. I won the gold medal at USET. Only about 85 people have it so that is cool! I won IHJA Finals and the Children’s Hunters at Washington on my mom’s dressage horse.
WEC: Tell us about your horse Wheeler.
We bought him in November as a young horse to have some fun and jump bigger classes. I used to have a good jumper named Keepen Posted, that’s where the little red rockets painted on Wheeler come from! I lost him when he was 27. He was a thoroughbred horse. Everybody knows him in the Midwest and around here too. So, I wanted to do the jumpers and get my feet wet again.
Wheeler is like my soulmate in that situation. He has brought me back to having fun again. He’s like a big toddler. I bought him a toy. He loves to play with that, but he likes to sleep a lot! When he’s nervous and you do the girth up he gets the hiccups. When he really hiccups a lot, then we know we’re in trouble!
He was snoring earlier today and people were sending me videos from the barn, so we will see how today goes. He’ll be seven this May. So, he’s a young horse, but he’s growing and has a lot of a lot of personality.
Mara Kranz & Desantos. Photo by Winslow Photography.WEC: How has WEC – Wilmington been beneficial for your barn this winter?
This is our fourth time here this winter and we love coming here. It’s gotten our horses a lot of experience. One of Kim’s baby green horses was champion only horse showing three times here. It is so user friendly here. Everything is under one roof and the kids get the same experience of going to Florida here over great jumps and good courses. It is great mileage for them. We love all of the people here. Everything is well kept up and it is so fun to come.
WEC: What is your favorite part about the sport?
To always try to be better. I like to help people win and always have fun with the sport.
WEC: What are your goals for 2024?
I want to keep going and doing more big classes with my horse and focus on selling more horses. Kim recently bought another horse for me to show in the hunter derbies, so that’ll be really fun to bring him along.
Thank you, Mara, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you continued success in and out of the ring!