Wilmington, Ohio – This week’s Wilmington Sunday Spotlight shines Elyse Jeschelnig. The junior rider of Cleveland, Ohio, has spent the majority of her winter developing her partnerships with her horses, Quidam Adero and Kts Kantoulon, in the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies and $10,000 Futures Prix at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC). We caught up with Jeschelnig after her stunning rounds to learn more about her horses and her riding journey!
WEC: How did you get started riding?
I started riding when I was three. I started at a backyard barn in a summer camp. My older sister rode as well and I just fell in love with it. I stopped riding for about a year when I was little because I had a bad fall. When I picked it up again, I started riding with Liz Porter, where I am now. After about six months I got into the lesson program and started leasing a sweet little mare. I went on from there, it was the snowball effect!
WEC: Tell us about your two horses, Quidam Adero and Kts Kantoulon.
Quidam Adero is the horse that I did the derby on. I have had him for two months and we are just leasing him. He is a 13-year-old. I am learning the ropes with him still, what he likes and what he doesn’t. We have had some great success so far. Last month, I was second in the derby and was champion in the juniors. He was great this weekend here too! He is already teaching me a lot. He is very different from my previous hunter that I had for five years. They are polar opposites and ‘Q’ is teaching me the other side which I am so grateful for.
My jumper, Kts Kantoulon, I am doing in the 1.30m. I have had him for about a year and a half now. I call him Kal in the barn, and he is nine now. He is my heart horse! From the moment I got him I just knew he was my guy. I take him out on bareback trail rides by myself. There are a lot of trails behind the property where I ride, and it is my favorite thing to do with him. I am still figuring out how to clean it up in the 1.30m. We are learning together.
WEC: How has WEC – Wilmington been beneficial for you in your riding career?
It is so beneficial for us. I am here pretty much every month. We don’t have a lot where we live, so it really gives us a great space to show. We don’t have to travel so far to get to a nice facility. The rings are huge, fancy and well kept. All the people that work here are so nice. You don’t feel like you have to go to Florida to get a great horse show experience in the winter.
WEC: What are your 2025 goals with your horses?
I definitely want to win the derby with Q! I almost did it, so I know I can! I will take Q to Junior Hunter Finals, and I hope to have a great show there. Kal has always been a go with the flow horse for me. I never had any expectations. I want to establish a clean and stable feeling in the 1.30m and I will go from there!
WEC: What is your favorite thing about the sport?
Honestly, I am not a very competitive person. It is all about the horses for me. I just think it is so cool that we get to talk to them without talking to them. Each of them talks differently. It is so cool to me to see how they develop over time. I genuinely love it for the connection with them.
WEC: How do you juggle school and riding?
I am 16, so I am a sophomore in high school. We show about once a month. I go to a private school up north in Cleveland and my classes can be really tough. I communicate a lot with my teachers, and they are flexible with me. I really make sure I stay on top of things, and I manage it when I am at the horse show.
Thank you, Elyse, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you continued success in and out of the show ring!