Wilmington, Ohio – This week’s Wilmington Sunday Spotlight shines on Ella Reinauer. The driven amateur athlete made a trip to WEC – Wilmington to meet up with her longtime partner, Invictus, and the team at Happenstance Farms. Reinauer spent four years riding on the NCAA Division I Equestrian Team at Oklahoma State University and is now located in Dallas, Texas, furthering her education. We caught up with Reinauer after her $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby win to learn more about her journey!
WEC: How did you get started riding?
I started riding a bit later than most. I started in 7th or 8th grade. My mom got me into it. She grew up on a farm in Colorado where they bred Quarter Horses. She did the western side and always wanted to do the jumping side and wasn’t allowed to. So, she lived it out with me! I started in the backyard; I taught myself how to post off a YouTube video and did a lot of it in my own way. Then I got in touch with my trainer Ellen Baehr. We moved to St. Louis and the rest is history. I found success early on with her and it has been incredible. I rode with a few other trainers and learned a lot, and I am back with Ellen now and I am really grateful.
WEC: Tell us about your experience riding in college.
I went to Oklahoma State University. I got recruited there going into my junior year of high school. I got a call over the summer, and they were transitioning to a new coach. They called and asked if I wanted to come on a visit. It happened very quickly, and they weren’t on my radar, but I went on my visit, and they did an incredible job. The team really promotes family, and I felt at home really quickly. I signed very shortly after that. I had a blast there. I met a lot of great people and made a lot of connections in the horse industry as well from riding there. We had a lot of success there too, so that made it even more fun!
Currently I am getting my master’s in accounting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. My brother lives there and has kids there. He went to SMU and my dad did too, so when I was looking, I found that they have a great program. I have a job that I will start there this summer. Dallas is awesome, it is a great city.
WEC: How do you manage your education at SMU and riding?
Riding looks a lot different for me now! We currently just have one horse that we own, Invictus, also known as Lucas. He still lives in St. Louis near my parents. In college I was always riding, but now living in Dallas, when I came here to show last week, I hadn’t ridden since January. We have such a good relationship with Ellen, and he is so comfortable there, and we don’t want to move him. I don’t really get a lot of practice now, but I know my horse so well. I used to do him in the 1.20m jumpers and he has transitioned into the hunters. Now doing the derbies and the Amateur Owners, the jumps are a little bit smaller so having the relationship that we have makes it easier for me to come back and get on. I have had to learn not to put the same amount of pressure on myself that I used to.
WEC: How has WEC – Wilmington been beneficial for you?
I have been showing here since 2017. I came with a medium green pony, a 3’3” junior hunter, an equitation horse, and now I come back with Lucas as an amateur. WEC has answered every question with this facility and continues to provide more space as the show grows. The hunter warmup rings weren’t there when I first started coming here. It has been really impressive to see how the facility has expanded and how it accommodates such large shows now. It has always been super competitive, which is really nice to be able to find that in the Midwest in the winter.
WEC: Tell us about the horses you showed this week.
I showed Lorstakov. The Rinehart’s own him, and I am just leasing him for the week. I miss the jumper ring, and they were kind enough to share him. He is incredible. His barn name is Ralph. He won both classes last week, was third in the classic and just won the speed class Saturday. He is hotter than my old jumper and he is very careful, so it has been really fun to go fast and make the inside turns. He has been a blast.
Lucas is the steady eddy. We have had him for a while. We have transitioned through the rings with him, and he is finding his footing in the hunters. Every show we take him to we walk out and say he was so much better than yesterday. We are continuously saying that it is the best round he has had! He is very smart and is settling right in.
WEC: What are your goals for 2025?
I start a full-time position in the summer, so my future is a little uncertain! I plan to take my horse to Devon this year. I have never gone, and I want to go and have fun with him. He jumps around anywhere and that is an experience that I missed out on in 2020. I will do the Adult Equitation finals during indoors in the fall and I hope to place well there.
Thank you, Ella, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you continued success in and out of the ring!