This week’s Sunday Spotlight shines on Genevieve Munson, an extremely talented and driven junior rider with deep roots in Rogers, Arkansas. We caught up with Genevieve in between rides this Saturday at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. Genevieve cares for and produces her own horses and has many great accomplishments to her credit including several high-level Grand Prix wins. This week was no exception as Genevieve topped the $10,000 Welcome Stake and secured a second-place finish in the $30,000 Grand Prix.
How did you get started riding horses?
By the time I was born my parents had their own farm. My older siblings wanted to ride when they were in their early teens. They started with lessons and eventually, my parents purchased the farm. My dad went from working a business to being full-time on our farm. I started showing when I was four. I did the walk-trot cross rails and other stuff like that on a local level. When I was six years old I got my first hunter pony for Christmas. I showed him for a few years in the mediums and then when I was nine years old I got Bluebell, which was my pony jumper. She really got me started and we say that she put me on the map. I owe a lot to her. Over the next few years, I moved up from ponies to horses. My Zonderling horse is who I started riding at the Grand Prix level.
Do you train your own horses?
That’s a bit of a tricky question. I train my own horses day-to-day and work by myself most of the time riding four to six horses daily. However, I have an advisor that I try to meet with quarterly. Linda Allen is my advisor. We discuss what shows I will be attending and any other questions I may have. She is always there for me. She takes us to the big championships, too. I look up to Linda a lot. She has been a big influence on my riding career!
Aside from your advisor, do you have any mentors that you look up to?
I have really looked up to those competing in the 1.60ms and when I start to look at the international field at all of these amazing riders who have been at the top for so long. There are so many to name, but they all really inspire me. When I first started riding it was neat to see the Dover catalogs with the awesome riders on the cover.
Do you have plans made for after high school?
I absolutely plan to go pro next December, as soon as I am able. I will probably take college courses online. I’m thinking of getting a business degree. Going to college isn’t something that I am set on doing. I know that I am going pro in this and anything that I do additionally is just for extra education for myself and something to put on a resume. It has been horses from day one for me!
As we wrap up the year, what are your goals for 2022?
We have 2022 pretty broken down. I will spend the winter between Ocala, Florida and Houston, Texas. I would like to ride the $500,000 AIG class down at HITS Ocala. There are two $100,000 classes that Houston will do during the Winter Classic and another for Pin Oak Charity. Throughout the latter part of the year there are the benchmark championships, Young Riders, a few others and moving my horses up to the 1.50m is another thing we will try to accomplish in 2022. We have done some National Standards but definitely need to get consistent there. That’s pretty much the layout for my last Junior year. I just want to finish out some goals that I have set for myself.
We wish Genevieve the best in her future endeavors, and we can’t wait to see her back at WEC