Wilmington, Ohio – The final Wilmington Sunday Spotlight of 2024 shines on Annie Gerding of Columbus, Ohio. Despite her busy schedule throughout her time at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Gerding has never failed to make time for her passion. In her free time, Gerding is a frequent competitor in the Standlee Sanctuary with her horse, RMF Hurrikane, and spends her days with the team at Kendalwood Farm. We caught up with Gerding to learn more about her journey!
WEC: How did you get started riding?
I started riding when I was five or six. I was in ballet class as a kid and one day came out and just decided I wanted to ride horses! My mom found a barn in my hometown to let me take lessons. At that point, I was just taking one lesson a week. That was really my only riding experience growing up. We did some local shows, and I had a pony named Chesie. That was how I fell in love with it. Now, I ride with Charlotte Clark at Kendalwood Farm.
WEC: How do you balance vet school with your riding?
I went to undergrad at Ohio State, and I always wanted to be a vet growing up. Ever since I was six it was never an option for me to do anything different. My parents always let me have whatever animal I wanted. I got into vet school the year after I graduated and have been there ever since.
Managing school with riding is not easy, but it gets done because I love it. I actually gave up riding for a moment to get into vet school. The time wasn’t there, and I didn’t have a car in undergrad, so I couldn’t get to the barn. A few girls in my sorority had ridden with Charlotte [Clark], so when I got into vet school, I messaged her and started taking lessons from there.
I had never experienced this life before. I had always been on lesson horses at local shows. When I came to a show barn, that was really when I started leasing my first horse Wesley. I did the 2ft on him and I really thought that was all I was going to do. But I went to my first show at WEC, and I was pretty hooked. I was going to find a way to do this whether or not I had the time.
I pack a bag, go to school and straight to the barn to ride! It has been harder during my clinical year because I have a lot that I can’t miss. But right now, I am on call overnight so why not horse show during the day! I run the risk of not sleeping but it has worked out. I wanted to make riding a priority throughout school because I love it, and it has been my saving grace throughout some of my hardest days.
WEC: Tell us about your horse RMF Hurrikane.
He is pretty much known as Candy Kane around the barn year-round. He is perfect! I was leasing Wesley and much like many of the clients that come to Charlotte’s, I said I wanted to switch to jumpers. So, we made it happen! Kane came to the barn and there was a swapping of horses. They ended up needing someone to ride him and I thought it was my chance and my opportunity. He is a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood. We started doing the .65m and now we are up to the .90m. In just a year of having him we have grown so much.
WEC: How has WEC – Wilmington been influential in your riding journey?
It has been great for Kane and me to have the consistency here. He is the most loving and willing boy, so for us to be able to come here every month to show has built such a trust in our partnership. Outside of riding, I have met so many great people here. It is a family. I rode at 8am and now I will just stay all day! It is a community I have never experienced before, and I will certainly never give up riding again.
WEC: What are your short-term and long-term riding goals?
Short term would be to move up to the 1.0m! We just moved up to the .90m, so there is certainly no rush to get there. Long term, I would love to jump the 1.20m at some point. Before I came to Kendalwood and found Kane, I would have said my ceiling of ability was maybe 2’6”, but now with him I think I can really move up! He has made me feel like I can do it all.
Thank you, Annie, for taking the time to speak with us! We are inspired by your dedication and wish you the best of luck with Candy Kane!
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.