Wilmington, Ohio – The final Wilmington Sunday Spotlight of the 2025 Winter in the Midwest Series shines on Valerie Wunder. Riding out of Sarah Sturges LLC, Valerie has found success with her mare, Cix Degrees HH, in the Opportunity Limit Hunter and Equitation divisions. After taking a break from the show ring to racking up champion ribbons, we sat down with Valerie to learn more about her riding journey, her incredible mare, and her experience at WEC!
WEC: How did you get started riding?
I started riding when I was five. My mom wanted my sister and I to get into something and I stuck with it. I grew up in Maryland and I started in 4H. I never tried to do the big equitation or any of that, I just wanted to ride. I rode all through high school and college and then I took a break after I graduated. I would only ride here and there. I leased a horse for a summer a did a few local shows.
I moved to Arizona for my job, and I wanted to get back into the sport. My cousin found me a barn where I started with a lesson a week, and then I leased one, and then I bought one! I ended up moving back to Ohio and I brought my horse with me. I would pay for my horse to go to shows, but I was really nervous after some falls and wasn’t showing myself. We ultimately decided to breed her. Then, it turned out that my friend Elizabeth Houstma had a horse that has turned out to be a unicorn in my life!
WEC: Tell us about your mare, Cix Degrees HH.
Cix was bred by Elizabeth at Hillside Ranch in Missouri. She jumped both the futures prix and the grands prix. Elizabeth wanted her to be able to step down and have the life that she deserves because she owes us nothing.
I asked Sarah [Sturges] and Jeff [Rundle] if I could bring her to the farm, and now we show her in the Opportunity Limit Hunter and Equitation 2’. She has the grand prix treatment at a 2’ lifestyle! She is so perfect. I did cross rails at our first show, and I was so nervous because I hadn’t shown in 10 years. Cix has really bolstered my confidence. She is a work horse. She loves to be in the ring, she loves attention. She is truly perfect. She did all the great things, and I am just lucky enough to have her.
WEC: How has WEC – Wilmington been beneficial for you and your riding career?
I love this show series. I really appreciate that there are classes that make it available for everybody to come here. I don’t feel less than, I don’t feel like a waste of time, and I really appreciate that. It is competitive too. There are 15-20 people in my classes that are all good. It is nice to know that they take every class just as seriously here no matter how high you are jumping or what ring you are in. I love how they have built this place with a rider in mind.
WEC: What influenced you to get back into riding?
It never leaves you. Even if I was not riding, I was live streaming medal finals or watching the grand prix at WEF. I went to derby finals one year in Kentucky just to watch. I thought I would be content being the person on the sidelines watching, but even though I just do the 2ft, I am having so much fun. The sport and the horses just truly never really leave you.
WEC: What is your biggest riding goal for 2025?
I would love to do another little derby. When the $3,000 2’ Hunter Derby was here last year, it was so fun, and it was special.
Thank you, Valerie, for taking the time to speak with us! We wish you and Cix continued success!