EQUESTRIAN

since 2007

STILL TRAPPED IN THE “CRAZY HORSE GIRL” PHASE

Every little girl goes through a phase of horse obsession. For Gianna, that phase never ended. Ever since she was young, Gianna always had a passion for horses and everything that went into taking care of them. She started taking riding lessons at age 6, and has been very fortunate to have a family that supports her equestrian pursuits. Through her involvement with horses, she learned not only how to communicate and work with 1000+ lb animals, but also all of the responsibilities that go into being an equestrian. This involved properly taking care of the equipment used, feeding in appropriate amounts, mucking stalls, and following a training plan the enabled both the horse and rider as athletes to perform their best and avoid injury. Her commitment to riding allowed her explore different disciplines as well, notably including Equitation, Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, Eventing, and EXCA. 

 

COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL

Gianna has been fortunate enough to compete in nationally and globally recognized equestrian competitions in Canada, California, Texas, and Florida. Due to logistical challenges that come with transporting horses across the continent to compete, Gianna often made connections with trainers and riders who had horses she could borrow for these competitions. This added an extra element of challenge when working with an unfamiliar mount. As a result, Gianna had to be quick to react, adjustable, and a fast learner despite being at a competitive disadvantage.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • 3’0” Equitation Division Champion in 2020

  • 2nd Level Dressage Reserve Champion in 2019

  • 8th Place Finish in the $5,000 Hunter Derby at Thunderbird Showpark in 2019

  • 11th Place Finish in the NCEA National Equitation Medal Finals in 2019

  • EXCA World Champion in 2017

 

SHARING HER PASSIONS WITH OTHERS

Gianna enjoys sharing her love and knowledge of horses with others as well. She regularly leads unmounted and mounted riding lessons through the United States Pony Club, and is always willing to take part in opportunities that help educate others about appropriate and safe horsemanship. Also, as a certified C2 and HB (learn more about the certifications here), Gianna is able to lead rating examinations up to the D3 level.