Page 68 - 2306_full

66 SIDELINES JUNE 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE S I D E L I N E S

J R

By Jan Westmark

Geoffrey Hesslink, a 15 year old junior rider from Shelburne, Vermont, said he fell in love with horses as a little boy. “I loved horse books, horse movies and games. No one in my family rode or knew anything about horses and my parents thought that my interest was just a phase I would outgrow. They introduced me to other sports and I began swimming competitively.”

When Geoffrey was nine, he broke his left arm and damaged the nerve and swimming became diffcult. Geoffrey said he was upset so his dad took him to a nearby barn for horseback riding lessons and he began taking weekly lessons on a pony named Star. “I had never been as happy as I was on a pony and from there my love of riding grew,” he said.

Geoffrey now trains with Don Stewart Stables in Florida, fying back and forth to Florida to work with Don. While the traveling may sometimes get the best of him, Geoffrey said he has learned a great deal from Don and enjoys showing in the junior hunters and the equitation divisions.

Sidelines: What do you like about showing in the different divisions?

GH: I enjoy the junior hunters because of the competitiveness and nice fowy courses. I like the Big Eq because of the complexity of the courses and the different jumps and courses.

Sidelines: How do you manage getting to Don’s farm for lessons?

GH: Living in Vermont makes it a challenge and I have to do a great deal of traveling. I spend the summer on the road with them and during the fall meet them at shows or at the farm for practice. This past winter I went to school in Ocala for eight weeks during HITS so that was much easier. I will fy down as much as I can and meet them at shows until June when school gets out again. I am very fortunate that my parents support me and make the sacrifces to allow me to train with Don and Bibby.

Sidelines: What do you like about riding with Don and Bibby Farmer?

GH: I like training with Don and Bibby because they make me want to work harder and be better. They push me to understand my potential and learn the most I can about riding and horse care. I have learned so much from Don and the memories and learning experiences I have had with him are priceless. I have learned how to improve

my equitation and how to make a horse go smoother and jump better. I have also learned the technical aspects to riding, which has helped in equitation and handy classes.  I have learned how to handle a great ride as well as how to handle and learn from my mistakes. The life lessons and morals of riding can not be taught in a classroom or a school, you have to fgure them out for yourself and Don Stewart Stables has helped me greatly.

Sidelines: What horses are you showing now?

GH: At the moment I am showing a horse named Adonis in the Equitation. I also had the good fortune to have some great catch rides in the junior hunters this winter. They included All That, Tellus, Arch Angel and Conversation Piece. I also showed a medium green pony named Nickelback.

Sidelines: How is your Big Eq career going?

GH: I have qualifed for the USEF medal for this year.  I also placed third this winter in the Ronnie W. Mutch Equitation Challenge. Last year I qualifed for the USEF Medal and Maclay regionals and competed in the Taylor Harris Medal and the New England Equitation Medal.

Sidelines: What are your riding goals?

GH: My short term riding goals are to continue to improve and work hard. I hope to have success in the junior hunters and Big

On Course with Geoffrey Hesslink

Geoffrey and All That prepare for the ring

All photos by Nancy Stewart

Favorite:

TV Show: Jersey Shore

Movie: The Shining

Food: Sushi

Candy: Reese’s peanut butter cups

Place to travel to: Florida to ride

Class in school: History

Number: 1

One thing you never leave home without: My phone