16 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Five Questions For Kris Gali
By Lauren R. Giannini
Kris grew up in a horsey family, thanks to her grandmother
and mother who rode for pleasure. Her frst pony was a gift
from her grandmother when she was 10, and the bug bit
hard, hooking Kris for life. The family legacy continues with
Kris’s daughters: Miranda (15) shows hunters and Sophie
(just turned 14) is hooked on jumpers. They train with
Patty Foster and Mary Lisa Leffer at Rolling Acres Farm
in Maryland.
Sidelines:
How did you get into showing?
KG:
When I got my frst pony, Farnley Bright Eyes, I rode
with Nan Moseley, then Timmy Buchanan, who was a
protégée of Janet Hitchen when she did hunter/jumpers.
I rode in horse shows, but nothing like what my kids do.
I was about 12 when I trained with Timmy: she and her
mother were founders of Inverness Farm. That was in
the late 70s/early 80s when one horse did everything –
equitation, junior hunters, trail riding and fox hunting. I did
the local circuit. I never went to Florida or Vermont. I was
not as serious as the girls are.
Sidelines:
But you showed jumpers? That’s pretty serious.
KG:
I showed in the High Adult Amateurs. I started back
in my early 30s. My favorite horse was a bit of a tricky
ride. Koen was a Belgian Warmblood I bought from Tracy
Magness. He was really smart: if I made a mistake, he
would let me know it! He wouldn’t let me get away with
anything. Koen could tell when I made a mistake. I’d either
win or fall off.
Sidelines:
How old were your daughters when they got
hooked on showing?
KG:
Young – three or four. Miranda did her frst Lead Line
at the Middleburg Classic. My mom’s friend Shelley Duke
led her around on the pony. Sophie was even younger. I
think she won the class at Washington International’s Local
Day. We’ve been very fortunate. We’ve had some great
people and great help, wonderful ponies and horses all
along the way, and some good friends who helped steer us
in the right direction.
Sidelines:
Who are some of the ponies your daughters
campaigned and which were the best schoolmasters?
KG:
We were lucky enough to have had Miss Australia,
Legally Blonde, Catamaran, Blackberry, Icicle Falls, Chris Craft,
Clovercroft, Bedazzled, Good Sport, and Only Option (pony
jumper). I guess their greatest schoolmaster came from Stacey
Schaefer, Samantha’s mom – St. Joseph was aptly named. He
was a saint and frst pony for a lot of kids. We got Miss Australia
when we were looking for a safe, bombproof small division pony
hunter that could teach the kids.
Sidelines:
Do you consider yourself a horse show mom?
KG:
Not in a negative sense. I try not to interfere because I trust
Patty and Marylisa so much. They know much more than I do.
From a sportsmanship angle, I’ve always tried to emphasize the
importance of being a good loser as well as a good winner. You
gain so much by reviewing and learning from your mistakes. It’s a
lifelong sport. My kids have always been good sports. They have
to keep up their grades in order to compete, and they have to do a
lot of the work with the horses themselves. When they’re out with
the horses, they’re happy, healthy, well adjusted kids.
H
O
R
S
E
S
H
O
W