FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
SIDELINES JUNE 2014 107
WanjaandChasingWonder kick off the2014 show seasonwith
wins inPrixSt. Georges and Intermediaire I. TheHanoverian
gelding, byContucci, is ownedby TriciaSansevero.
hisscoreonascaleof 1-10,whichdetermineswhichpremium the
mare receives, and thereforeaffectsher breedingvalue.While it’s
a pressurized position, it’s onehe enjoys.
WorkHard andHaveFun
Even with success on two continents, Wanja strives to learn
more. Sincemoving to theUnitedStates he’sworkedwithDanish
Olympian Lars Petersen and United States Equestrian Team
(USET) member Michael Barisone, and was a participant in the
young horse trainers programwithScott Hassler.
“He’s constantly expanding and furthering his knowledge,” his
wife Melissa said. “He places a huge emphasis on that and he
passes that on to his clients. He shares how to develop and care
for horses. It’smore than just ‘get onandwina ribbonat a show.’”
The result is client success. Sometimes even at his own
expense. “Wanja really enjoys the teaching process and loves
it when his clients beat him!” Melissa said. “Last year he rode
against Amelia andSarah and they both put in better scores than
he did.”
His riders appreciate this aim for constant improvement. Sarah
said, “Wanja is demanding of himself andmakes no bones about
what it takes to get where you want to go. He works hard and
youwant toworkequallyhard. Notmuchhappens that hedoesn’t
notice. He takes care of everybody’s horses as if they were his
own.”
However, work ethic doesn’t supersede welcoming. Families
are encouraged to attend the horse shows, and happy hour
completes each day of competition. There’s also the year-end
party.Thiscateredaffair towhich local riders, including foxhunters,
are invited has become legendary.
Amelia likensotherhighdramabarns tohighschool.Sheprefers
the Gerlachs’ friendly style. “No one is judging each other,” she
explained. “It’s very supportive; wehelpeachother out. Everyone
wants each other to dowell.”
WhileGrandPrix is the goal for all horses and students,Wanja
concluded, “It should be great fun to get there!”
For more information visit
.
com.
All photos byNickMcCollum, unless notedotherwise
KENTUCKY
ARNOLDKIRKPATRICK
&COMPANY
Central Kentucky’sMost Respected
FarmBroker
(859) 576-8195
OFFUTTREALTY, INC.
Located5minutes from
TheKentuckyHorsePark
(859) 421-5222
MASSACHUSETTS
EQUINEHOMES
Equestrian&CountryProperties
(800) 859-2745
GINETTEBROCKWAY
Farms&Estates, BostonArea
(978) 621-4370
NEWYORK
SALLYSLATER- NY&CT
DouglasEllimanReal Estate
Bedford toNorthSalem&Vic.
Horseproperty specialist!
(914) 584-0137 - Cell
TERI POWERS, CRS, GRI
KellerWilliamsRealty
EquestrianPropertySpecialist
ServingOrangeCountyNewYork
(845) 258-8312
NORTHCAROLINA
BROWN, LILLIE
Town&CountryRealtors
HorseFarmsSpecialist
Tryon, NC
(864) 978-9465
tryonhorsefarms.com
FORSALEBYOWNER
Tryonhorse country
21AonFETA trail system
1mile fromFENCE
Newbarn& paddock
$425. Call (864) 444-4544
MICKEYHAMBRIGHT
Walker-Wallace&EmersonRealty
ExperiencedBroker of
Equineproperties inNC&SC
Tryonand Landrumareas
“TheNewWellington”
(828) 817-1796
hambrightproperties.com
PORTOFINO
Premier EquestrianCommunity
Perfect place to call home
raleigh/clayton-portofinonc.com
SOUTHCAROLINA
CAROLINAREAL
ESTATECOMPANY
(803) 648-8660or (800) 880-0108
DAVIDSTINSON
MeybohmRealtors
Estates, HorseFarms, Cottages
(803) 644-1721 -Aiken, SC
DEIRDRESTOKER
VAILLENCOURT
“This IsMyNeighborhood”
WorldClass& LuxuryProperties
(803) 640-4591
KARLMCMILLAN
REMAXTattersall Group, LLC
Full ServiceCommercial/Residential
133LaurensStreet, N.W.
Aiken, SC 29801
(843) 693-6115
MADELONWALLACE
Walker,Wallace&EmersonRealty
(864) 316-3484
carolinahorsefarmsandmore.com
TRACEYK. TURNER,
REALTOR
MeybohmVicePresident
Aiken, SC
(803) 215-4734
VIRGINIA
BUNNYFRENCH
RealtorAssociate
LoringWoodriff Real
EstateAssociates
(434) 996-1029
WYOMING
LINTON/BINGLE
ASSOCIATEBROKERS
JHREA - Christie’s Int’l Real Estate
JacksonHole,Wyoming
Carol Linton (307) 732-7518
BetsyBingle (307) 732-7590
WESTERNUNITEDREALTY
Colorado andWyoming
JamesRinehart
(307) 745-6024
WILLSPEER
Century 21CornerstoneRealty
Saratoga,Wyoming
(307) 326-5760
