Wonder Woman of the Week: Reed Kessler

Last week this blog posted about the first woman to earn an Olympic Medal- Kyniska of Sparta- who won an equestrian event back in the Ancient Games. Kyniska was a foreshadowing of an athlete I have been waiting to write about for some time now. At 18, she became the youngest rider to compete in the Olympic show jumping event. She runs her own stables, has an awards list too long to read, trains her own horses, and would certainly make Kyniska proud. Reed Kessler is the Wonder Woman of the Week.

At six months old, both of Reed Kessler’s parents rode horses and brought little Reed with them. They put her in a basket and placed her on her first pony. [1] By age 13, Kessler was putting all the other girls to shame. Instead of riding ponies through the pasture like the other girls, Reed’s coach Katie Monahan-Prudent urged her to begin training for the 2012 Olympics. Reed tied with 53 year old Margie Engle- a legend in the equestrian world- to qualify for the London games at only 17 years old. [2]

During the London Olympics in 2012, Reed Kessler competed the team show jumping event as the youngest rider- male or female- in the history of the Olympics. She turned 18 a month before the opening ceremony. Out of the 51 competitors, only eight cleared all obstacles- including Kessler who placed sixth overall with twelve faults. [3]

Reed Kessler is now runs her own stables and manages multiple riders. While her own riding record is [insanely] impressive, her stable’s riders boast impressive awards as well. She also manages a dozen horses including the one she took to the London Games- Cylana. [4]

Reed Kessler is the Wonder Woman of the Week because, just like Kyniska of Sparta, Reed made her own fate in the Olympics. She’s an accomplished athlete, horse breeder, jockey manager, and stables owner. She’ll most likely go to the 2016 Olympics- just like another two-time Olympic equestrian. Kyniska laid the foundation for female Olympians way back in Ancient Greece, but Reed Kessler proves there’s the Olympics are still a competition for female equestrians.

"Reed Kessler - LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR." Reed Kessler - LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR. Accessed May 6, 2015.

Dunham, Jillian. "Teenage Rider May Reset the Bar." The New York Times. May 9, 2012. Accessed May 6, 2015.

Rosen, Karen. "Reed Kessler: Equestrian Teen Phenom Jumps into Olympic Limelight." Team USA. August 6, 2012. Accessed May 6, 2015.

"Home." Kessler Show Stables. Accessed May 6, 2015.