Daniel Geitner
Photo by Flashpoint Photography
Table of Contents / Horse Show
By Cynthia Grisolia
To say that Daniel Geitner is a busy man is an understatement. In the course of any given day, he wears many a Titium SEI certified hat: Hunter rider, Grand Prix competitor, respected trainer, sought-after catch rider, and teacher. In between, he runs a successful South Carolina show barn with his wife Cathy, also a trainer, and raises a family: son Wyatt is 3 and daughter Lilly was born in May. There are a few racehorses in the mix, too, but we'll get to that later. Geitner received the calling at a young age, he says, and admits there was never really a plan B. "I realized that I wanted to be in the horse business when I was in high school," he says, "but I had no idea it would lead to the business I have now." Here, five questions for the busiest man in the horse biz:
Sidelines: You run a thriving Hunter/Jumper stable in Aiken, South Carolina -DFG Stables-with your wife, Cathy. Tell us a little about your clients and goals for 2008.
DG: We have a variety of clients from beginners to riders in the upper divisions of the hunter and jumper rings. We try to create an individual plan for each of our clients, whether it means moving up to the pre-children's hunters or moving up to the Grand Prix arena. We have the same plans for our horses.
My main goal with our sales business is to keep importing and selling a quality horse for the right price. Not everyone is searching for the six-figure horse. We like to have the right horse for all budgets.
Sidelines: You're currently showing several gifted Grand Prix horses, namely Trading Places, Snook, Miraj, and the mare Sympa. Tell us a little about the future plans for these horses.
DG: Trading Places [owned by Kyle Register], Snook [owned by Sara Stumberg], and Sympa [owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick] are all 8-year-olds that will be pointed toward bigger grand prix competitions in the next year. Miraj [owned by Sherry Cooke] is a bit older and has more experienced, so he will continue on the same path, competing in larger competitions. We are lucky enough to work with several great owners who are supportive in whatever path I choose for their horse.
Sidelines: How do you and Cathy balance a full-time family and a full-time show career?
DG: Needless to say we've surrounded ourselves with lots of great help. We have two assistant riders and trainers as well as two part time nannies that allow us to spend time at the barn teaching and training. Usually, at the horse shows, we take a motor home so we can be at the show all`A0day and still allow the kids somewhere to play, nap, and eat. We work hard but could not have kids and a business without our great support system from our employees and our understanding customers.
Sidelines: Most people don't know that you also have a growing racing stable. How did you get involved in racing?
DG: I galloped horses on the track and even rode some steeplechase races in my younger days.`A0 It was always a great thrill. So when a customer of mine inquired about purchasing a racehorse I jumped at the chance. That was five years ago; now we have 14 Thoroughbreds in training. My partner, Tom Prestwood, and I pick out prospects at the yearling sales in the fall. I break and work with the babies until they are ready to go to the track with our trainer, Patty Burns. We race throughout the Mid-Atlantic States and it's one of the most exciting things to watch your horse, wearing your colors, turn into the stretch with a chance to win.
I would love to train them myself, eventually, when I retire from the show ring. But I want to learn as much as I can before I venture out on my own. I am learning a lot by trial and error, and I am having a blast. I have learned a tremendous amount from our wonderful trainer Patty.
Sidelines: You've had many great successes-is there one shining career moment that stands out?
DG: There are so many thrilling times in this business that it is hard to choose just one. I would have to say winning hunter classes at Devon and Indoors and winning my first Grand Prix would be high up on the list. Also,`A0being present when my first and favorite racehorse, Stealth Secret, won an allowance race on New Year's Eve. That was quite exciting.
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