Riding Is A Way Of Life For These Future Equestrian Stars By Julie Unger
Many young girls dream of having a pony, but for many in the equestrian world, horses and riding are a way of life. For Riley Ganzi, Farah Rizvi and Ella Bostwick, a life without horses is unimaginable. These talented young equestrians are hard-working and driven, taking aim at the top levels of their chosen sports. Riley Ganzi
Riley Ganzi on the polo field. PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO
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june 2015 | wellington the magazine
Polo is the sport of choice for Ganzi, whose brother, Grant, and parents, Marc and Melissa, also play. “I’ve been riding ever since I could walk,” she said. “Everything I know is horses, but then again, it has allowed me to see so much of the world and meet so many amazing people, and experience so much, that I’ve learned about myself through horses.” Ganzi, 15, has tried other things — gymnastics, cheerleading, running — but none speak to her like the fast-paced game of polo, which is a family affair. “I’ve been playing polo since I was a little girl,” she said. “I started doing a league in the junior tournaments called lead line. Those were my first memories of competitions, and I was about four years old.” Ganzi has competed in junior tournaments and is currently competing in interscholastic tournaments. “I compete against high school students all over the U.S. who are my age, which is really exciting that it has become so competitive,” she said. Right now, Ganzi is playing on the Grand Champions 8-goal team, and she still has a way to go before she reaches the professional level. “I have no intentions of stopping playing,” she said. “Especially looking into colleges, it’s something I’m considering to play intercollegiate, interscholastic games and continue riding. The connection I’ve made with horses is truly unbreakable, and I just enjoy it so much. Wherever I go in life, I hope it will follow me.” Aside from polo, Ganzi has dabbled in bull riding and jumping, and during her free time in the summer, she competes in barrel racing. “It’s just fun to try different areas of equestrian sports, because whatever I’m doing with horses, I still enjoy it,” she said.