6'4" Senior 'Reins' in Win

by Jayme Detweiler and Andrea Evans
Sports Editor and Asst. Sports Editor of the Tan & Cardinal

Senior equestrian rider Greg Schmid and the "sometimes complicated" horse Duel gained an unexpected relationship that brought home victories for the Otterbein rider.

On April 18 and 19, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) National Championship Horse Show was held. Hosted by the University of Findlay, the show featured the top 12 schools from across the country and the top 12 riders.

At the competition, riders drew from Findlay-owned horses and had 10 minutes to ride the horse before competing.

"We got along really well, which is surprising because not a lot of people get along with Duel. He is kind of a complicated horse."

With Duel, he won on team day and was High Point Rider (best score of all divisions). he then won on individual day to become the first level National Champion.

His first win was unexpected, "When I rode the first day, I wasn't expecting that great of a score. I was also High Point Rider, that was a surprise too, that almost never happens to me," Schmid said.

Schmid has been riding his entire life. When he came to Otterbein, he started riding for the dressage team at the highest level offered.

"My original intent was to join for extra practice, dressage is just one piece of eventing...I joined to practice for eventing, and I was improving so much that I decided to keep it up."

Eventing is a three-day competition that includes dressage, cross country jumping and show jumping. Each competition focuses on different strengths and ways of riding the horses. Dressage is mostly about control, while the other two are about speed and performance.

He competed at nationals for dressage his freshman, junior and senior years. He was Regional Champion his freshman and senior years.

"Dressage isn't that much fun because there isn't jumping, but when you get better and better it does get fun."

This year he placed first and second at Otterbein-hosted shows and received a variety of placings at other regional shows.

He finished as first level Regional Champion, while Otterbein, as a team, finished as Regional Reserve Champion.

As for the other teams, Schmid competed at a few Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) shows and finished consistently in the top three.

He also competed in United States Event Association (USEA) horse trials with an Otterbein-owned horse named Cavanaugh Park.

"Nothing too exciting there," Schmid said concerning the horse. "He had no experience so his performances were far from spectacular."

Schmid stood out from other riders not only because of his talent. He said, "I'm too tall."

Aside from being "too tall," Schmid had more explanations as to why he might stand out.

"As far as my rides, it's kind of my trademark to have exaggerated 'lengthening trots,' which is a movement performed twice in the first level tests," Schmid said.

"The Findlay University coach, among other people, always comments that they've never seen the horses reach the way they do for me," Schmid said.

"He's a great guy," teammate sophomore Catelyn Gleason said. "The thing is, he knows he's good and tries to help other people."

Gelason added that he "uses his experiences, is respectful and is also a great cheerleader when he's not in the ring. He's the one who always ties my tie."

When it comes to being on of the few men involved in equestrian programs, Gleason said, "He likes being the only guy because it gives him attention."

Apart from being on the equestrian team, he is a member of the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. He also teaches riding lessons and recently finished  his distinction project, similar to the honors project.

Schmid has been accepted to Ohio State and Glasgow's Veterinary School in Scotland.

He says if he doesn't end up at his school of choice, The Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada, ther eis a good chance he will be headed to Scotland for what he calls "a change in scenery."

As far as riding in the future, Schmid said, "It's pretty hard to stop me, but I hear vet school is tough so I may be meeting my match pretty soon...I guess we'll find out, but I'm at least going to try."

After vet school, Schmid concluded that "I'll definitely be riding, I'm just getting started."