Reed Catherine Kessler (born July 9, 1994) is a former American

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrianism, equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, Show hunter, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including th ...

competitor previously based in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. At 18 years old, Kessler qualified for the

2012 London Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

, becoming the youngest rider in Show Jumping history to ever compete at the Games. Kessler trained with her godparents Katie and Henri Prudent for seven years. In September 2013 she began training with Germany's

Marcus Ehning Marcus Ehning (born 19 April 1974 in Südlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German show jumping champion, Olympic champion from 2000. He is married to Nadia Ehning (née Zülow). He won the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna Grand Prix on Pl ...

and moved to his home base in Borken, Germany. Kessler is also an Ambassador for JustWorld International, a charity supporting education and healthcare in developing countries.

Personal life

Kessler's father is Murray Kessler, President of the

United States Equestrian Federation The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF or US Equestrian) is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. It began on January 20, 1917, as the Association of American Horse Shows, later changed to the Ameri ...

and CEO of

Lorillard Tobacco Company Lorillard Tobacco Company was an American tobacco company that marketed cigarettes under the brand names Newport, Maverick, Old Gold, Kent, True, Satin, and Max. The company had two operating segments: cigarettes and electronic cigarettes. The ...

. She is currently a student at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

getting her master's degree.

Horses

Kessler has eight competition horses: *Aspen, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables * KS Stakki, a 2005 Hanoverian mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables and Wendy Smith * Soraya de L'Obstination, a 2002 chestnut Belgian Warmblood mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables * Cos I Can, a 2003 bay Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Kessler Show Stables *Tradition de la Roque, a 2008 Selle Francais mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables *Christy 3, a 2007 Westphalian mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables *Up des Chaines, a 2008 chestnut Selle Francais gelding, owned by Kessler Show Stables *Quincy 162, a 2008 Oldenburg mare, owned by Kessler Show Stables Past rides include Charity 33, Ligist, Flight, Mika, Ice D'Ancoeur, Onisha, Wolf S, Pacha de Nantuel, and her Olympic mount, Cylana.

2013 results

Only 1st- to 5th-place results are shown.

References

External links

Biography at Kessler Show Stables' website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessler, Reed Sportspeople from Lexington, Kentucky 1994 births People from Armonk, New York Living people American show jumping riders American female equestrians Olympic equestrians of the United States Equestrians at the 2012 Summer Olympics 21st-century American women Columbia University School of General Studies alumni School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni