PrintHis illustrious college years helped jumpstart a thriving business.
Daniel Geitner enjoys just about anything having to do with a horse. Although his primary business at DFG Stables in Aiken, S.C., focuses on hunter/jumpers, he was also raised foxhunting, excelled at steeplechasing, won national titles in intercollegiate competition, and maintains a small Thoroughbred racing stable.
Geitner always knew horses would be his career, and he proved he was willing to work hard to utilize his natural talent while studying at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C.
“It was one of the few colleges that had riding for guys,” he said. “I liked a small school and the small town area and being close to all the horse activity in Southern Pines [N.C.] and Camden [S.C.].”
Now, Geitner said, more schools offer males the option of riding. “It’s gotten easier,” he said. “But I knew I needed college, and I wanted to be in horses.”
In his first year of school, he competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and judge George Morris selected him as the winner of the prestigious Cacchione Cup at the 1994 IHSA Championships, a remarkable feat for a freshman.
He also competed on the Affiliated National Riding Commission team every year, winning the individual titles his junior and senior years and helping St. Andrews win the team championship in 1996 and 1997.
“He had a real impact on the St. Andrews program and helping it get national recognition,” said Shelby French, who coached at St. Andrews while Geitner was there. Now teaching at Sweet Briar College (Va.), French continues to do business with Geitner today.
French first met Geitner many years earlier, when she was judging and he was aboard a pony named Miss Piggy. “The first show where I saw him, I remember asking the management, ‘Who is that kid and who does he ride with? He’s so talented.’
“He’s a naturally gifted rider,” she added. “All of us who worked with him helped him evolve, but he’s a natural talent. He has great hands and is really a sympathetic rider. I just tried to give him a lot of opportunities and put him on a lot of different horses and let him grow through the experiences.”
An Overall Horseman
Geitner’s parents bred horses, and his mother nurtured his interest in foxhunting as well as showing. His steeplechasing career started while he was in college, and he rode in 20 to 30 races.
“It was quite a thrill,” he said. “But I got out of it when I realized I wanted to train hunters and jumpers. I realized I needed to focus on that.”
Geitner’s steeplechasing experience has been beneficial to his career, he said. “Racing is so focused on fitness and soundness,” he said. “It taught me a lot about legs, how to keep them tight and cold and about fitness. It’s helped a lot with the jumpers. It’s all about being a good horse person.”
Daniel Geitner enjoys just about anything having to do with a horse. Although his primary business at DFG Stables in Aiken, S.C., focuses on hunter/jumpers, he was also raised foxhunting, excelled at steeplechasing, won national titles in intercollegiate competition, and maintains a small Thoroughbred racing stable.
Geitner always knew horses would be his career, and he proved he was willing to work hard to utilize his natural talent while studying at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C.
“It was one of the few colleges that had riding for guys,” he said. “I liked a small school and the small town area and being close to all the horse activity in Southern Pines [N.C.] and Camden [S.C.].”Now, Geitner said, more schools offer males the option of riding. “It’s gotten easier,” he said. “But I knew I needed college, and I wanted to be in horses.”
In his first year of school, he competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and judge George Morris selected him as the winner of the prestigious Cacchione Cup at the 1994 IHSA Championships, a remarkable feat for a freshman.
He also competed on the Affiliated National Riding Commission team every year, winning the individual titles his junior and senior years and helping St. Andrews win the team championship in 1996 and 1997.
“He had a real impact on the St. Andrews program and helping it get national recognition,” said Shelby French, who coached at St. Andrews while Geitner was there. Now teaching at Sweet Briar College (Va.), French continues to do business with Geitner today.
French first met Geitner many years earlier, when she was judging and he was aboard a pony named Miss Piggy. “The first show where I saw him, I remember asking the management, ‘Who is that kid and who does he ride with? He’s so talented.’
“He’s a naturally gifted rider,” she added. “All of us who worked with him helped him evolve, but he’s a natural talent. He has great hands and is really a sympathetic rider. I just tried to give him a lot of opportunities and put him on a lot of different horses and let him grow through the experiences.”
An Overall Horseman
Geitner’s parents bred horses, and his mother nurtured his interest in foxhunting as well as showing. His steeplechasing career started while he was in college, and he rode in 20 to 30 races.
“It was quite a thrill,” he said. “But I got out of it when I realized I wanted to train hunters and jumpers. I realized I needed to focus on that.”
Geitner’s steeplechasing experience has been beneficial to his career, he said. “Racing is so focused on fitness and soundness,” he said. “It taught me a lot about legs, how to keep them tight and cold and about fitness. It’s helped a lot with the jumpers. It’s all about being a good horse person.”
