‘Grazios Das Feur’ (a Hanoverian warmblood by Galord and Ladyship), a pair of field boots, a helmet, and a jumping course full of obstacles is what makes this Bismarck St. Mary’s graduating senior, Grace Goebel, elated.

“I got hooked on riding after watching the Olympics when I was little. I was able to start riding at TR 4 Heart & Soul a little before that. Then, I was able to lease my first horse as a 6th grader, and there was no turning back after that,” said the equestrian.

Eventually, Grace’s riding coach, Laurie Holverson of Bismarck, found her ‘Grazios Das Feur’ aka ‘Pepper’ — a 16-year-old mare that hosted as much of a spirited personality as her new owner.

Hanoverian horses originated in Germany and are warmbloods that are often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, including hunter jumper. Hanoverian horses are known for their athleticism, good dispositions, beauty, and dignified grace.

Grace explained that Pepper was a trained dressage horse, but kind of despised it. “I started jumping with Pepper knowing that as a filly she cleared a 6-foot fence, so why not try something we both had a desire to do.”

By longeing and jumping over small cavaletti and teaching each other, the team kind of got the hang of hunter jumping. Pepper and Grace began showing and competing in the hunter jumping classes at the Bismarck Horse and Saddle Club. The duo went onto competitions in Fargo and Minnesota, furthering Grace’s equitation skill.

Focus with a smile. [Photo: Laura Schweigert]

Hunter jumping classes are judged on the horse’s rhythm, accuracy, cadence, and overall elegance both on the flat and over fences. The horses are scored higher for square knees, careful jumps, stunning gates, and consistent rhythm between fences.

“I learned how to map out my step to my horse’s stride and map out how many strides we ride between each jump in each different course,” said Grace. “Riding kind of came natural to me and  jumping was a thing I just loved and wanted to seek more of.”

One of the biggest accomplishments, besides teaching each other how to jump and compete, was ending up Reserve Equitation Champion at the Alpha Equus Riding Club in Red River Valley, N.D.

Grace’s equestrian skills have been encouraged by her family. Her mother, Kelly Goeble, said that Grace and Pepper were meant to be together and no one else in the family dares to get on Pepper. “She is a one-of-kind, one-person horse,” said Grace.

‘Grazios Das Feuer’ is a one-person horse. [Photo: Laura Schweigert]

Grace says she is thankful for her biggest supporters including her grandmothers, Berna Vetter and Karen Goebel, both of Bismarck, for always making the effort to attend and even haul her and Pepper to competitions.

The Saint Mary’s senior is the daughter of Bryce and Kelly Goebel, Bismarck, and says she plans on attending the University of North Dakota in the fall where she will major in psychology with a pre-dental path and continue to hit the jumps, whenever possible.