Hryshko credits workouts for success

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This article was published 02/04/2025 (194 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A steady workout regimen is one of the secrets of success for the winner of Monday night’s Gambler’s Choice event at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

Dana Hryshko of East St. Paul scored a 1300 during the main jumping event, with a time of 63.28 seconds. Her performance claimed first place for the prize of $1,950.

Hryshko, 24, has been riding since age seven. She is now a professional who dedicates her life to riding horses and breaking them in for others to ride.

Hryshko is called a “colt breaker,” a rider who teaches athletic horses to be handled. It’s tough work to tame wild instincts, and one she believes strength is particularly important in.

In an interview with the Sun on Tuesday, Hryshko said a big source of success for her has been working out. Squats, a modified form of deadlifts, lunges and cardio exercise are all part of the routine she has taken in the past two years, and one to which she attributes her success.

When asked how working out transfers into horse riding, she said she especially needs strength and balance in her profession. Staying on top of horses that are bred for performance means negotiating a lot of bucks, jumps and twisting, she said.

Vesuvio, the seven-year-old stallion she rode to victory on Monday night, is one of her projects. She works with the owner, Rob Kerr, to teach Vesuvio to ride in competitions, among other things.

She has been working with the horse for about four years.

“I would highly recommend anyone who wants to take riding seriously do cross-training,” Hryshko said from the stables of the Westoba Ag Centre of Excellence. “I never used to work out and now that I do, I’m a much better rider.”

Hryshko told the Sun she was first introduced to horses when her parents signed her up for a horse camp. It was just a pastime, but it stuck with her and became a passion.

The annual camp soon led her to take weekly lessons. She met Kerr through training, and brought her passion to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair for the first time when she was 13, riding one of Kerr’s horses at that time, too.

She has a working relationship with Kerr now that sees her break in quality horses that he breeds. And, when she wins a competition on one of his horses, like on Monday, it’s a win-win.

In an interview on Tuesday, Kerr was pleasantly surprised by Monday’s victory. It wasn’t entirely the expectation for the young horse, but a welcome result.

“There is nobody as good as Dana,” he told the Sun.

When asked how he knew she’d be a great rider, Kerr said that Hryshko showed “raw talent and passion — and a drive to stick (stay on the horse no matter what).”

The vision came true. While Hryshko did not answer how many first-place prizes she has won since her debut at 13 at the Winter Fair, she said she has a collection of ribbons on her wall.

The sport now drives her life — something that can’t be said of other hobbies she accrued over the years.

“I danced competitively and dropped out of that. I did gymnastics competitively and dropped out of that. I did volleyball, I did soccer, I did all the sports,” she said.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com