Story by Aubrey Simpson, Photography by Patrick Coyne

Emerald green pastures, gold medal indoor and outdoor training facilities, and cabinets displaying hundreds of silver trophies, Cismont Manor Farm showcases everything horse lovers treasure. The real jewel at Cismont, however, is its owner, trainer, and lifelong passionate horseman, Kenneth Wheeler.

At age 78, Kenneth Wheeler has been riding, showing and training horses most of his life. Mr. Wheeler’s prestigious accomplishments are numerous and memorable. Riding the famous pony, Owen Glendover, for Edgewood Farm, he took top honors at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden when he was only ten years old. Horses trained, shown, or ridden by Kenneth Wheeler have won the prestigious Page Lewis Jennings Award for the AHSA Overall High Score Hunter a record seven times. He is a recipient of the Martini and Rossi Trophy for the AHSA Horseman of the Year, the owner of an unparalleled record of Horse of the Year Awards in Virginia and nationally, and was inducted into the National Horse Show Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

Arriving at Cismont Manor Farm, we met Mr. Wheeler at the rose-surrounded ring, seated under the gazebo with his son Doug, coaching his son, Kenneth Jr., who was jumping his horse, Tab Hunter. Mr. Wheeler calls out his instructions in a rich, warm southern drawl sparkling with passion, knowledge, and playful humor when Kenneth Jr. knocks down a rail on a jump. Both Mr. Wheeler and Doug tease him good-naturedly. The next jump is picture-perfect and Mr. Wheeler throws up his hand and beaming, encourages Kenneth Jr. "That’s perfect! Beautiful! That’s the way to do it!" Then he jibes, laughingly, "You need to crash a gate before you compete. That ought to do it."

Asked about the most important instruction you can teach a rider, Mr. Wheeler responds, "You can teach amateur riders to count the strides to the jump. That’s the most important thing. But, professional riders have a natural ability to see it. They do it instinctively. They’re born with it. It’s a gift. And, it can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t." And, on what makes a good jumping horse, Mr. Wheeler advises, "It’s in the bend of the leg when they jump. Again, it’s a natural ability. That, and they have to have a good disposition. Doug has a good eye for judging horses." Doug responds, "It’s the way the horse is built, the way they move and the way they jump. They have to have good movement, good coordination, and horses like that are hard to find. Dad has made a career out of finding them and training them. He’s the best in the business." The camaraderie, mutual respect and admiration between father and sons are genuine, rare, and impressive.

Cismont Manor Farm is a family business and the Wheelers are a horse-loving family. Mr. Wheeler’s other son, Gordon, is a saddle horse trainer in Kentucky. And, Mr. Wheeler still gets a sparkle in his eye when he speaks of his late wife, Sallie Wheeler, another inductee in the Horse Show Hall of Fame. Even, the farm manager, Mike Rooks has been friends with Doug and Kenneth Jr. since they were children.

Good horses need good feed. Mike states that Cismont Manor Farm uses numerous Southern States feeds, including Legends and Triple Crown from Charlottesville Co-op. "Southern States has the complete line of feed. It’s great feed and has cut our feed totals back. We don’t need to feed them a lot to keep them fat and it keeps their coats shiny. We don’t use any supplements with it, at all. Our vet recommended it, they thought it was the best." Frankly, everything at Cismont Manor Farm is the best.

Taking a break to head to the house for lunch, Mr. Wheeler invites us into an office inside the indoor training facility. The walls are filled with photographs and precious memories. There is a picture of Doug on his first pony, Santa Claus. "He was as big around as he was tall," Doug jokes. There are amazing shots of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and Kenneth Jr. caught in the heat of competition, and group shots of gentlemen with whom Mr. Wheeler has judged national horse shows. Mr. Wheeler has served as a judge at, among others, the National Horseshow in Madison Square Garden four times and at the most prestigious Devon Hunter Horse Show in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wheeler’s eyes light up as he shares stories of the people and horses. "The horse business has been good to me. I’ve met a lot of good people and worked with some incredible horses. Sometimes, I see people out on the circuit and I can’t remember their names, but I remember their horses’ names," he says smiling and shaking his head. His love for horses is clearly evident as he points to some of the best of the best from Cismont Manor Farm’s illustrious history.

Caught at the height of the jump, there is Isgilde and Showdown, the two horses that Mr. Wheeler won an unbelievable 43 consecutive classes riding. To put this in perspective the second closest hunter has won 12 consecutive classes. And, there is the leg position that Mr. Wheeler touted. Then, Mr. Wheeler points out numerous riders who have performed well and continue to do well on the circuit. Several members of the family compete professionally and in amateur divisions at horse shows.

When we arrive at the main house, Mr. Wheeler takes us on a tour of his home. Everywhere you look there are wall-to-wall pictures of horses, trophies in the cabinets, a bronze statue cast by an artist of Mr. Wheeler riding, even the hobbyhorse is jumping a fence and painted with Isgilde’s markings. Mr. Wheeler knows them all, both their stories and names.

With 68 years of personal experience in the horse business, Mr. Wheeler is a living encyclopedia of horseshow information, knowledge, and tradition. Cismont pastures, Old Roy, a Clydesdale descendant of the Busch family. "He’s a good babysitter for our frisky, young horses," Mr. Wheeler beams.

While the history and traditions at Cismont Manor Farm are impressive, Mr. Wheeler still loves discovering and training Green Conformation Hunter horses. "He goes to the barn everyday and personally grooms the horses," Doug says. "He learns something new everyday. He’s won every major award you can imagine, and he can sit at a horse show and it’s like the first time he’s ever seen a horse. He loves and adores what he does."

Passionate, knowledgeable, charming and engaging, Mr. Wheeler has what can best be summed up as undeniable charisma. Kenneth Wheeler is everything you would expect and more from a horseman who is truly a National Treasure.