Keith Ceddia
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Keith Ceddia, son of Joe and Susan, is a true buckeye - born at the Ohio State University Hospital and grew up in the central Ohio area. Keith was first introduced to horses at the age of 2 when his brother, Ryan, chose to start taking riding lessons at Autumn Rose Farm, owned and operated by Ollie and Debbie Griffith in Plain City, Ohio. As both boys continued to grow in their interest of riding and competing, his family moved to a small farm in Sunbury, Ohio so that Keith and Ryan could be more actively involved with the horses and other livestock. By the time he was 8 years old, Keith was involved with 4H competing on his pleasure mare in western horsemanship, pleasure, trail, and some English equitation, and also showed goats, chickens, and market turkeys. Keith won many classes at the |
Keith and A Custom To Please |
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| County Fairs and also competed at the Ohio State Fair. Among Keith's accomplishments at the State Fair are reserve champion in western riding, won his age group horsemanship division and finished 8th in trails. Keith stayed involved with 4H until he graduated from Worthington Christian High School in 2005. Keith was introduced to reining at an early age watching Ollie Griffith coaching several non pros while Keith was taking lessons. Ryan started riding reiners while Keith was focusing on his horsemanship horse, but when it was time for Ryan to get a new mount, Keith took Ryan's horse to his first NRHA event competing in the NRHA Youth 13 and under class. Keith's passion and skill for the sport continued to grow, and in 2004, aboard Southwest Whiz, he achieved the NRHA Reserve World Champion title in the NRHA Youth 14-18 division. The following year Keith finished 4th in the NRHA Youth 14-18 world standings and served as the NRHyA Treasurer. In the fall of 2005 Keith started his college career at The Ohio State University, where Keith competed on the Ohio State Equestrian Team for four years. While competing for the team, he was the teams reining rider all four years, the Regional High Point Rider in both reining and horsemanship 3 out of the four years, won 2 team National Championships and 2 team Reserve National Championships. During his junior and senior years, Keith earned individual National Championships in reining events. Keith is the first and only four time qualifier for the NRHA Collegiate Championship held during the NRHA Derby. Two times Keith was the reserve champion of this invitational event open to only 12 participants per year. During Keith's senior year, his dad purchases A Custom To Please from Million Dollar rider Brent Wright. The plan was for Keith to get back into the NRHA show pen during the 2009 show season in addition to riding for the OSU team. Keith and A Custom To Please did so well in the ancillary classes that they ended up winning the 2009 NRHA Rookie Professional World Champion title and the NRHA Limited Open Reserve World Championship title. This pair also won the NAAC Northeast Regional Rookie Professional Championship, the NAAC Northeast Region Limited Open Reserve Championship and multiple affiliate yearend championships. In the midst of this great season, Keith graduated from college with a degree in Ag Business and minoring in Equine Science. Upon graduation, Keith began full time employment for Ollie Griffith at Autumn Rose Farm. At Autumn Rose Farm, Keith rode a few non pro horses and taught riding lessons to customers of all levels in horsemanship, reining, and hunt seat. Keith also took youth and non pro riders to shows by himself which gave him a lot of experience as a non pro coach. In February, 2010 Keith entered into a new phase of his equine experience - learning how to train and show aged event horses. Keith moved to Pilot Point, Texas to work for Leclair Performance Horses at Legacy Ranch. Keith first met Jared and Heather in the summer of 2008 when Keith spent 7 weeks working for Jared as part of his OSU internship program. |
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