Hunter Jumper Classic competitor likes to help the less fortunate, too

MORELAND HILLSDaniela Stransky Secchi has always loved horses.

At age 3, horses were her favorite animals so she started riding. She was competing by the time she was 7 and now hopes to become an Olympic rider.

"I found it really cool ever since I was little," she said. "I just fell in love with it."

Last weekend Daniela, 13, came all the way from her home in Miami to compete in the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field.

She competed in the children's and junior jumping contests. She placed third in the $1,500 Childrens Jumper Classic.

Daniela, who was born in Venezuela, rides every Thursday through Sunday and whenever else she has a free minute.

Her favorite horse is the all-white KillConnel Hero, one of the first horses she rode as a little girl.

During the summers she travels the country competing in horse shows in Kentucky, Atlanta, Lake Placid and Florida. This was her first time competing in the Chagrin Valley.

When she is not busy practicing jump courses and hanging out with Hero, Daniela likes to volunteer with children's charities.

She spends a lot of time working with Step by Step Foundation, the charity her mom Liliane Stransky founded. Its mission is to support for children locally and internationally, Liliane Stransky said.

In September Daniela will travel with her mother to La Haie, Haiti to work at Tipa Tipa, a school the foundation opened four years ago.

"I'm like my mom," she said. "We always want to help kids who aren't as fortunate."

Daniela also rides for Just World International, which provides education in the developing world. She donates half of her winnings to the organization.

Aside from riding and volunteering, Daniela also likes to play poker, shop and spend time with friends....