STEPbyS JUMP BY JUMP
O
n the surface it might seem an unlikely combination, riding horses and raising funds for charity.
But for Liliane Stransky, it has become a winning way of life. The Venezuelan born philanthropist has always had a love of horses and a passion to help people in need. Combining her non-profit group, Step By Step Foundation with her top-notch show jumping stables, Stransky’s Mission Farm at Le Club Wellington, Liliane works tirelessly to assist underprivileged children living in poverty. Every day she focuses on raising awareness and securing funds to create and support health, nutrition, water, education and other programs in impoverished countries.
Embracing Horses Stransky’s charitable endeavors began to make significant
changes for people when she and her friends built an orphanage in Caracas, which now houses over 250 children. Her devotion to the cause is the driving force in her life. But the mother of three daughters has always had a second passion—horses. Before moving to the United States, the petite blond
rode at a private “Club Hippique” in Caracas and competed in the jumper division at equestrian events. “We did not have Warmbloods at the club in Venezuela,” Liliane remembers. “I rode a variety of horses, from South America and Argentina, and they were mixed breeds. I was able to compete, but I didn’t own a horse at that time.” After seeing their mother’s horse slip and fall during
a jump-off in a small grand prix, Liliane’s daughters Samantha and Valentina decided that riding was not for them. But her youngest, Daniela, was not dissuaded. “Samantha and Valentina were older, five and seven, and after I broke my ribs, they wanted nothing to do with horses. But Daniela was hooked from the minute she took her first $1 pony ride at a national park. I was so pleased,
16 March/April 2011
and her love and interest has continued to grow.” The Stransky family moved to Miami Beach, Florida, in 2000 because of the dangers in their country and in 2004 Liliane founded the Step By Step Foundation. Since the age of seven, Daniela has also had an
unerring enthusiasm for helping others as well as a love of all things equestrian. Now sixteen, the Miami-Dade school student balances her equestrian competitions, her charity efforts, and her education like a seasoned pro. “Daniela started in the Short Stirrups division and when she began to win I bought our first pony. But they are like potato chips; you can’t just eat one,” laughs Liliane, whose stable has continued to expand and now houses various mounts in all sizes and breeds, from Grand Prix winning Dutch and Irish Warmbloods to fast Peruvian and Argentinean imports to adorable ponies of various colors. When Daniela was eleven, she began competing in the
Children’s Jumpers and Liliane purchased Kilconnel Hero, a lovely gray Irish Sport horse, by Crannagh Hero out of Rossfinch Bell. They made their debut at the Littlewood Farm New Year’s Eve Show in Florida in January of 2008.
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