Source:  News Release

Michael Leon and Copado Notch Second Derby Win
at Gold Coast 3

Michael Leon earns a bonus check in the $1,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Michael Leon and Copado (Piñon West LLC, owner) were in it to win it again when they competed in the $1,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Gold Coast 3 (Apr 5-7). The pair’s unbelievably daring handy hunter round earned them the first leg of the Gold Coast Series $5,000 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus. “I am totally stoked about the rider prize money and Copado’s owner, Annette Peterfy, was super ecstatic,” Michael exclaimed. “We were third in the derby at Gold Coast 2, so I was really excited to get back in the winner’s circle with him and win some good money as well.”

Michael pulled out all the stops for the win. After the first round, Michael held the top two spots with Freedom (Anna-Sophia Lotman, owner) in the lead and Copado in second. “There were several riders who were just one point behind me, so I knew I had to do something to jump ahead and make sure I stayed in the lead,” Michael explained. “Freedom is a young horse and more of a classic hunter, so I knew I couldn’t take any major risks with him. With Copado, my plan was to do what I did last time I won, which was to go all out and do the inside tracks, keep a good gallop, stay off the tack, and keep it forward like the hunt.”

His plan worked smoothly, even though it included an extreme slice to the final jump. “We had to turn inside a vertical and canter one stride to slice the high option oxer. I definitely got a little nervous coming off the turn, but we did it,” Michael elaborated. “Copado is so game and he will do whatever I ask him for. After a winning jumper history, he’s really found his niche with the derbies. He can turn on a dime, gallop and shorten his stride in one step, and jump anything you put in front of him.”

The risky move paid off to give Michael and Copado the blue ribbon and $500, the first part of the $5,000 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus. If he continues to win, the size of his check will increase. “We definitely plan on hitting all of the Gold Coast derbies and see if we can work our way up the bonus ladder,” Michael commented. Mark Purcell and Bohemian (Leslie Scharf, owner) placed second with two consistent rounds, and Ashlyn Matheus placed third on her Einstein. Freedom unfortunately swapped off the lead in the handy hunter round, but Michael was still incredibly happy with his performance. “We’ve only had him for two weeks and he’s really proven to be everything that we hoped for,” he noted.

The weekend was a blockbuster one for Michael, his clients, and horses. “Our horses were champions in every division they competed in,” Michael remarked. Michael was champion on Freedom and reserve champion on Pops Panda (Lisa Stroway, owner) in the Green Working Hunters. Copado was champion in the 3’6” Performance Hunters, and Robert Peters II was champion in the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunters, 18 & Over on his Cullen. “Rob hasn’t been in the show ring for ten years, so for him to be champion on his new horse added even more excitement to the weekend,” Michael added.

Kayla Lott earns a lot of accolades Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Fourteen-year-old Kayla Lott (Elvenstar Farms, trainer) also had a winning weekend and rode three different horses to two championships and five blue ribbons. Kayla started leasing Vermeer (Rachel Thurman, owner) in January and the pair dominated in the equitation and medal classes. They were champion in Equitation, 12 thru 14, won the PCHA Horsemanship Class, and placed third in the CPHA Foundation Equitation Class. Kayla also placed second in the Equine Insurance/SFVHJA Challenge Medal Class on Irasir (Laura Ware, owner). “Later in the year, I hope to do some of the 3’6” medal finals,” Kayla noted.

In addition to equitation, Kayla also demonstrated her success in the hunters on a catch ride for trainer Carolyn Biava, riding Acia (Teresa Herrera, owner) in the Modified Junior/Amateur and Junior Hunters. “I rode Acia for the first time at the last Gold Coast show,” Kayla enumerated. “It was definitely a challenge to be jumping at a higher level with a horse that I am not as familiar with, but the owner advised me just to have fun. I just tried to keep Acia straight and maintain my lead and pace.” Kayla’s plan worked very well and Kayla and Acia were champions in the Modified Junior-Amateur Hunters. Acia was also reserve champion in the 3’6” Performance Hunters with trainer Carolyn Biava in the irons.

Tatum Tatreau trusts her horse, Trust Me Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Carolyn’s client Tatum Tatreau also had a wonderful weekend with her horse Trust Me, which is returning to the show ring after a several months off. “This was his first horse show since August when he had colic surgery,” Tatum explained. “We started riding him again in January and then jumping little by little in February. It was great to be back in the show ring with him, and I could not stop smiling!”

Tatum has had a few years to form an excellent bond with her horse. “I’ve had Trust Me for about four years. He has a lot of scope and talent and I always have a good time on him." Trust Me proved he was ready to get back in the show ring when he and Tatum were champion in the Children’s Hunters and reserve champion in Equitation, 15 thru 17.

Currently a senior at Valley Christian High School, Tatum will attend the Savannah College of Art and Design come September. “They have an equine college and I plan to pursue a degree there and become a trainer,” Tatum stated. “I plan to keep riding and join the equestrian team in college.”

Tatum’s barn mate Lorena Christie placed first in the Equine Insurance/SFVHJA Challenge Medal Class on her Verado. Lorena has been riding for many years and she was thrilled to have the San Fernando Hunter Jumper Association (SFHJA) approve Gold Coast 3 and the remainder of the 2013 Gold Coast shows. “We love coming to the Gold Coast shows because they are close and convenient,” Lorena said. “We’re so excited to now be able to earn points for SFHJA there as well.”

Lorena and Verado also placed second in the 3’3” & 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters with a little help from Lorena’s husband. “Verado is actually so slow that I can’t get him to move for the jog,” Lorena admitted with a laugh. “My husband has to take him in the jog because he’s the only one who can get him to trot!”

Lili Marshall goes for the win Photo: Flying Horse Photography

In the jumper arena, Lili Marshall (Cha Cha Jago, trainer) had no problem getting any of her horses to go. Lili rode four horses and piloted three of them to championships in the jumpers. Lili was reserve champion in the 0.95M Jumpers on Waldman (Gold Creek, owner), reserve champion in the 1.05M Jumpers on Aurora Borealis (Gold Creek, owner), and champion in the Low Children’s-Adult Amateur Jumpers on Apollo (Gold Creek, owner).

“I like horses with a lot of blood like Waldman and Aurora,” Lili elaborated. “All of my horses are big with a lot of pace.” She has a particular soft spot in her heart for her first horse, Apollo. “Apollo really taught me everything I know about jumping. I got him from Alan Waldman, who brought him from Holland. I’ve gotten all of my horses from Alan and I trust him tremendously. If I need a horse, he knows exactly the kind of ride I need.” Lili admitted she named her horse Waldman after Alan. “Alan is amazing at what he does and I’m very lucky to have a relationship with him.”

Lili started riding ponies with Cha Cha at age six just to have fun, but that changed when she rode in her first jumper class at 14. “Cha Cha had always trained hunters and at the time, never did jumpers with her clients,” Lili recounted. “But the speed and fun of jumpers really called to me, and I told her I’d love to try it. I started doing the 0.95M and 1.00M Jumpers and realized that was what I wanted to do and started pursuing riding seriously. Now I’m dying to ride in college and for the rest of my life.”

With so many horses, Lili must work hard to balance her time. “I made a rule with my parents,” Lili explained. “I have to take school seriously and school comes before riding. My parents want to make sure I earn the time to ride my horses. If I don’t do well in school then I can’t ride, so I always work hard to be able to keep riding. When you have something like horses that you love, it really motivates you.”

Riding and showing are among Lili’s top priorities right now, and she is happy to gain experience at the Gold Coast shows. “I love the Gold Coast Series,” Lili stated. “The staff is wonderful and I love the back-gate people. It’s a great show environment for me and I try never to miss a Gold Coast.” Lili hopes her show experience at these shows will help her move up to 1.20M or 1.25M Jumpers by late summer and provide her with a foundation to start doing mini grands prix and grands prix in the future.

The next show at LAEC will be the Gold Coast May Show (May 17-19). Look for information online, and the schedule is included with the Memorial Day Classic prize list. Also in Southern California, the next Verdugo Hills show will be Verdugo Hills 4 (May 11-12). In Northern California, things will get under way with the Woodside Spring Preview (Apr 25-28), while the Colorado show season will continue with the Colorado Springs April 1 and II (Apr 11-14 and 18-21).

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