Anna-Sophia Lotman may have only been riding for seven months, but that is not the most amazing part of her winning Walk-Trot Show Champion at the first Lake View show of the season. In fact, it is difficult to determine which is more impressive-that she went Champion in her very first horse show, or that she had just purchased her pony, White Satin, a seasoned medium Welsh, that very weekend.

Eight-year-old Lotman has been training with Michael Leon since she began riding seriously. She rides three days per week, and he is impressed by her “super smiley” attitude.

“She’s an incredible student,” Leon said. “Great to teach. She’s energetic and loves being around the horses.” He said that she was very excited for her first show, just to be going. She planned to just go, play and have a good time with her new pony. She stayed up late the night before to make sure her boots were polished and outfit ready, then arrived early at the barn to hang out with her pony before her classes. She also helped out at the show after her classes.

“She was absolutely ecstatic,” Leon said of Lotman winning two firsts and a second in her classes. “She was running around screaming with her blue ribbons-and not just the ones in her hair.”

Riding is a family affair in the Lotman household—Anna-Sophia’s mother Therese rides Dressage, and her six-year-old sister Gianna rode in the leadline class at the show. Lotman plans to stay in the Walk-Trot division for the year, moving on to Short Stirrup toward the end of the season. Eventually, she will move on to Ponies.

Hannah Klinedinst Wins

Another champion who is fairly new to the sport was Hannah Klinedinst, who was the Short/Long/Rusty Stirrup Show Champion as well as winner of the TVHSA Stirrup Medal. The 14-year-old Klinedinst rides 13 and has only been riding for about two years. She trains with Barbara Burnett of Elvenstar.

“She’s done really, really well,” Burnett said. In the middle of the season last year, she suggested that Klinedinst move on from the previous horse she had been leasing to Elvenstar’s Luke Skywalker because he had more potential. Although the horse was nervous, having never been at that facility before, Klinedinst handled him well and managed to keep him on task and working well during each of her classes.

Burnett said, “She’s an extraordinary rider with great feel. She did a great job under the circumstances.” Although her horse was nervous outside of the ring, when she rode him through the in-gate, he walked in a winner. She rode several very nice courses, including a nearly flawless Handy round and the Stirrup Medal class, which was very accurate.

“She’s an exuberant child with a tremendous sense of humor,” Burnett explained. “People are drawn to her.” Burnett has high expectations for Klinedinst this year, and she has every confidence that her student will exceed those expectations. Klinedinst is currently competing in the 2’3" classes, with high hopes of moving up quickly.

“She is a beautiful rider with beautiful equitation. She has gained a lot of poise and knowledge. She has a tremendous eye,” Burnett added.

Behind Klinedinst in the Short/Long/Rusty Stirrup Division was Reserve Show Champion Olivia Doty. The 15-year-old high school freshman rode her My Cousin Vinny, a horse she’s only owned for about a month. However, she has been riding since she was five. She trains with Stephanie Haney.

Doty showed in 10 classes that day, winning an Equitation class and earning seconds and thirds in the others.

“I’m really proud of her,” said Doty’s mother, Magaly. “She had just taken him out of a pasture two weeks before the show. She wanted a challenge, to just go to the show and see what they could do.”

Doty especially enjoys the Equitation Over Fences classes, because the courses include more steering and turning, presenting more of a challenge than other classes. Her goals are simple this year-to just get out and see what shows are out there and how they do. She plans to continue riding through her high school career.

Like many kids, Doty does not spend all of her time at the barn. She also plays tennis and is on the speech and debate team. “It can be hard to balance it all,” she says. “You really have to stay on top of everything.”

The next Lake View show will take place on March 7th, concurrent with the Verdugo Hills show that same weekend. More information on the show series can be found on the web at http://www.langershows.com/verdugo/index.php.