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62 SIDELINES JULY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE D R E S S A G E

By Jan Westmark-Allan

Seventeen-year-old Simon Solaro grew up in Paris, France and while walking with his mother in a park one day he spotted children riding Shetland Ponies. Simon, who was only four years old at the time, asked his mom if he could learn to ride. “Within a week I started riding at my neighborhood Pony Club and I haven’t stopped since that day,” Simon said.

Four years ago Simon’s family moved to New York and Simon met Lendon Gray. “I started riding with Lendon in September of 2008. She is known for taking a very special interest in young riders and although rumored as being a ‘scary’ coach, she has taught me many things and supported me tremendously,” Simon said.

Lendon gave Simon the opportunity to ride her famed Connemara stallion BallywhimArdan Mor, known as Danny, and together Simon and Danny found success. “For a year, Lendon, Danny and I worked very hard and I was able to show him successfully at Third Level/FEI Junior, winning the Regional Championships in Saugerties,” Simon said.

Sidelines: Did you have a pony career in France?

SS: Yes, I started riding competitively when I was about 7 years old. I was part of a team of four, competing in eventing. By the age of 10, our team won the French Championships at Lamottte Beuvron. We were the only team to win the Championships in the history of our club. 

Sidelines: What prompted your transition to dressage?

SS: We moved to the United States when my father was offered a new job opportunity in New York. We met Noel Aderer, a horse breeder in New Hampshire, who lent me a young eventing horse, Beeper, on the condition that he would be boarded at Lendon’s barn, Sunnyfeld Farms in Bedford. The plan was for me to work with Lendon in order to improve my dressage, which was my weakest event at the time. 

Sidelines: What has Lendon taught you?

SS: Lendon took me under her wing, from training level to Prix St. Georges within a time period of two years. She has taught me to never give up, to never be mad at your horse and that the only one to blame is yourself. She has taught me perseverance and regulated my ego. Above all, Lendon has taught me how to love dressage. 

Sidelines: What horses have you competed while training with Lendon?

SS: For a year, I worked with Lendon and Beeper. Although he wasn’t well behaved on show grounds, perseverance made it possible to take both of us from training level to second level. At the end of the show season, Lendon made me a wonderful proposal to ride her stallion, Ballywhim Ardan Mor, aka The Danny! I was also very lucky to be trained by Mica Magabrana who had been riding Danny for years before me. The following year my training with Lendon was dedicated to qualifying for the NAJYRC, as a 16-year-old Young Rider. Lendon successfully obtained a special invitation from the American Federation for me to compete under the French fag. Competing in Kentucky a few weeks before WEG was a wonderful and fun

A Few Minutes With Simon Solaro

experience.

Sidelines: Who has had the biggest impact on your riding career?

SS: Defnitely Lendon, for believing in me and training me all the way from training to Prix St. Georges. Also Mica, for giving me such useful advice as she had previously riding Danny. Courtney King who, during the time she was at Sunnyfeld, was also very supportive and encouraging. And fnally, Amelia, my French coach, for getting me into competitive riding and believing in me at such a very young age.

Sidelines: What are you up to now?

SS: Danny happily retired after NEDA in September last year. I am a high school junior at a very competitive high school and right now I am focused on three challenging AP exams as well as the SAT and ACT tests. My parents think that education comes frst and junior year is a year when a lot of important decisions have to be made regarding college search and applications. I hope to be accepted to a good college, maybe in the Northeast, Canada or California. I would like to major in science and hopefully keep riding during my college years. I miss competing a lot. I miss that special moment when I enter the ring, when the rest of the world disappears and I fully focus on performing the best test ever.

Sidelines: What are your riding goals?

SS: Finding a new young horse and training both of us to the Grand Prix level. My ultimate goal would be to ride in the Olympics.

Sidelines: What is your favorite thing about horses?

SS: I love animals and the connection with horses has always been very fulflling for me. In my opinion, horses are man’s best friend and I love the feeling of freedom when galloping the felds. I am also a perfectionist and believe that that’s what dressage is all about. I am not so much a team player, but neither am I an individual player. I consider dressage not a sport, but rather an art. Riding offers an alternate path, where one fnds himself alone and part of a team at the same time.

Sidelines: What do you do when you aren’t riding?

SS: I have been practicing and competing in fencing since the age of eight. I am currently a member of the Westchester Fencing Club and I was ranked in the top 30 nationwide two years ago. I also love music and I play the guitar, keyboards and drums.