16 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
A Few Minutes with Louise Serio
By Heather Bellock
Louise Serio is a prominent hunter trainer and the owner
of Derbydown, nationally recognized as one of the foremost
show hunter barns in the country. Louise began training
at Derbydown in 1975 and she consistently trains and
rides champions in every division at the most prestigious
shows on the East Coast, as well as traveling the country
to judge at those top shows in which she is not competing.
Some of her championship mounts include Gray Slipper,
Rock On, Rock Star and Phillipa. Most recently, Louise
was victorious in the 2011 World Champion Hunter Rider
Pro Hunter Classic aboard Castle Rock at the Winter
Equestrian Festival.
Sidelines:
What role did you play in the founding of the
American Hunter-Jumper Foundation?
LS:
It was defnitely a collaborative effort. My idea was the
World Champion Hunter Rider and Geoff Teall and I kind of
came up with that and then we teamed up with Kavar Kerr
and Jim Anderson and they brought the foundation idea
into it. By combining those two ideas it made both more
successful.
Sidelines:
Why do you choose to participate in so many of
the hunter industry’s governing bodies?
LS:
If you are going to participate in a sport I think you
should give back and try to help guide it in a positive way. I
have tried to do this throughout my career and participating
in all the ways that I do I feel that I am giving back and
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helping preserve the sport of hunters.
Sidelines:
Why is it important to you to play key roles in the
hunter industry?
LS:
The older you get hopefully you have some vision as to
where you think it should go and hopefully your experience has
value. It is important that I share the knowledge I have gained
from my experiences throughout my career. I enjoy being a part of
the hunter industry in every way possible and enjoy being part of
the USHJA. I am a frm believer that knowing all aspects of your
business or discipline is very important.
Sidelines:
What has been the most memorable or instrumental
thing that you have played a part in the equine industry?
LS:
The forming of the AHJF and the WCHR was huge. Its affects
are ongoing and personally that has been a huge achievement.
My horses have been the most memorable to me. Throughout
my entire journey and career the horses have touched my life in
so many ways.
Sidelines:
What is most the most important thing that you want
people to carry on throughout the hunter industry?
LS:
I hope that people carry on a sense of pride. I want people
to be proud of the work that it takes to produce a good hunter. It
is important to remember that we work just as hard as anybody
else and we deserve just as much as any of the other riders or
disciplines.
Sidelines:
What does the future success of the hunter industry
depend on?
LS:
The success of the industry depends on many different
aspects of the sport. It is important for everyone involved to
continue making an effort to keep the vision of the sport of hunters
alive.
Sidelines:
What does it mean to have so many aspiring young
riders look up to you?
LS:
It is a great honor and hopefully I live up to their expectations.
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