90 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
Endel Ots, at 26, has come a long way from his
“Bonanza” days as a kid taking lessons in a local stable.
A rising superstar on the American dressage scene, Endel
was thrilled when he was named as the alternate for the
2011 United States Dressage Team for the Pan Am Games
on Toscano, a KWPN gelding owned by Kristin and Steve
Cooper. “I was in Europe working and training at Hubertus
Schmitdt’s barn and I got a call from the Coopers asking if
I would like to have the ride on Toscano to try for the Pan
Am Games,” Endel said. “I had ridden and shown many
horses successfully for them over the years and we were
good friends. I was excited for the call, but it was a hard
decision to leave Hubertus.”
To prepare for the Games, Endel and Toscano moved
to Wellington and started working with Danish Olympian
Lars Petersen. Endel discovered that Wellington was the
place to be and he and Caroline Roffman, who also rides
with Lars, have combined their talents and started their
own training and sales barn. “Our goal is to create a top
training center in Wellington,” he said.
Sidelines:
What was it like being the alternate for the Pan
Am Games?
EO:
It was such a great experience to be part of the team.
To work with Ann [Gribbons] every day and to train with
some of the best riders in the country on a daily basis was
a dream come true. It was great to get to know them as
people and not just as the riders you see in magazines or at
shows. I made some great friends there and we celebrated
my birthday together at Cesar Parra’s house and we all
went one night into New York City.
Sidelines:
What was it like riding and competing Toscano?
EO:
It has been a great experience to get to ride and
show a horse like him. He has a super work ethic and so
much talent. I helped ride him as a six year old and it is
great to see his development. I felt very lucky every day to
have been a part of his success story.
Sidelines:
How did you make the move to Wellington to
train with Lars?
EO:
I had watched Lars ride and train since I was little and
I very much admired his work ethic and training. I wanted
to ask someone who knew him personally so I checked
with my friend Caroline Roffman. I always respected her
riding and professionalism and I knew she had worked with
Lars for years and raved about him being a world-class
rider and a great trainer. I talked with the Coopers and
told them that if Toscano and I were going to have the best
chance to make it to Pan Am Games, that training with Lars
was the way to go.
Sidelines:
What are your riding goals?
EO:
I am hoping to get an opportunity to train, campaign
and show another horse like Toscano. After the Pan Am
Games he went home to his owners in Chicago. I am
looking for another horse that I can bring to that level and
after getting a taste of what it is like to ride on a United
States Team I am more confdent that is what I want most.
Five Questions for Endel Ots
Endel says of Toscano: “He has a super work ethic and so much
talent. I felt very lucky every day to have been a part of his
success story.”
Photo by Susan Stickle
Sidelines:
What are you looking forward to about working with
Caroline?
EO:
When I moved from Europe to Wellington, Caroline and
her boyfriend Travis offered me the extra bedroom at her house.
Caroline and I spent a lot of time talking about horses and we found
that our personalities compliment each other very well. We both
have strengths and weaknesses that the other can appreciate.
It’s nice to go into something knowing you have someone who
has your back and who can also give you another perspective on
situations that come up.