FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014 19
Ariel celebrates their 2nd Place win in the Child/Adult Classic at
the ESP Summer Show in Wellington.
her parents agreed to it, and that she has her own horse.
Stormy and Ariel moved to Wellington, Florida, and after a rocky
start of trying to find a trainer that was a good fit for the young
horse and rider, they hit the show circuit. In 2013, Stormy’s first
year showing, they competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival
racking up ribbons and earning a Reserve Championship. The
next season, they began competing in the Children’s Jumpers and
worked their way up to second in the 1.15 M&S Classic.
Ariel, 16, is looking forward to training for the NAL or M&S finals
in Children’s Jumpers and loves the satisfaction that comes from
hours of training and bonding with Stormy. She now trains with
Russell Rodriguez out of Juan Ortiz Stables.
As she looks back from where Stormy started to where he is
now, she gives encouragement to anyone thinking about rescuing
a horse, but warns that it will never be easy. “It takes hard work
and dedication, and most importantly the passion to want to help
and build a horse back up from its foundation. No question, there
will be doubters, and the struggles will be hard to overcome at
times,” she explained.
Now that Stormy is confident, Ariel knows he’s the most
competitive out of the two of them. Aboard a horse that would
once barely keep riders in the saddle, Ariel smiles when she
enters the show ring. “All I have to do is sit back and let him do
what he loves to do.”
About the writer: Kayla Jones is a rising senior at Bangor University in Wales
where she is studying creative and professional writing. When home in Asheville,
North Carolina, she enjoys trail riding her horse Stroker and learning dressage.
Photos courtesy of Ariel Levin, unless otherwise noted
