San Francisco Peninsula Chapter California Dressage Society

Meet the SFP Members

This Month: Michele DeLuna

Q. When did you first start riding?
I started riding when I received riding lessons from my aunt on my 7th birthday. I continued to ride but did not get serious until I turned about 11 and started eventing.

Q. Tell us a little about your horse.
I have three horses right now. I have Rapallo, an eight year old Hanoverian gelding, who is competing 4th level this year. I have, Lord of the Dance, a nine year old Oldenburg gelding, who is working toward Prix St. Georges this year. Last, I have my thirteen year old Dutch gelding Nexus. Nexus is currently for sale and has been trained through PSG.

Q. How did you become interested in Dressage?
I always did some dressage with my eventing background but it was not until I was in college working with Don Saychee on my jumping that he recommended that I started getting help with my dressage from Leslie Morse. I ended up riding with Leslie for many years and switching my focus to dressage.

Q. What are your goals?
I would like to advance as far as I can with my horses. I would love to see if we can make it to the Grand Prix. I enjoy the everyday work and the way the horses go about mastering a new skill. The process is definitely the most fun for me.

Q. Where do you keep your horse?
I keep my horses in Petaluma at Riverside Equestrian Center with Christine Rivlin-Henke.

Q. Do you train with anyone? If yes, who?
I train with Christine Rivlin-Henke. Chris and I have been friends since we were 10 years old riding at Spring Down together. Her barn is such a wonderful place for me and my horses. The program is client specific and she has structured a program to help me accomplish my riding goals. Her depth of knowledge has been an inspiration to me and has helped me be very successful with both my competition horses.

Q. Do you show?
Yes, I love to show because no matter how good you think you are at home you never know until you get out there and prove it.

Q. What is your regular "day job"?
I am the mother of 5 children. They range in age from 6-14 years old. They do their best to keep me very busy.

Q. How do you fit riding into your schedule?
I ride Monday through Friday while my children are at school.

Q. Is your husband/partner/family supportive of your riding?
Yes, everyone in my family is supportive of my riding. My parents were very supportive as I grew up and even sent me to college with my horse. (I picked my college based on where good trainers were.) My husband, Shawn, has always been supportive and can even be seen at the horseshows selling Turnbow Trailers. Of my children, only my oldest son, Michael, loves to ride. My son Danny likes to go to the horseshows for the snack bar, but my girls think that the whole horse scene is smelly!

Q. Outside of riding, what other hobbies or sports do you enjoy?
I love to ski and travel with my family. In the summer, I enjoy waterskiing and boating in general.


	Meet the SFP Members This Month: Michele DeLuna *Q. When did you first start riding?* I started riding when I received riding lessons from my aunt on my 7th birthday. I continued to ride but did not get serious until I turned about 11 and started eventing. *Q. Tell us a little about your horse.* I have three horses right now. I have Rapallo, an eight year old Hanoverian gelding, who is competing 4th level this year. I have, Lord of the Dance, a nine year old Oldenburg gelding, who is working toward Prix St. Georges this year. Last, I have my thirteen year old Dutch gelding Nexus. Nexus is currently for sale and has been trained through PSG. *Q. How did you become interested in Dressage?* I always did some dressage with my eventing background but it was not until I was in college working with Don Saychee on my jumping that he recommended that I started getting help with my dressage from Leslie Morse. I ended up riding with Leslie for many years and switching my focus to dressage. *Q. What are your goals?* I would like to advance as far as I can with my horses. I would love to see if we can make it to the Grand Prix. I enjoy the everyday work and the way the horses go about mastering a new skill. The process is definitely the most fun for me. *Q. Where do you keep your horse?* I keep my horses in Petaluma at Riverside Equestrian Center with Christine Rivlin-Henke. *Q. Do you train with anyone? If yes, who?* I train with Christine Rivlin-Henke. Chris and I have been friends since we were 10 years old riding at Spring Down together. Her barn is such a wonderful place for me and my horses. The program is client specific and she has structured a program to help me accomplish my riding goals. Her depth of knowledge has been an inspiration to me and has helped me be very successful with both my competition horses. *Q. Do you show?* Yes, I love to show because no matter how good you think you are at home you never know until you get out there and prove it. *Q. What is your regular "day job"?* I am the mother of 5 children. They range in age from 6-14 years old. They do their best to keep me very busy. *Q. How do you fit riding into your schedule?* I ride Monday through Friday while my children are at school. *Q. Is your husband/partner/family supportive of your riding?* Yes, everyone in my family is supportive of my riding. My parents were very supportive as I grew up and even sent me to college with my horse. (I picked my college based on where good trainers were.) My husband, Shawn, has always been supportive and can even be seen at the horseshows selling Turnbow Trailers. Of my children, only my oldest son, Michael, loves to ride. My son Danny likes to go to the horseshows for the snack bar, but my girls think that the whole horse scene is smelly! *Q. Outside of riding, what other hobbies or sports do you enjoy?* I love to ski and travel with my family. In the summer, I enjoy waterskiing and boating in general.