Who's Who
Trae and Suzanne LaPorte of Gatewood Farm, Florida and Georgia

Suzanne LaPorte - A Graduate Student of Dressage

In the past few years, Suzanne, who earned her U.S. Dressage Federation Silver Medal and in 2006 her Gold Medal, has been busy making a name for herself on the show circuit and proving her talent as a trainer. Currently a student of Robert Dover, Suzanne made her move to the FEI levels with the Danish Warmblood Wittus. In 2004, they were the Region 3 Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I champions. They were also chosen for the North American Young Riders Championships but were unable to attend. In 2006, the pair moved up to Grand Prix.

In the past year, Suzanne and Wittus have been Junior/Young Rider 2006 Adequan/USDF Year-End FEI winner and the Danish Warmblood Junior/Younr Rider champion at Grand Prix and I-2. Suzanne was working towards qualifying for the Brentina Cup, the new program for Young Riders approaching Grand Prix, when she sold him in order to raise more money to continue to invest in her training with Dover.

Suzanne’s success in the FEI level is matched by her success in the lower levels with young horses she’s trained herself. At her young age, she’s already developed a successful business buying, training and then selling young horses. “I’ve bought a couple young horses and did the young horse classes and then sold them. I’m working toward finding some really good young horses to keep and bring along.”

Suzanne’s friends describe her as hard-headed, hard-working and supportive. Her mother lists “focused” as one of the character traits that describe Suzanne and this is one young rider who definitely knows where her future is focused. “She’s focused and dedicated, but still a lot of fun to be with,” said her mother, Janice. “She has a way of pegging situations with common sense and I like that for her young age. I’ve always known that Suzanne would accomplish whatever project she took on because she put 100 percent into things.”