Thank you Madeleine, and Mom, Kate, for submitting this Member Profile! Many of you may recall that Madeleine was our 2010 Junior Volunteer of the year, and she is still very involved in volunteering this year. You will see Madeleine at the shows helping out in many ways. CDS EB is fortunate to have such generous junior volunteers! Thank you again, Madeleine!
Rider: Madeleine Coronado
Trainer: Nellie Martin-Giles
Barn: La Jolla Equestrian
Horse: Sonata de Raffenado
Fun Facts: Age 11, just finished
6th grade (middle school), plays
the violin, loves to dance, loves
the beach, also loves her Basset
Hound Basil and Bunny Lily.
Aspiration: To become a veterinarian
Madeleine and Sonata in a lesson with Nellie
When do you first remember liking horses?
Well, I don’t completely remember, but my mom and dad tell me that when we lived in Southern CA in San Juan Capistrano, they used to take me regularly to a family owned farm and petting zoo. The farm offered horse rides and I seemed to like one horse especially. So, almost every weekend, we would stop at that farm in San Juan and I’d have a horse ride on “Remedy.” Then, my mom would take me after work several times a week to pet Remedy over the fence of the farm; he supposedly came right over when we arrived. That was when I was 1 ½ to 2 ½ and then, we moved to Northern CA to Danville where we now live.
From then on, I always “had to have” a pony ride (or two) whenever we attended a fair or carnival. For my 3rd, 4th, and 5th birthday parties, my parents had pony rides at our house for me and my “little” friends and family.
When did you begin riding regularly or in lessons?
When I was 6, I attended a summer horse camp at a local riding school. I loved it! I loved everything from caring for the horses to cleaning the tack to the daily rides. My mom signed me up for lessons immediately after that camp at the same riding facility. I’ve been taking lessons ever since! In fact, I was just a junior bridesmaid in my first trainer’s wedding (Amanda Sugerman Mott). My first trainer became like family to us; she became my babysitter and our house and pet sitter, so that helped leave the positive impression on me for “all things horses.”
What made you want to ride for fun and ride competitively?
I loved riding for fun without any pressures, but when I saw my first trainer compete at Denville-Kanani and La Jolla three or four years ago, I knew I wanted that side of riding too. Then, when I started riding with my current trainer, Nellie Martin-Giles, at La Jolla over two years ago, I really got interested in sticking strictly with dressage and with competing. I had been training with Nellie for just a few months when she competed at Pebble Beach. My dad, mom, and I drove down to watch her. I was “wowed” and amazed by what Nellie and her horse could do in perfect harmony. I knew that I wanted to be able to do all that fancy footwork too someday! Everything about shows got me excited: the dressage “look” and clothes, the horse’s braids, the elegant movements, the nice, friendly show people and competitors everywhere, even the dogs at the show. I was in heaven!
What is your favorite horse breed?
I first learned on an Appaloosa named Sooner (at Highland Riding). I loved that guy. He was just the right size and so easy going when I was 6. My heart was broken when he passed. So, back then, that was my favorite. Then, when I moved to La Jolla, I rode a super sweet Arabian named Moony. I still see Moony almost every day and I still feed him his mash. He’s a special guy with a special place in my heart. I did my very first show ever on Moony, so my parents have lots and lots of photos of Moony and me in show attire and every day riding clothes. You guessed it; Arabians were my favorite. But now…my favorite breed is Hanoverian.
The Best Birthday Present EVER!
Hanoverians are my number one now because last November (2010), my dad and mom bought me my first horse for my 11th birthday. It was a complete surprise! The La Jolla owner and trainers and a few riders knew about the surprise. I found out on my birthday (I was there for my regular lesson) after they sang happy birthday to me and led me over to my horse’s stall where a huge sign was hanging. I couldn’t believe it! My parents always had told me I couldn’t get a horse until I turned 16!
My horse’s name is Sonata (Sonata de Raffenado). He is 13 and a good boy with a great temperament; he is 15.2 and just the right size since I’m only 4 feet 10 inches. Since a sonata is a musical composition, he has a G-clef design on his right rear, which makes perfect sense since I play the violin. I love him and I love to hug him. I love when he knickers to me when I call to him. I hope to keep Sonata forever even when someday I might outgrow him and need a fancier, more advanced horse. By then, I plan to earn money to keep him by being a junior groom, by braiding horses, cleaning tack, whatever it takes! Hanoverians definitely are my favorite breed right now (smile!).
Why do you want to volunteer since you earned your award by volunteering at CDS shows?
My mom says I have to “give back” for my privileges by helping others and volunteering. Since I’m lucky to have my own horse at a young age, I love volunteering at all the shows or doing anything for and around horses or the barn. Plus, everyone’s always so nice and appreciative and I always learn something new about my equestrian endeavors when I help out at the shows. I even love the smell of the barn! My dad thinks that’s funny!
What do you hope to do in the future?
I plan to become a veterinarian. I decided that when I was 3 ½ and I still want to! — But I want to be a small animal vet. Meanwhile, I hope someday to combine my love of music with my love of riding to perform Freestyle at a CDS show! I have a long way to go until then, but that’s what I hope to do in a few years.
Madeleine and Sonata G-Clef Clip!
