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Suzanne LaPorte is our resident trainer, rider and manager at Gatewood Farms in Loxahatchee, Florida. Suzanne has trained in the United States with Olympic Riders Robert Dover and Bent Jensen, Olympic Jumping Trainer Alex Chterba, and with Alex Dunaif. In Germany she has trained with Olympic Dressage Trainer Ernst Hoyos and Olympic Rider Lisa Wilcox. She has also been fortunate in having had the experience of riding with some of the best riders and trainers in the world, including Conrad Schumacher, Lendon Gray, Juan Matute, and Steffen Peters. Suzanne is now training and teaching Dressage at all levels, and also works as a horse broker, buying, selling, and importing horses for clients. Contact Suzanne at 561-319-8768 (suzannelaprt@aol.com).  FALL 2007 - There is a nice 'Who's Who' biographical article about Suzanne and Trae over at horsesdaily.com, which also includes several more images... SUMMER 2007 - Suzanne spent the summer training with Robert Dover in New Jersey this year. She also was in Germany briefly and returned home with 2 new horses. SPRING 2007 - Suzanne is currently training horses for clients, as well as working with 4 of her own. Her own young protégées include a Laurentianer / Mon Cheri 6-year-old mare that will begin showing in the 2007 show season, a Feinerstern / Waldkoenig / Duff II 6-year-old gelding who experienced a successful first show season in 2006, a Rockefeller / Weltmeyer / World Cup II 3-year-old stud that will be started under saddle in 2007, and a Colman / Newton / Lord Calando 3-year-old. DECEMBER 2006 - Suzanne LaPorte and her long-time partner Wittus, a Danish Warmblood, achieve several prestigious awards. At the 2006 Adequan/USDF Year-end Awards, Suzanne and Wittus placed first twice in the Junior/Young Rider Awards (FEI); winning at both the Intermediare II and Grand Prix level. They also placed twice in the USDF All Breeds Awards for the North American Danish Warmblood Association (Jr/YR FEI category); again taking both the Intermediate II and Grand Prix Championships. SEPTEMBER 2006 - Suzanne & Janice attend 2006 Bundeschampionat (State championships) in Warendorf, Germany.  United States Dressage Federation - Gold SUMMER 2006 - Spent the summer working and training in Southampton, New York at Robert Dover's Farm. Robert is credited with having already trained Suzanne and her Danish Warmblood Wittus toward a successful show season, their Grand Prix debut and their USDF Gold Medal earlier this year.  Suzanne and Wittus, White Fences March 2006. - Photo © Phelps Photos MARCH 2006 - Suzanne & Wittus at the Welcome Back to White Fences Show where Suzanne earned her USDF Rider's Award Gold Medal. AUGUST 2004 - Suzanne & Wittus were chosen to represent the United States in dressage at the 2004 North American Young Riders' Championships (NAYRC). Only 6 other riders nationwide had higher qualifying scores, Suzanne's qualifying average was 66.801. SPRING 2004 - Busy with training and showing in Junior / Young Rider Dressage competitions, riding several hours every day, as well as simultaneously completing High School while also enrolled at Brigham Young University and taking college classes. FEBRUARY 2004 - at Wellington Suzanne won first place in both the FEI Young Rider Prix St. George (64.917%) and the FEI Young Rider Freestyle (64.750%)
Suzanne is also a writer; several of her articles have been published by various magazines such as “Dressage Today” and “Hunter and Sport Horse.” Dressage Training in Germany with Lisa Wilcox and Ernst Hoyos - A junior rider spends an idyllic summer with two world-class dressage trainers - originally published in the February 2004 issue of Dressage Today. |
 Suzanne and Wittus, Devon September 2003 - Photo © Phelps Photos SEPTEMBER 2003 - Suzanne & Wittus at Devon, Pennsylvania for the 2003 USAE Junior Dressage Team Championship (a USA Junior Olympic - Equestrian Event). Suzanne & Wittus scored highest from among the top Junior dressage riders in the USA in all 3 classes (FEI Preliminary, Team & Individual), they won the Individual gold. Suzanne's team, ‘Team Liberty,’ won the Team silver. AUGUST 2003 - Suzanne & Wittus were among the top 12 qualified horse / rider combinations for the 2003 USAE Junior Dressage Team Championship, she won the position placing 3rd out of 52 applicants nationwide with a qualifying average of 68.348.  Suzanne and Wittus - Gestuet Vorwerk, Cappeln, Germany - Summer 2003 - Photo © Phelps Photos SUMMER 2003 - Suzanne & Wittus spent the summer at Gestuet Vorwerk in Cappeln, Germany. Suzanne was chosen from among several young riders across the USA for 3 months of intensive training in Germany with Lisa Wilcox and Ernst Hoyos. Lisa Wilcox one of the world's top dressage riders and an Olympic contender. Ernst Hoyos (Legendary Trainer / Dressage Master) is Lisa's trainer. Suzanne was the first ever recipient of this scholarship program.  Suzanne & Wittus - Regional Champions NOVEMBER 2002 - Suzanne (16) & Wittus (9) - *ABIC/USDF 4th level JR/YR Region 3 Champions (65.833%) - Camden, South Carolina - *American Bankers Insurance Company / United States Dressage Federation JULY 2002 - Suzanne LaPorte & Wittus were chosen as 1st alternates for the 2002 USA Junior Dressage Team Championships, they placed 13th out of 49 applicants nationwide with a final qualifying average of 66.634. FALL 2001 - Suzanne moved to Loxahatchee, Florida in order to train with Bent Jensen (a world renowned dressage trainer and International and Olympic competitor). Bent introduced Suzanne to a different meaning of Classical Riding which led her to many exciting wins during her first show season in South Florida. She also won numerous awards on some of Bent's own horses and horses in his training.  Suzanne and Auric - January 2000 JANUARY 2000 - Prix St. George 2000 JYR (Junior/Young Rider). Suzanne & Auric won the Silver Medal.  Suzanne LaPorte, age 9 or 10 EARLY YEARS - Born in South Georgia, grew up with horses, began riding at age 5, began training in dressage at age 12. |
