Monday March 24, 2003

Michael Shondel – This Is His Year

At the Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y, March 13-16 in Wellington, Florida, 20-year-old Michael Shondel aboard Wallaby won the Young Riders Team and Individual CDI classes, scoring 64.978% and 69.829% respectively. Michael intends to qualify for this year’s North American Young Riders Championships in Bromont, Canada. He has been showing in Young Riders since he was 16, and was the Region 8 Alternate in 2000 on Monarch Max. He acquired ‘Wally’ in the fall of 2001, but decided not to contend his new horse for the 2002 championships. “This is my year,” states Michael.

From his home in Kinnelon, New Jersey, Michael started riding at age four,
concentrating on hunter/jumpers until he was nine, and then dressage when he met Bernardo Vergara, with whom he trained for 10 years. In Germany two years ago, Bernardo and Michael purchased the 18.2-hand Hanoverian gelding, Wallaby (Werther x Gondola), a successful PSG/I-I competitor. Last December, Michael moved to Gainesville, Florida, and enrolled in college, stabling Wallaby in Ocala. Bernardo planned to move his operation to the area, but was unable to sell his facility in New Jersey. “I was stuck down here with my horse and no trainer,” said Michael. But Bernardo was able to match his student with his friend, trainer Cesar Parra. “I’ve been with Cesar since.”