By Jed Lanyon
Yarra Valley rider Marcela Satorova placed second in the Hunter Equitation Class at the Yarra Valley Quarter Horse Association Show held at Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre on Sunday 2 February.
What made the feat more impressive was the fact that it was Ms Satorova’s first western show on her American Quarter Horse Navatoe Leo Dunbar, which she had purchased 18 months ago in a very bad state.
“He was thin and pretty much in a very bad way. He was a big bag of bones and was in need of a lot of care and love. His eyes were screaming ‘help me’,” Ms Satorova said.
“I knew behind those soft eyes was a beautiful horse. It has taken us all this time to get him back to a healthy condition and to be able to come out and compete in our first western show at Tonimbuk was a dream come true.”
Ms Satarova said that Leo was almost unrecognisable in comparison to when they first met.
“Just to make it there was a huge achievement, Leo really stood proud with his shiny coat and a sparkle in his eye, almost as if to say ‘look at me now’.”
The Yarra Valley Quarter Horse Association will be running another western show on 5 April, welcoming all riders. For enquiries, contact yvqhacommitte@gmail.com.
