Heidi Stosser: From Junior Star to Grand Prix Hopeful

"Becoming a professional trainer was all I ever thought about," says Stosser, whose demeanor is that of the classic laid-back California girl. At twenty-eight she is moving up the ranks of the west coast's tough jumper ranks. She also oversees a small, select barn of clientele in her training stable.

"I could've gone into a regular nine-to-five job right after college, but my heart wouldn't have been in it. I've wanted to be a trainer since I was about twelve," she said.

"It took us about two years to find the perfect horse," Stosser recalled. "But when my trainer, Mary Gatti [of Rainbow Canyon Ranch, outside of Los Angeles] saw GQ, she knew he had a lot of potential."

The match proved to be a winning one. Stosser, (nee Seaman) was nearly unbeatable in the hunter division. Three times she qualified in the large junior hunter division for the big east coast indoor shows. She reflected on the excitement of showing at Harrisburg and Washington, DC in her usual laidback, droll manner.

"Showing indoors was different than the west coast because the rings are smaller and the footing is different. But I faced some tough horses and riders out here, so the actual competition wasn't that much harder.

"And, I've always had this relaxed attitude toward showing, so it was easy for me to remain focused. My attitude has always been, 'it's just a horse show, and there's another one next weekend'," she said.

Despite her relaxed approach to high-pressure situations, Stosser was a determined rider. That was proven when she rode her equitation mount, Tuned to Cruise, to the Pacific Coast junior huntseat medal finals at Portuguese Bend against over one hundred other riders. The final work-off included a bending line option of either a waiting five-stride, or an aggressive, straight approach in a galloping four. Stosser's rival rode the bending five.

Naturally, Stosser went for the four. "I remember closing my leg, closing my eyes, and just going for it and counting the strides," she recalled excitedly, the memory still vivid. The risk paid off, and she won the finals.

Beyond the name recognition due to her junior wins, Stosser says that riding a steady assortment of horses has given her invaluable experience. "At Rainbow Canyon I sometimes rode ten horses a day, even while I was in high school. That's one thing I'd strongly recommend for anyone considering becoming a pro: get on as many different horses as possible. Having that kind of experience gives you confidence."

Self-confidence, Stosser insists, can never be in short supply if you're going to be a successful professional. "You must trust yourself, trust your instincts, trust your abilities," she emphasized. "When you have confidence in what you're doing, your horse will believe in you and do anything you ask."

Finally, though Stosser has two decades of solid competitive experience behind her, she still relies on more seasoned professionals for guidance. Joe and Katie Lifto are her mentors, and have even provided her with mounts such as the huge dark bay, Zapatista. "I came from a high-quality training stable that taught me a classic background in hunter/jumper riding. But I'm still being instructed by someone with more experience than me," a point Stosser felt strongly about. "You can never stop learning."