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PETER LOMBARDO
by: Kathy Hobstetter
The Great
His first horse was an older horse
Lombardo
named “Secret Weapon” purchased
from Dennis Hopper for $2,500. The
mare had lots of experience but had a
tremendous amount of “quirks” that a
lot of people could not deal with and it
E
ended up being at the sale barn.
veryone has to start somewhere
father is the one that Peter credits with “I did get along with her, probably
and for Peter Lombardo that start was
“making it all happen” from the be- mostly because that was all I could af-
on a Shetland pony at the age of 8 years
ginning. Buying a truck and trailer, he ford, so I had to make the best of her.
old. Visiting an Aunt’s farm in Nashville
loaded up whatever horse and/or pony I was young and very inexperienced but
Tennessee, he was given his first expe-
available for Peter, Jr., and did it all right together we went all the way from cross
rience riding and for 2 weeks he rode
along side his son. Not a rider himself, he bars to the Junior Hunters. Maybe not
everyday. The rest is as you say, sort of
can be credited with encouraging his son always the most impressive ride but she
history, but what a history he has and
to groom, clip, bathe, braid, ship, wrap was what I had and I was just glad to
probably very few people know the
and all other barn and showing duties. have a horse to jump at all,” he said with
wonderful journey he has had along the
“It became his interest too, and a little bit of a pensive tone to his voice.
way.
that was extremely lucky for me,” One day his mother came to visit to
Since no one else in the family rode,
said Peter. “Before long he moved us watch the lessons, and decided Peter
after that summer Peter had to beg his
to our own small farm and then the should get some top notch instruction
way into lessons. His mom, Christine,
work really started for all of us. In since he only seemed to be more and
was supportive but it was his father, Pe-
order to get lessons I rode at a deal- more committed to riding and learning.
ter Sr., that truly gave in and set Peter
er barn and did everything there. It A friend of the family, Ronnie Mutch,
on the journey that would lead his life
wasn’t ideal but it got me lessons and lived in the area and arrangements were
eventually to Southern California. His
I could keep riding and learning.” made for lessons there.
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