ShowBiz Feature
Anthony D’Ambrosio is one
of the most well respected course
designers in the world, and the West
Coast is certainly fortunate to have him
spending his winter here with us. Hired
by Tom Struzzieri as the new HITS/
Thermal Jumper liaison, exhibitors and
management will reap the benefits of his
knowledge, his personality, and mostly,
his commitment to our jumping sport
and now the West Coast.
The oldest of seven children, three
boys and four girls, Anthony was born
into a family immersed in family values
and tradition. His parents are still married
and according to Anthony, “I am just like
my dad. We like to stay with our mates
for life, and find it more fascinating as
time goes along. It just gets better when
you are committed to it getting better!”
he says with a soft, nostalgic tone. “Dad
has it really good; Mom has always taken
good care of him, and now that all the
kids are out of the house he gets ALL
the attention. They are just so devoted
and committed to each other that it
warms your heart. Michael and I are
like that also, with a modern day twist
“I love the course designing and also the clinics and
because we travel so much.”
teaching I do throughout the world. I think we have a
Anthony started riding at 7 years old
with his dad. The entire family rode for responsibility to give back to our sport that has given
pleasure on the trails just outside of
New York City. With all the kids coming
us so much, and this is how I, personally, do that.”
along, the move to Mount Kisco for a
place of their own was just a matter of
fact process. Dad bought horses; the
family showed as a group, while some
“Then, when I was 13 years old, we Auction there so the stands were full
of the kids liked the competition, some had a horse named ‘Sir Winston’ that of spectators from around the world
didn’t. I was showing. We went to the New and the ring was full of the ‘greats’
When Anthony was 9 years old, his dad
Jersey Junior Sussex Mounted Horse of that time. “I remember the feeling
decided they needed to show at Madison
Show (now Garden State HS), and I of my horse ‘Sugar Ray’, that crowd,
Square Garden. “On a lark, dad just
rode in the Puissance class. It was at the ambiance, the thrill in the air, the
loaded our horses in the van, trailered
night under the lights and before a electricity that buzzed through the
in, watched a few horses go, and then I
huge crowd. I won the class over a place. PURE EXCITEMENT! “
wall at 6’ and I will never forget that “It was a big, long course and
showed. I had absolutely no idea what
feeling; it was magical.” terribly difficult. The jump off was
we were really supposed to do, but Dad
Reminiscing about his history, fast and I was last to go. Michael
thought it was a great idea so I did too!
he recalls his “Best Win”, maybe Matz on Jet Run went just before
I had started showing Junior Jumpers at
not his biggest, at Mason Phelps me and had a terrific time so I really
the local shows and we knew about the 1981 International Jumping Derby had to go fast to win, and I did. To
Garden; found out we could
go..so we when it was in its ‘hay day’. Paul beat Michael Matz on that horse, at
did!” he says with a laugh. “That was just
Schockemöhle held his first PSI a show like that, was a dream come
the way we did things then.”
International Jumping Horse true and something I will always
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