the teaching process was a breath of fresh air in the extreme- ly busy lesson side of the Fox Pointe business. She became the pied piper of the barn, everywhere she was, there were dozens of our kids. It was always hard to tell who was having the most fun in their lesson times.” After becoming an instructor at Fox Pointe, she acquired
an ornery, opinionated paint pony jumper and named it Fol- low My Lead. With a laugh she says, “I acquired that very difficult pony jumper and no matter how much of a hard time it gave me, I just laughed. I spend a little bit of time getting up off the ground but that only made me more de- termined to find the key to it. I guess I found it because she went on to be USEF Horse of the Year Champion Pony Jumper in 2008.” When the Los Angeles horse world lost one of its own,
Rosey Reed, Tommi picked up the opportunity to acquire Griffith Park Farms from the estate. With a variety of cli- ents, from children to open horses, she began the job she was so obviously destined to do, Trainer and Owner of a hunter-jumper operation at Los Angeles Equestrian Center. As the business changed and grew, a new horse was added
to the barn by owner Raquelle De La Bussel. His name was Kamari. This horse became the ride that catapulted Tommi into the ring with the “big guys.” As a First Year horse, and her only ride in the Open division, Kamari’s success was soon the talk of the ring. Tommi, with just the one ride-Ka- mari, jogged back in the top slots of just about every class he was in. Riders with several horses began to take note of this young lady that came out of nowhere in a short amount of time. Championship after Championship at just about every west coast show, including Thermal and Blenheim, sort of became the norm. “He is such a character and a special horse,” says Tommi.
“He has a personality that is bigger than he is and I never told him he couldn’t win. But I guess no one ever told me that either so we both never knew there was something we couldn’t do. Archie Cox calls him Mighty Mouse, very ap- propriate and we always laugh about it.” Putting on a serious hat, Tommi explains her life now.
“My duties are many, but first and foremost are the horses. I like to be hands on so I know each horse individually. The LA Equestrian Center is a good place for my business; it provides me with soooo many opportunities no matter the weather, and there are also trails and hills to keep the horses really fit and focused.” “The best part of the horse business for me...every day is
like no other, you never know what to expect and you never get bored. I think horses are really like people, some more than others. There is so much to be taught and learned every day, it as an ongoing process that never stops. The horses are forever evolving into what we as trainers are molding them to be, and I think I really enjoy trying to figure out the ones that are the hardest to understand.” “Showing and training the hard part? It’s being up at 4 am
to hack the horses and get ready for the show day, usually after going in at midnight and hand walking the horses my- self. I really want them to connect and depend on me, and I want them to remember just me in the show ring. I know that sounds a bit odd, but at this time in my life I chose to be one of them when I can. After the wonderful time with Kamari, I now know I want to specialize in great horses that are having problems and just need a special chance.” “So many people have been such an integral part of my
development and have given me a leg up and I never forget. Kathy gave me my first job as a young instructor at 16, a real risk but she took it. John French and Carolyn Mittler have found and sold us some pretty amazing horses. Archie Cox, Keri Kampsen, Nick Haness, Carlton Brooks,
Rudy Leone and Joe Thorpe have given me great support and the best ground work when I need it. My mother is the consistent voice of reason and gets very little credit, she gives it to me. She is however, the strength I lean on. But the one who has been my life line through it all is my head groom Lupe, for without him I would collapse.” After a long quiet pensive moment, she adds, “
...and those horses, those amazing horses!!!”
www.griffithparkfarms.com
Opposite Page Top: Tommi and Roxbury. Opposite Page Bottom: Tommi on Raska, Photo © Captured Moment Photography. This Page Left to Right: Tommi and Julia Helvey; Deb Muellner and Tommi, Photo © CourtneyGregg; Tommi with Christa Ellis, Bailey Gossett, Rachel Lester-Trend and Dillon Statler.
41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84