theplaidhorse.com • October 2015 • 71
THE MOMENT DOMINIQUE GONZALEZ entered the ring for Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship in Jacksonville, FL, the first words out of the announcers’ mouths were, “There are Maclay’s in Puerto Rico?” Gonzalez, who shows 15, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and could ride before she could walk. At age 3, she commuted to Paris, France, while her father and trainer Terry Gonzalez, a professional in the equestrian sport, was showing and training in Europe. For many years, Gonzalez travelled around both the United States and Europe following the show circuit with her parents. When Dominique was in 7th grade, her family purchased a farm in Ocala, Florida to allow her to seriously focus on her own riding. The success that has followed her began when she met her match in the form of an equitation horse named Bentley, owned by James Gentleman. The pair instantly clicked, even though “Ben,” as she affectionately calls him, was very green when they first teamed up at
the beginning of 2014. With the training and miles that Gonzalez has put on this horse, the duo’s performance has only improved. Gonzalez’s most recent accomplishment was receiving 2nd Place in the prestigious SEMF Phelps Media Junior Medal with the help of the team at Don Stewart Stables and trainer Terry Gonzalez. This medal is unlike others throughout the country due to the fact that it runs the day before Region 3 Maclay Championships, making it attract some of the top riders in the country; there were over 95 entries in this year’s lineup. With a first round score of 86.5, Gonzalez went into the second round standing in 6th. Keeping her cool, she laid down yet another flawless trip and moved into the 2nd place position. Gonzalez also qualified for National Maclay Championships with a top 25 placing in the regional the next day. While Equitation is her main focus at the moment, she has also seen success in the Children’s Hunters, aboard her young horse Ingo de Kalvarie, owned by T. M. Hills Farm and Judy Boccacio, and in the High Children’s Jumpers, with Sharíf. Ingo de