California Riding Magazine • June, 2012

Raising The Bar
Melodic Farms and Imperato Horse Sales team up to take flight.

Carol Wright's name is synonymous with success on the jumper circuit.

She completed her first Grand Prix at 19 and her daughter, Leslie, one-upped her by doing so earlier this year at 18.

Along with managing a stable full of students at Melodic Farms in the Sacramento area's Elk Grove, the mother-daughter team are on the
way to creating an even bigger profile for themselves in the jumper world. Leslie has her sights set on the North American Young Riders
Championships and success in the open and international ranks after that. Along with Leslie and Carol's continuing development as big ring
contenders, the plan is to bring several top jumper prospects along.

Toward that end, Carol and Leslie asked Justin Imperato to serve as an advising associate in their jumper-related endeavors. Justin and Carol had known of each other as fellow competitors on the Northern California circuit. When he returned to the Sacramento area to settle in with his own Imperato Horse Sales, Carol sought his help in finding a good mount for Leslie. Things escalated to Justin regularly working with Carol and Leslie and their jumpers and advising them on purchases and development and occasionally giving clinics to Melodic Farms students.

"It's a group effort to get a horse and rider going at Grand Prix," Justin notes. "It's a team sport."

Carol Wright and Conajito. Photo: Dawson Photography

The trio's association is already bearing fruit. When Leslie's successes up to the 1.3 m divisions warranted a step up, Justin recommended a 12 year old Dutch Warmblood named Taco. He recognized the horse as perfect for a beginning Grand Prix rider and Taco has been just that with solid performances for Leslie at big shows in Scottsdale, AZ and Blenheim EquiSports in San Juan Capistrano.

Meanwhile, Carol is giving her daughter a run for the money aboard another Justin find: Conejito by Conejo. The 2003 Holsteiner represents "the optimum qualities of the American sport horse competing at the Grand Prix level," reports Justin. Carol and the handsome grey debuted this winter at Scottsdale and are looking forward to a successful summer and well beyond.

As a Grand Prix rider, Justin has been around the world training horses and riders to win performance classes. His training program offers horse starting and basic dressage, event-specific training, private riding instruction, therapeutic riding rehabilitation, and clinics both domestic and international. Imperato Horse Sales is based at a private facility in Herald.

"We believe that yielding the optimum quality starts with proper training from the very beginning," says Justin of his philosophy. "By utilizing our proven hands-on approach, coupled with our outstanding facilities, we offer the best pedigree for the money and the highest standard in the quality of our horses."

For more information about Melodic Farms or Imperato Horse Sales visit www.melodicfarms.com or www.imperatohorsesales.com.