By Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos Hills resident Matthew Sereni, 16, has been selected this year’s winner of the Potcreek Farm Junior Sportsman Award at the Indio Desert Circuit.
The circuit is a six-week hunter/jumper horse show in Indio.
The award was presented to Sereni March 11 during halftime ceremonies of the Grand Prix field at Desert Horse Park. The Indio Desert Circuit is one of the largest horse shows in the United States and is host to more than 2,000 horses competing in more 300 hunter, jumper and equitation classes each week.
Sereni has been riding since age 3. He trains with his mother, Debbi Sereni, and Michael Henaghan at Traditional Show Jumping-Henaghan’s stable in Calabasas. At the Indio Desert Circuit, Sereni competed in Small Junior Hunter classes with Fare Niente, and in High Junior Jumpers with Keepsake. Sereni also rode Centerstage in Large Junior Hunters for Carleton Brooks, a well-known professional trainer who operates Uphill Farm based in Atherton. In competition, Sereni was required to jump courses with fences set at a minimum of 3 feet 6 inches for the hunters and up to 4 feet 6 inches for the jumpers.
A sophomore at Pinewood High School in Los Altos Hills, Sereni plays soccer and baseball. He says that his school is supportive of his passion for horse sports and has permitted him to work out a schedule for his studies that allows him to train and compete. Matthew is also involved in community service and volunteers to work with autistic children.
“One of the most important things about Matthew ever since his pony days is his love for horses,” said Matthew’s mom, Debbi Sereni. “He becomes very attached to each horse and takes responsibility for all aspects of their care.”
The winner of the Junior Sportsman Award is selected each year based on the judge’s observations of a junior rider’s conduct, and attitude and courtesy, appropriate to a competitor in horse sports. Sereni will receive an Antares Circuit Grand Champion jacket with the title of his award embroidered on it.
