Natalie Rooney Pitts
E-mail: Natalie@fourstarfarm.com
Natalie was born and raised in Napa Valley, California. Her introduction to horses began at the age of six at Wild Horse Valley Ranch. Even through college, Natalie maintained her passion for riding. While earning a degree in genetics from the University of California, Davis, Natalie and her Trakehner mare Rafabi worked their way to the highest level of eventing.
In 1994, during her sophomore year of college, Natalie and Rafabi won the Gold Medal at the North American Young Rider Championships. Natalie also played on UC Davis's nationally ranked polo team while she was there. But it was Rafabi who changed Natalie's destiny to a career of horses.
After college, the pair successfully competed in Advanced-Level eventing and Third Level dressage. Natalie briefly had a job working in the pharmaceutical industry as a scientist developing drugs for diabetes, all the while continuing to compete. Unfortunately for Amylin pharmaceuticals, it was apparent that Natalie's heart was with the horses. So Natalie's business, Four Star Farm, was born.
Four Star Farm quickly became a well-known name in Southern California. Natalie began teaching all levels of riding and coaching at dressage, jumper shows, and events. Her business included training a dozen or so horses at home. She made several contacts for buying horses in Germany, Ireland and England, and often takes clients abroad to find their perfect match.
Fine Field, an Irish Sporthorse, was Natalie's next big mount. She skillfully brought this red-headed mare up to the Advanced Level of eventing and was long-listed for the U.S. Olympic team in 1998. Meanwhile, Natalie had bred her first horse, a thoroughbred named Allie, to the Trakehner stallion Tummler back in 1991. That colt was now a six-year-old gelding and ready to start competing. Aladdin proved to be the horse of a lifetime.
In 2001, Natalie made her debut on the European front with the United States Equestrian Team at Burghley, a CCI****, finishing fourth. Then, in 2002, Natalie and Aladdin were sixth at the Rolex CCI**** in Lexington, Kentucky. In that same year, they were named as the alternate for the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. To get fit, Natalie rode two-year-olds at the San Luis Rey racetrack in the mornings before going to train her clients' horses. She attained her jockey license in 2001.
Riding race horses and spending time behind the scenes at the track gave Natalie an indispensable education. Natalie then decided to focus on dressage, competing throughout Southern California at Fourth Level. In 2003, Aladdin suffered an injury and was sidelined. During the break, Natalie became pregnant. It was during this time that she earned her USDF bronze medal.
Jackson, an Appendix quarter horse that Natalie had trained was doing Preliminary Eventing and Third Level dressage on alternating weekends. But as her belly grew, Natalie eventually abandoned the jumping saddle. Jackson and Natalie still managed to be Reserve Champion at Third Level for the San Diego chapter.
Also while pregnant, Natalie entered the U.S. Eventing Association's Instructor Certification Program (ICP) as a Level III candidate. This certification qualifies her to teach and coach through Intermediate Level and the CCI* level of eventing. Although Natalie had already been teaching for eight years, she was very interested in supporting the new certifiation program.
Natalie's résumé includes an Equine Appraisers license. Because of her extensive experiences in the various disciplines, and the high volume of horses both bought and sold through Four Star Farm, it seemd like an obvious step.
In 2004, just months after giving birth to Tyler, a 10-pound baby boy, Natalie and Aladdin qualified for and were one of five selected to compete at the World Cup Final for eventing in Pau, France. Natalie finished as the highest-placing American, 18th in a field of more than 70 of the best riders in the world.
During that busy year, Natalie moved back to her hometown of Napa, in Northern California, and settled Four Star Farm at the American Canyon Training Center. In 2005 and 2006, Natalie campaigned Pluto and Aladdin at the upper levels of dressage and earned her USDF lifetime silver medal award.
While pregnant with her second child, Natalie completed the USDF-L program for judging dressage from which she graduated with distinction. She plans to continue her education and climb the judging ladder by enrolling in the "r" program.
After Sydney was born, two more incredible Trakehners also became a part of the family. Jefferson, aka "Jedi" was the first. With Natalie's guidance, the 17.1-hand giant promises to take the eventing world by storm. Virginian Sky came next. This impressive grey stallion came from Germany in April of 2009. Both these young, talented horses are exploding with potential. Between these two exceptional partners, Natalie is destined and determined to be back competing on the international scene.
In January 2009, Four Star Farm initiated Four Star Pony Club and became one of Northern California's first Pony Club Riding Centers. This program has given Natalie and her instructors a whole new level of mentorship for the youth in the area as well as a healthy social alternative for parents.
Natalie's vision for Four Star Farm is to nourish her student's passion for horses and to boldly and safely lead eventing and dressage enthusiasts of all ages on a great equestrian adventure, with the intent of fulfilling dreams and realizing goals. She inspires optimism and leadership, and encourages others to follow their dreams.