Ella Cooper-Levin

My name is Ella Cooper-Levin and I am currently completing Stage 2 of the Pinnacle Programme. I am 21 years old and I am a dressage rider from a small country town called Waerenga within the Waikato. I am currently in my 4th year at the University of Waikato studying a Bachelor of Computer and Mathematical Science with Honors and I am an intern for a company called Evo Events (NZ's biggest equestrian event entry website).

In 2022 I was selected for the NZ team for the Pony Club International Alliance (PCIA) Virtual Dressage Competition with my horse Eva Amiral. I placed 9th overall and the NZ team won the team's competition in the Senior level. I am also the NZ riders representative on the PCIA Youth council where we are enacting projects to benefit pony club riders all over the world. I have achieved my Pony Club A Dressage certificate in 2022. With Eva, I have recently stepped up to Young Rider/ Level 6 and it is our goal to qualify and compete at Horse of the Year 2024 in the main oval.

My overall goal with my dressage career is to reach the Grand Prix level (level 9) and represent New Zealand at the world equestrian games and the Olympics. I also want to in the future improve the way Equestrian is run in New Zealand by combining my coding skills with my love of all things equestrian. The Pinnacle Programme has given me the skills to become a better horse rider by allowing me to think differently and become open to using skills that I learn from my journey. I am excited about my journey with the Pinnacle Programme.

"Dressage is the art of teaching the horse to carry you. Riding is the art of learning to be a good load to carry." –Richard Weiss