Fortunato H2O -- aka "Tuna" -- has been special from the start. Even at a few days old he showed his enormous, rocking canter and lovely trot. He's won hearts from coast to coast, most importantly his owner, Lehua Custer's.
Lehua spent nearly ten years working as Hilda Gurney's assistant before she started her own Lehua Custer Dressage, based at the LA Equestrian Center. Now she trains with Debbie McDonald in hopes of starting her international career. Lehua, who had been searching for a prospect for almost a year, followed Raleska's pregnancy on Facebook and inquired about him moments after his birth.
Tuna wowed us at his GOV inspection, where he was named Premium Foal and Foal of Distinction. About a month later he took on Devon, placing well in top company.
I'm very proud to say we all hope Tuna will not only become Lehua's next Grand Prix mount, but that he'll remain a stallion. He now lives in California, where he'll be raised and, hopefully, will be presented to the GOV someday.
"Tuna is a fantastic prospect," says Lehua, "and I am so impressed with his temperament.... Hilda [Gurney] is quite pleased with his attitude and movement and sees real stallion potential."