Never Give Up – The Faith and Determination of Olivia Hatter and Lil Lo Lita

When Olivia Hatter first saw Lil Lo Lita at a local auction, she and her sister, Katelynn Newberry, fell in love with her.  They placed a bid to try to take “Ellie” home with them, but they ended up losing the bid and they were heartbroken.

“But as fate would have it,” explains Olivia, “a month later, Ellie was for sale at our county fair, and we ended up buying her there.”  At the time, Olivia was only six and Ellie was a two-year-old, so Katelynn showed her in western walk trot classes, while Olivia did small fry events.

“My sister eventually got married and had kids while I was still showing strong, and eventually I had to age up into loping,” Olivia says. The problem was Ellie was not a great loper, and it was hard to keep her hind end engaged at the lope.

“Many people told me that I should sell her and buy something ‘better’,” Olivia explained. “But Ellie and I had come so far and had developed a bond, so I just couldn’t.” Olivia tried to lease another horse at one point, but found just two months before the All American Youth Horse Show that it was very ring sour.  Then Olivia’s trainer told her to have her parents bring Ellie down and she would help her.  “Within two months she was able to get Ellie in excellent condition and loping like a dream,” explains Olivia.

Olivia and Ellie went to the youth show and never looked back, having the best rides of their lives together, earning Class Champion and Top 5 titles throughout the show, and Olivia reports they’ve been doing great ever since.

“At this year’s 2022 All American Youth Horse Show, we were 2x Class Champion, 2x Top Five, and 2x Top Ten.  This year she won the English Showmanship and Equitation and she’s also won multiple Grand Championships at the Fair.  I’m now 14 and Ellie is 10, and I thank God every day that she came into my life,” Olivia says.

Olivia explains that she’s thankful for the help from Jess Haines and Shawn Budke, and most of all, for Ellie.  “I never thought I would be able to get her as far as she has gone, but I never gave up on her. After winning twice in the same day I was left on the verge of tears. She always tries her hardest for me, and she has that will and determination that I love in horses!”