The Century Club News
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A regularly issued letter Volunteer Editor: to and about the members of Carole Nuckton The Dressage Foundation’s (Bend, Oregon) Century Club. Team #52 THE NEWS CenturyISSUE 16Club / JANUARY 2012 “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. LEWIS ISSUE 16 / JANUARY 2012 THE CENTURY CLUB NEWS published by THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION 1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 434-8585 Fax: (402) 436-3053 Celebrating15Yearsof reaching new goals and www.dressagefoundation.org [email protected] turning dreams into realities! I receive calls and messages on a work – yet they aspire to something More About regular basis from riders who have more. A common theme among all The Dressage the goal to become a Century Club is that becoming a member of this Foundation... member. “If only I stay healthy... if special group was a new goal, a new only my horse is sound next year...” dream, which was realized. LOWELL BOOMER founded The Dressage These riders have set a In 2011 we celebrated Foundation in 1989, and new goal – they have a 15 years of honoring its Mission is “To cultivate new dream. It is never senior dressage riders and provide financial too late to accomplish and horses. It is amazing support for the advancement something big, as the to think that in 2012, we of dressage.” Simply stated, Century Club riders will reach another mile- the business of The Dressage Foundation is featured in this issue stone – our 100th mem- to raise money, manage it, show us. Several of ber! Congratulations to and give it away. them – humans and all who have brought us Through generous horses – have overcome obstacles to this point, and congratulations donations, we are able to to bring them to this point in to all of our new members – fulfill our Mission to provide their lives. Many Century Club Welcome to the Century Club! grants and scholarships to young riders, adult amateurs, riders have had some wonderful breeders, judges, instructors, accomplishments in life – with dressage clubs, and high their careers, families, volunteer performance teams. Jenny Johnson Donations to The Dressage TDF Administrative Director Foundation come in all sizes–small, medium, large, and extra-large. Each contribution is important and does make a difference! For more information To see more photos of this year’s members, on charitable gifts and or to read about teams from previous years, estate planning, contact Melissa Filipi, Development visit www.dressagefoundation.org Director, at 402-434-8585. 2 THE CENTURY CLUB NEWS ISSUE 16 / JANUARY 2012 TEAM #81: Mary Grace Davidson and Adrenaline Rush As a trainer, competitor, and Teamincluding 81 many USDF Regional judge, Mary Grace Davidson Championships. Her competitive brings with her a lifetime of career was capped on her 75th experience with horses. A birthday, when she received a native of California, Mary Grace score of 62% at Intermediare I graduated from the University on her horse, Marquis. of California at Davis back in Mary Grace planned to ride the days when it was a true Marquis for her Century Club agricultural campus, majoring in ride at Yarra Yarra Ranch in general agriculture. She had a Pleasonton, CA, on March 13, successful career as a technical 2011. Marquis was three when editor in the budding aerospace Mary Grace fell in love with program, but always kept a him, and they were a great busy side life of riding and train- team for the next 16 years. Trag- ing. Eventually, she opted for ically, just one month before working full time with horses, the Century Club ride, Marquis purchasing eight acres near the was fatally injured in a trailer budding community of Walnut accident. Mary Grace’s friend, Creek in Northern California. Valerie Case, offered a ride on Now, over 40 years later, she her Argentine Thoroughbred, and her husband, Clyde, still Adrenaline Rush, who was run their Lucky Acres as a small also 19. Mary Grace said, “He dressage training center amidst a was the right age and certainly neighborhood of upscale homes looked the part, but had never and boutique wine vineyards. ful older riders in the early days been to a dressage show. Not Mary Grace’s dressage career of dressage, Mary Grace has won one to quit, I said, ‘Let’s do it!’ ” started in the late 60s, nurtured by eight USDF Vintage Cup first Mary Grace continued, “More the opportunity to host many of awards on four horses, from grooms than I could count, friends the best clinicians, including Hilda Training Level through Grand and family jamming the ring, Gurney (who taught monthly at Prix, as well as USDF Masters little flashes from many cameras, Lucky Acres for 10 years), Melle Certificates at all levels. several bouquets of flowers, and a van Breugen, Gerhard Politz, and Mary Grace is a USEF “S” level horse that was overwhelmed with Dennis Callen. She has trained dressage judge, with over 30 years excitement. All this and I still five horses to FEI levels, is a USDF of judging experience. Still an remembered to sit up straight, bronze and silver medal holder, active judge, she has officiated keep my shoulders back, and and a long-time student of Willy at major shows throughout the remember the test. It was truly a Arts. One of the most success- United States and Canada, day to remember.” 3 ISSUE 16 / JANUARY 2012 THE CENTURY CLUB NEWS TEAM #82: Barbara Cleveland and Valentales Barbara started riding at age 9 TeamLevel classes.82 Dorothy felt that in Poulsbo, Washington. Besides Vali had the potential to do well being active in 4-H and showing in dressage with his great attitude in a variety of horse show events, and work ethic. So at age 49 Barbara started and trained two Barbara became immersed in of her own horses. While she at- the world of dressage. tended Washington State Univer- In 1991, the Cleveland’s decided sity, where she majored in Interior to return to her husband’s home Design, she trained and showed in Santa Barbara. As soon as they her Arabian stallion. arrived, Barbara began working In 1964, Barbara moved to Ha- with the local trainers. Her goal waii, where she started her career was to earn the USDF Bronze as an interior designer. Sailing and Medal, which she did in 1999. diving took the place of horses After she had ridden several 4th her first 20 years in the islands. level tests, she decided that the However, when she and her pirouettes and half passes were husband moved to the Big Island Photo credit: Jeff Lawton just too much for her senior horse. in 1986, she discovered that the Barbara has been active in the Hawaii Preparatory Academy had Santa Barbara Chapter of the a great adult riding program that California Dressage Society for included dressage. That’s where some 21 years, serving on the the dressage seed was planted in board as chapter chair, vice her heart. chair, social chair, and newsletter Barbara and her teammate, editor. Nevertheless, Barbara Vali, have a long history. Start- was overwhelmed by the warm ing in Hawaii in 1989, Vali, an and generous support that the Appendix Quarter Horse that chapter gave her and Vali for had won the Snaffle Bit Maturity their Century Ride, which took Championship as a 4 year old and place on Saturday, April 2, 2011, a Cutting Horse Championship Photo credit: Tass Jones at Santa Barbara’s Earl Warren the following year, seemed a dubi- Dorothy Maxwell, the daughter of show grounds. Hilda Gurney, ous dressage prospect. The 16.2 Lazelle Knocke (who was the first renowned trainer and Olympic hand gelding, however, was out of Century Club member) traveled to medal winner, was the judge. a great line of Parker Ranch Thor- Hawaii from New Jersey to judge a As Barbara had worked with oughbreds and by a racing AQHA dressage show and conduct a clinic Hilda 10 years before, it seemed stallion named Tell n’ Tales. Sev- on the Big Island. Barbara and Vali apropos that she judged her eral weeks after she bought Vali, ended up winning their Training Century Ride. 4 THE CENTURY CLUB NEWS ISSUE 16 / JANUARY 2012 TEAM #83: Ellen Newman and Diana In 1939, when she was Team Diana83 replaced Ellen’s nine, Ellen got a pony. Thoroughbred partner She learned to post from a of 25 years, who died ditch-digging crewmember at age 29. Ellen says alongside a gravel road that Diana is sensitive near Holland, Michi- and willing, learns more gan who called to “Quit quickly than her rider bouncing—Go up-down- and, like her predecessors, up-down!” is patient and forgiving, At age 11, she got her while keeping her rider first horse and was be- focused and alert. Ellen is friended by Margaret the sole caretaker of her McLean Lashua, who had two Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred hunters rides every day on their and taught Ellen to ride Wisconsin farm, weather and jump. Soon, her family the Maryland Hunt Cup had been permitting. moved to East Lansing, Michigan, Ellen’s long-time ambition, it was Ellen feels deeply indebted to where she was invited to ride and out of reach because, at that time, those many horses and people show Col. Gerald Peterson’s hors- women were barred from most in the past who have been kind es at the ROTC Cavalry Unit at sports including horse racing and beyond reason—from P.T. Cheff, Michigan State University. While eventing. Master of the Battle Creek Hunt there, she showed successfully in Ellen met her husband of 60 Club, who, in the 1940s, sent hunter and jumper classes and was years at Michigan State University, Ellen gas ration stamps from his privileged to ride and show horses where, as a student, he earned his business so she could show—to for others.