Tag Archives: The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club

Dressage, JRPR

Dressage Foundation’s Century Club Welcomes Olwen Busch of Jacksonville Equestrian Center

Leave a comment

Olwen Busch with her horse Filibuster (Photo courtesy of Christine Cramer)

Jacksonville, FL (May 27, 2016) – For equestrian Olwen Busch and her horse Filibuster, a dressage show this past weekend held very special significance. Busch competed in First Level to be officially inducted into The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club, which honors competing horses and riders whose combined age is at least 100 years old. “Since I am 82 and Filibuster is 20, I figured we should do it now while we are both still sound!” said Busch.

The Northeast Florida Equestrian Society Board of Directors was thrilled to congratulate Busch for her accomplishment. From 2004 to 2007, Busch was an invaluable board member of the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society, which manages the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Busch pursued the opening of hiking and riding trails at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center – trails that now stretch on for miles – and has been a generous donor and fundraiser for the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society.

In order to be inducted into the Century Club this past weekend, Busch had to perform a dressage test before a rated judge. She was rewarded with a beautiful ribbon from The Dressage Foundation, and a trophy will shortly follow.

Despite masterfully completing her test (even with Filibuster spooking a bit at a dog that took interest in the pair), the show ring has never been Busch’s favorite place to be. She began riding bareback across deserts in Idaho and Arizona at the age of five years old, and, throughout the next 77 years, she has ridden throughout the world in disciplines such as hunt seat, cross country, saddle seat, reining, and dressage. Busch’s experiences on horseback have included international horse safaris with her husband, training sport horses, and riding a stag hunt with the Kermaingant Hunt Club in Normandy, France just five years ago. Today, Busch enjoys dressage and trail riding with Filibuster.

“The real thrill I have always gotten from riding has nothing to do with competitions won or lost, but with the joy of still being able to handle a horse, keep a tight seat on a lively horse, work the horse in new ways, and explore new country (and new cultures) from horseback,” said Busch.

Busch and Filibuster have proven to be a strong team together. “As a result of our many different shared experiences, I feel a camaraderie with Filibuster that I never felt with the veteran show horses I rode growing up,” she explained. For Busch and Filibuster, it was love at first sight. “In 2002, I heard about a lively gray Arab/Hackney gelding that was for sale,” she recalled. Although Busch was advised to watch the gelding’s performance videos before actually seeing him, she insisted on meeting him in person first. “One moment with him in his stall did it,” said Busch. “I dutifully watched the videos afterward, but they had nothing to do with my decision to buy him.”

Since then, the pair has enjoyed many memories together, and now will be forever listed in The Century Club’s rankings, as well. Now, Busch plans to spend her summer working with her five-year-old Akhal-Teke mare Gulkana. “Filibuster will be Gulkana’s trail companion this summer, and I hope to start showing her myself in dressage. After all, if I can survive the Century Ride class, maybe I am ready to start showing again. One is never too old to have new goals. May the bucket (list) never run dry!” smiled Busch.

And of course, she plans to continue enjoying rides on Filibuster throughout the summer and the years ahead. Busch said, “May we gracefully grow old together, helping each other stay fit, alert, and always curious about what lies beyond the next bend in the trail.”

The members of the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society are honored to have one of their own be inducted into The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club, and will continue supporting horses and riders through the facilities and events offered at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. The Jacksonville Equestrian center provides a place for riders of all disciplines to enjoy doing what they love on its 80-acre premier estate. The facility is known as a family-favorite destination for equestrian and recreational events all year long, and is easily accessible from major highways in Jacksonville. It features an enormous indoor arena, outdoor arenas, and over 400 stalls. There are also miles of riding, hiking, and biking trails accessible from the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. For more information, visit www.jaxequestriancenter.com or call Penny Gorton at (904) 255-4227.

For more information, contact:
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
Penny Gorton 904-255-4227
PGorton@coj.net
13611 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32221

Awards, Dressage, JRPR

Wanda Wiggins Inducted into The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club

Leave a comment

Wanda Wiggins and Dusine (Photo courtesy of Maria Croft)

Clinches Adult Amateur High Score at Jacksonville Equestrian Center

Jacksonville, FL (April 1, 2016) – Wanda Wiggins just accomplished one of the rarest feats in equestrian competition. With her long-time equine partner Dusine, Wiggins joined The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club – a club of horse and rider pairs whose combined age totals 100 years or more. A true role model for equestrians of all disciplines, Wiggins and Dusine competed with elegance in their Century Ride at the recent Northeast Dressage Association (NFDA) Freestyle Challenge and Warm-up for DOTFC competition at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to completing their Century Ride, their score of 75.313 percent earned the pair the Adult Amateur High Point award at the show.

In her 71 years, Wiggins has lived a full life for which she had three goals: to become a flight attendant, to meet her prince charming, and to own a horse. This year, she celebrated her 50-year wedding anniversary with her prince charming, whom she met while working as a flight attendant. Her prince charming had then bought her a horse.

It seems as though Dusine was destined to become Wiggins’ horse. “It was such a miraculous thing that I even got her,” explains Wiggins. Wiggins had been on a business trip to New Orleans when she discovered Dusine. “We fell in love immediately.” After making an offer to purchase Dusine, Wiggins learned that another person had already entered into a contract for the beautiful mare, who Wiggins describes as her “own Black Beauty.” Thankfully for Wiggins, the other buyer wasn’t able to complete the purchase. That was nineteen years ago. The rest is history – a beautiful story of horse-and-rider bonding, dressage shows, and a happy ending – though reaching this happy ending hasn’t been easy.

A three-time cancer survivor, Wiggins has relied on the now 29-year-old Dusine through each recovery experience. Wiggins spoke of the bond she developed with Dusine during those trying times, saying, “It is a motivation to keep going when you have these awesome animals that expect you to be there and expect you to take care of them.” And so Wiggins has been there every day for Dusine, despite all odds.

As Wiggins’ and Dusine’s ages now total 100, they embarked on the journey toward their Century Ride at the Northeast Florida Dressage Association’s recent show at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. To join the Century Club, a horse and rider must perform a dressage test of any level in front of judges. The rider must first submit an application to The Dressage Foundation, and The Dressage Foundation will send a ribbon to be presented to the horse and rider during their Century Ride. An award bearing the pair’s names is then presented to the Century Club Team to forever immortalize the newest Century Club duo.

Wanda with her husband Dennis. Photo: Teri Rehkopf/HorsesintheSouth.com
Wanda with her husband Dennis. Photo: Teri Rehkopf/HorsesintheSouth.com

Unfortunately, in the days before Wiggins and Dusine arrived at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center for their Century Ride, Dusine began showing real signs of feeling her age. Wiggins was unsure if they would be able to compete, but Dusine began feeling better just in time. Right before Wiggins and Dusine entered the show ring, the president of the North Florida Dressage Association read one of Wiggins’ favorite Bible scriptures, Isaiah 30:15, aloud. “When she read that, I felt such a calm and a peace,” says Wiggins. “I was praying that we would mount up on eagles’ wings and float through the test. I have to tell you, that is what we did. Dusine performed wonderfully – she felt like my horse from ten years ago.” When the test finished, Wiggins could tell her partner shared her pride in their combined accomplishment.

To commemorate the momentous occasion, the North Florida Dressage Association presented Wiggins with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and Dusine with a lovely neck ribbon. “They went out of their way to make that a special time,” says Wiggins.

The Jacksonville Equestrian Center was happy to host Wiggins’ momentous Century Ride in its spacious indoor stadium. The Jacksonville Equestrian Center is a multi-use facility that hosts events such as hunter/jumper shows, barrel races, dressage shows, horsemanship clinics, and more. Even for non-equestrians, the Jacksonville Equestrian Center makes sure to keep something on the calendar for everyone, with canine shows, concerts, and community events regularly taking place. For more information, visit www.jaxequestriancenter.com or call Penny Gorton at (904) 255-4227.

For more information, contact:
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
Penny Gorton 904-255-4227
PGorton@coj.net
13611 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32221