Barbara Ellis and Probable Cause

Team #79


My Century ride was the culmination of a life time of love of horses and riding.  The spark ignited at age seven, at a wonderful overnight camp in New Hampshire.  The love and learning was nurtured every summer as a camper and then as a counselor teaching young ones to ride and care for horses. The riding program at Mary Washington College (now The University of Mary Washington) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, continued my riding education and was the reason for my selection of the College.

After college, I devoted my time and effort to raising two daughters.  Our second girl became interested in riding at age ten and horses and showing dominated our after school hours and weekends.  She was an avid rider of show hunters and I happily enrolled in a lesson program and bought a horse to train and show at schooling shows in the area. Dressage was an obvious choice when jumping became too risky as I approached middle age.  Through a local dressage club, I became acquainted with the owner of "Probable Cause", Rachel Sigler.  She told me of the Century Club and suggested that we team up for a Century ride, when our ages totaled 100.  The loan of such a well-schooled horse was a wonderful opportunity and I readily accepted.  We began working together in the Fall of 2010, preparing for our ride on November 7th.  Ab is a 28-year-old TB/QH cross with impressive bloodlines.  He has won his share of ribbons and events including being named Horse of the Year in Virginia.

Sunday, November 7th, dawned cool and windy, giving our ride added energy and forwardness.  After our ride and presentation of the ribbon, comments from the judge, flowers and a bottle of champagne, a friend requested a victory gallop and we readily complied.

Chestnut Oaks Stable Schooling Show, Doswell, Virginia, was the site of our Century ride.

Read Barbara's story in her local newspaper here!