Barbara Middleton and Snowy River

Team #94

Snowy River, a 31-year-old half Arabian owned by Susan Fawcett, and I completed our Century Ride on October 8, 2011.  While Snowy River has participated in many events over his lifetime (with this being his third Century Club ride!), this was my first dressage show.

Many years ago, as a teenager, I had rented a horse a few times but that was the extent of my involvement with horses.  I started to learn more about horses when I began volunteering in 2010 as a side walker for C.A.N.T.E.R. (Cochise Area Network of Therapeutic Equestrian Resources), a handicapped riding program.  Before I retired I was the Public Fiduciary for Cochise County Arizona.  As the Public Fiduciary I was the court appointed guardian and/or conservator for incapacitated individuals.  Also in the past I volunteered with Special Olympics track and field. I thought volunteering with C.A.N.T.E.R. would be a good fit for me having worked with the handicapped, elderly and disabled population for many years.  And it is, I love it.

In May of 2010, C.A.N.T.E.R. started up a new riding program called Silver Saddles, which provides riding classes for people over 60 year of age.  At age 68 I decided to learn how to ride a horse.  My friend, Susan Fawcett, asked that I ride her horse, Snowy River.  We figured out that the next year Snowy would be 31 years old, I would be 69 and we would be 100 years old together.  My goal from that time on was to ride the Century Club ride with Snowy River.  Thanks to my friend/instructor, Susan Fawcett, and my riding instructor, Ann Alden, I made it!

I am so happy to have become involved, as a friend said, "In the wonderful world of horses."  The day of the show was one of the best days of my life.