Joan Shapleigh and One in a Million

Team #95

Joan Shapleigh, age 74, has always loved horses.  As a child growing up in the suburbs of New York City, she always dreamed of having a horse of her own.  However, her family was of modest means, so ownership was out of the question.  She was able to occasionally ride at a local hack stable on an hourly basis.  She never had any instruction and would simply ride the trails on a small Shetland pony with a western saddle.  That was it!

When in 1962 she moved to a farm in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, with her young family, she promised her six-year-old daughter, Sandy, they would buy a pony.  By coincidence, she saw an article in the local newspaper, The Piscataquis Observer, that a local Pony Club was being formed.  She had no idea what Pony Club involved; she only knew they were getting a pony.  Her daughter joined the club and in the spring of 1963 they bought a sturdy red and white pony they called Tinkerbelle.

During those years, Joan rode only occasionally.  Her focus was on assisting her daughter and helping the club.  When Sandy graduated from High School and went off to college, Joan stopped riding.  She was involved in her career as a social worker and in volunteer work.

Shortly before she retired, Joan decided to leave the farm and moved to a smaller home that happened to be next door to a riding and training stable, Infinity Farm, owned by trainer, Gail McCormack.  When Gail had her indoor arena built she encouraged Joan to join her adult riding group.  Joan was 68 years old at that time.  She was a little hesitant.  She hadn't ridden in over 30 years.  However, she found a wonderful group of people who were supportive and encouraged her to ride on a regular basis.

After riding all winter long in the indoor arena, Joan rode her first dressage test in 2007 at the Farm's "Spring Fling" with scores in the 40s.  Over the next few years, she rode a variety of horses.  She had a couple of falls that shook her confidence.  She was given a chance to ride an older horse, a 23-year-old Quarter Horse owned by Dottie Hadler, "One in a Million."  Million was a great confidence builder.  Together they began to ride in more dressage shows.

Gradually Joan began to ride other horses as well, and compete at Training Level.  However, she still rode Million every once in a while.  As both horse and rider grew older, they reached the combined age of 100.  Then Joan happened to read an article in the August 2011 edition of Dressage Today about Dr. Jorge Gomez, Semik, and the Century Club.  She decided she and Million ought to join.  Everyone agreed.  Plans were made and on October 16, 2011, at Infinity Farm in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, they rode together at Training Level 1, achieving a score of 66.67%.  That score was also the final one of 60% or above to qualify her for a Bronze Medal for the Maine Dressage Association.  They are the first team from the State of Maine to join the Century Club.



Thanks to all who cheered them on!

Photos Courtesy of SMG Photos