Susan Maire and Continuum

Team #67

Susan S. Maire rode her Century Club qualifying ride on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at the SouthWest Florida Dressage Assn. show, held at the Lee Civic Center in North Ft. Meyers, FL. SWFDA was most supportive of the ride and appreciative of the opportunity to host the ride. Joan Humphrey, an “S” judge was the officiating judge. Although it had rained during the night, which unfortunately left a sizable puddle just to the “A” side of X, “Continuum” aka “Bolle” never gave it a thought and marched through it every time.

Susan first began riding horses as a teenager, at the Salem County Club stables in Peabody, MA, showing at major New England shows in equitation, road hack and bridle path classes .  That was back in the days when the show wasn’t a major event unless Mr. “Honey” Craven was the ringmaster!

Marriage, children, some health concerns, law school and developing a law practice resulted in a hiatus from horses until she was introduced to dressage while watching her daughter ride a clinic with Mr. Bill Woods in 1986. That Fall she started riding again in this, to her, new discipline. And she has continued to ride every since.

Susan has earned her training level rider’s award, has qualified a horse she trained for the training level performance award and has received her USDF bronze medal and 1st qualifying score for her USDF silver medal. During her years of membership in the New England Dressage Assn, one of the oldest dressage clubs in the U.S., she has consistently received Club year-end awards for her show scores through fourth level. Susan currently has several students and their horses in training with her and is introducing a formerly raced TB to the art of dressage.

“Bolle”, a 26 year old Dutch Warmblood is owned by Mrs. Judy Jennings, of Michigan and Marco Island, FL. In his younger years, he was shown at Michigan shows at second level. Susan came to know Judy and “Bolle” when she and Judy were stablemates at Robinaire Stables owned by Robin Heroth, in Naples, Florida. “Bolle” is in wonderful condition for his age, a real credit to the care given him by Judy and Robin, and seemed to enjoy his outing among the younger showing population.

All in all, a wonderful time was had by all and as one of Susan’s students said, in another two years, Susan can ride another ride, this time on her horse, for a combined age of 104.