Team #608 Christine Dean and Remington Steel
Team #608: Christine Dean and Remington Steel
From: Apex, North Carolina
Ages: 75 & 26
Combined Age: 101
Test: First Level Test 1
Date: November 19, 2022
Although neither of my parents were horse people, I was born loving horses. My first documented ride was on a pinto pony that made the rounds for photographs. My parents said that l ran after the photographer and tried to buy that pony. My father was in the U.S. Army, so we moved a lot. My first riding lessons were when I was seven or eight when we were stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. I next learned Saddle Seat equitation when we were stationed at Ft. Jackson, S.C. We then were transferred overseas, and I did not ride for four years.
I next rode when I attended Sweet Briar College, where I learned hunt seat riding and jumping. Then I went to Duke University Law School and was too busy to ride. I got my first horse, a Thoroughbred mare, two months before I married my husband, Joe. She later developed a cyst in a hoof, and I donated her to Auburn University for their breeding program. She had her first foal about the same time I had my first child.
I returned to riding after I watched my children take riding lessons, and knew I had to get back on a horse. A few years later I bought my second horse, a Thoroughbred gelding named Darby Glen. When he was about 24, in December 2006, I got my current horse, Remington Steel (Remi), a Friesen/Thoroughbred cross. I retired Darby a year later; he died at age 29.
I retired in January 2007 as an Assistant United States Attorney and began to ride more consistently. Remi liked to jump and was not pleased to be asked to lift his back and engage his core. We no longer jump as I do not bounce anymore if I fall. Remi is a very kind and forgiving horse, as well as beautiful. He also takes care of me and insisted I learn to sit up and not forward over his withers. Dressage has worked well for him. Apart from the white on his muzzle and around his eyes, he does not look his age. It has also kept me limber. My husband has also supported me and read my tests for me. Doing a Century Club ride was a goal of mine, so I am happy to have been able to have now accomplished that feat.
