Barbi Breen-Gurley and Vindicator (CA)
Team #878: Barbi Breen-Gurley and Vindicator
From: Los Osos, California
Ages: 78 & 23
Combined Age: 101
Test: Grand Prix
Last Saturday (May 3, 2025), I rode a “Century Club Ride” at the Grand Prix Level on my horse Vindicator (aka “Vin”). I personally trained him up through the levels from the time he was a 3-year-old. He is a KWPN-NA gelding by OO Seven out of Rendezvous, now 23 years old. He was bred and raised by Willy Arts.
I stopped competing with him in 2020, but still ride each day, before the other 3 to 8 horses we have in training, then teaching the remainder of the day. He and I work on dressage several times a week and get out on the trails at least once a week. My daily routine is pretty full between horses in training and teaching. He is a proud and committed partner, even though he has been compromised by Cushing’s the past 7 years.
I rode a “Century Club Ride” a couple of years ago on a student’s horse at Third Level… not thinking I might be able to ride one on Vin. Last year, I made my decision to bring him back and give it a go. Although I ride him first each day, I hadn’t done serious work with him in some time. We began the gradual training program, focusing on building his strength and developing his carrying power. We had to clip him quite often to stay ahead of the growth of his hair coat, a real burden for him in work.
The evening before the show, we loaded the horses in the trailer for the journey to the showgrounds: Vin, HappyM (my current GP competitor), WillitVF (my current PSG competitor), and Othello (a student’s competition horse). Vin jumped into the trailer with all four feet off the ground, excited to be going! As I rode him first when we arrived at the showgrounds that evening, and again in the morning during warm-up, I felt an unusual, excited energy. He was really happy to be there. I had tears in my eyes. Throughout the ride, my eyes were filled with tears of joy. He did a noble job, an honest effort to perform his best, a pretty Grand Prix. I was so proud of him, and so appreciated the support of family, students, and friends. It felt so satisfying to share this accomplishment together after so many wonderful years of training him through the levels to Grand Prix… which included many state and national accolades – including competing at Lamplight as a five-year-old, and in Kentucky for the US Dressage Finals in 2013 and 2014 placing within the top 5 horses each time.
Happy Riding,
Barbi
