Frances Carbonnel and Esteban B (FL)
Team #998: Frances Carbonnel and Esteban B
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Ages: 76 & 27
Combined Age: 103
Test: Pas de Deux
At the occasion of a small schooling show at my property in Tallahassee, Florida, I had the honor of riding my Century Club ride as a costumed musical Pas de Deux with my 27-year-old PRE stallion, Esteban B, and my young protégé, Carilyn White on my APSL gelding, Galileu.
I am just shy of 77 and Esteban is 27. I am a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, still actively riding, and Esteban is in vibrant good health. Esteban’s story is much more interesting than mine. He was foaled in New Zealand, imported as a breeding stallion by a Wyoming rancher, and came to me at the age of five for training. I fell hopelessly in love, and he has been with me ever since - 22 years!
He showed dressage through Fourth Level, then switched to Western dressage, winning several World Championships, and then to Working Equitation, where he competed at Level 4 in Colorado. He has always been a breed ambassador because of his extraordinarily kind heart and great beauty. He now is retired on a property I bought especially for his golden years, where he still teaches riders and has even starred in two films.
I am so grateful to The Dressage Foundation for this special honor, to Marie Maloney, who judged the ride and encouraged me to take advantage of her stay at Classical Legacy, to Cari, who rode with me, and all my friends who celebrated with me. Life is good!
Photo by Regine Kraft Photography
