Judith Cyrus and Seattle Rain Dancer (WA)
Team #1043: Judith Cyrus and Seattle Rain Dancer
From: Goldendale, Washington
Ages 73 & 27
Combined Age: 100
Test: Training Level Test 1
Judith (Judi) Cyrus of Goldendale, Washington, was born in June 1952, and her horse, Seattle Rain Dancer, was born in April 1999. He was a surprise foal out of Judi’s Quarter Horse mare and the neighbor’s Percheron stallion.
Judi has loved horses her whole life and was given a yearling filly as an eighth-grade graduation present from her stepfather. She enjoyed a few years showing in Western rail classes and games. At age 17, she got married and had to sell her horse. It was 20 years before she could own a horse again. Then she bought an old Quarter Horse for her kids to ride and a younger one for herself. The younger one, Native Barreda, was Rain’s mother.
Judi did not show horses as an adult, but at age 50, she fulfilled a childhood dream by founding Dancing Mountain Ranch and breeding horses. She began giving lessons to kids and leading a 4-H group. Every kid’s first horse to show was Rain, because despite not very gentlemanly ground manners, he has always been a dream to ride.
In 2025, Judi decided that if she was ever going to show Rain, she had better do it before they were both too old. They rode along with one of Judi’s now grown-up students to a few dressage shows, starting with WDAA tests, then finally last fall, showing English Introductory Level for the first time. For her Century Club ride and second English dressage test, Judi chose USEF Training Level Test 1.
