Marcia Hoffer and Sweet William (RI)
Team #1052: Marcia Hoffer and Sweet William
From: Barrington, Rhode Island
Ages 77 & 26
Combined Age: 103
Test: Introductory Level Test B
Preparing for the Century Club ride made me push myself, and the boost of self-confidence that came from doing the ride with my boy Billy is amazing. I thought my show days were over, but now I am motivated to improve on my test.
Sweet William (Billy) is a 26-year-old Quarter Horse. He has had a lot of health and lameness issues that could have led to retirement, but with the support of our barn community, we got through them, and he is sound and healthy.
I have always loved horses, though early experiences were mostly pony rides at fairs and reading Marguerite Henry books. As a teenager, I had a friend with a horse but no saddle. We rode double in a big field; the horse would turn up a hill, canter, and I would fly off.
In my 30s, I started to take lessons with an instructor who told me that I would never learn to ride and that I should take up tennis. I changed instructors. Luck brought me to Michaela Scanlon, who was very patient and creative, making learning to ride interesting and fun. I leased one of her school horses, a wonderful dressage horse, and discovered that I loved the detail and cooperation of dressage.
Being around horses and horse people is wonderful. During sad and hard times, there is a horse to hug and a friend to talk to. I did my Century Club ride together with two other barn friends.
Marcia Hoffer, 77 years young
