Ruth Hooten and Bing (NH)
Team #930: Ruth Hooten and Bing
From: Exeter, New Hampshire
Ages: 80 & 24
Combined Ages: 104
Test: Introductory Level Test B
I have always loved horses! Growing up in Boston and later New York City, I didn’t have the chance to ride. I did have Scottish Deerhounds, which is why my husband and I bought a small farm in New Hampshire. Monty, Applejack, and many other horses followed. But I had a career and not much time to do more than trail ride and some dressage.
When I retired in 2002, I bought a Quarter Horse schoolmaster, Job, who was great on the trails and loved to show. We did a dressage show and got hooked- a blue ribbon will do that! We did Training Level. Job was in his 20s but gave it his all.
My last horse, Cricket, was a retired Thoroughbred eventer, but old suspensory injuries put her into early retirement.
Luckily, I found Sea Star Stables only minutes from my house. Kara Riley King not only has schoolmasters for all abilities, but Kara loves to teach! Sea Star is also a “family.” Everyone turned out to cheer me on in my Century Club ride with flowers and wine from my Tuesday Ladies Group (Bobbie, Kellie, and I ride together on Tuesdays).
I always knew about the Century Club and hoped I could make it! Kara enthusiastically suggested it for me and Charlie, the wonderful American Paint I have been riding. But Charlie is recovering from enteritis, so Bing, another barn favorite at 24, became my Century Club buddy!!
Another passion I have is travel, especially seeing the world on horseback. Since 2003, I have been on 16 trips and to almost as many countries. Seeing the world from the back of a horse, riding many different breeds of horses, and experiencing different cultures is incredible. Riding Kisbérs and Lipizzan in Hungary, wine country and the mountains of Oregon, the pampas in Argentina, experiencing riding from France to Italy Alpine area, tolting in Iceland (three times), and many others. There is just no other experience for combining love of travel (and adventure) with the love of horses for me! My goal is 20 trips with four more to go!
