Suzanne Beaudoin and Avalanche (WA)
Team #943: Suzanne Beaudoin and Avalanche
From: Vashon, Washington
Ages: 73 & 27
Combined Age: 100
Test: Third Level Test 1
This ride was dedicated to Ava, my equine partner of fifteen years, and to my husband. Rayne, who has encouraged my horse addiction for the past thirty-nine years.
I started riding sixty-seven years ago, dabbling in all of the equine disciplines. I always felt that dressage was my thing, but it wasn’t until age forty that I was able to buy my first dressage horse. The first horse that I owned cost more than my tack, and who actually preferred flatwork to jumping.
My husband and I went on a horse shopping trip around the U.S. in 2010, ending up in Kentucky, where I rode a newly imported Westphalian mare. I rode her and knew right away; she was the one for me.
Avalanche, Ava, is a spice, opinionated girl who would like to be in charge of all of our rides. From her, I’ve learned the art of compromise. I trained and showed her up to Intermediare I. I had hoped to continue to Grand Prix, but we were sidelined three times by suspensory injuries.
I spent about a year total rehabbing and hand walking through those. We became very close.
Her last dressage show was eleven years ago. I continued to train her, playing last year with Working Equitation, which she thought was very fun.
We started back up again a few months ago, training for our Century Club ride. It rekindled our excitement for showing again. We had a wonderful time!
