Century Awards
Century awards are not really a FADS award; however, a number of riders have done their century ride during a FADS show. The award is sponsored by the Dressage Foundation (click here). According to their website:
The Century Club recognizes dressage riders and horses in the United States whose combined ages total 100 years or more. Horse and rider perform a test of any level at a show (schooling, recognized, virtual), event, or at their home barn, and are scored by a dressage judge or dressage professional. Western Dressage riders are also welcome to join the Century Club.
Nancy Isaacson and Halftone
The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club gives special recognition to horse and rider pairs whose combined ages total 100 years or more. With Nancy Isaacson’s induction into the club this past spring, there are now six Maryland riders who are members. Nancy, who is 74, hails from Middletown and completed the show requirement on May 11 with her Appaloosa Halftone, who was over 30 years old. Nancy and Halftone are the 132nd inductees into the club at the national level.
Nancy grew up in a riding family in New Hampshire and when she moved to Maryland in 1969, she took up dressage. Her first dressage lesson was with Col. Clarence Edmonds at the Potomac Horse Center. Nancy became an active member in the Potomac Valley Dressage Association as both a volunteer and competitor. Nancy was also a Pony Club District Commissioner and took up foxhunting.
Halftone was given to Nancy about six years ago after her own horse had passed away. He had foxhunting and cattle roping experience and she was told he also knew a little dressage. Nancy learned about the Century Club a few years ago and with Halftone decided to give it a try. Soon after the May 11 show, Halftone developed severe colic and had to be euthanized. Nancy said, “Even though he was 30, he still had a lot of energy and I will miss him.”
Estelle Beemer and Atticus Rocks
Congratulations to Estelle Beemer (76) and Atticus Rocks (24) for completing their century ride at FEI Prix St Georges. The pair rode Sunday, March 25, 2018 at FADS at Wyndham Oaks in Boyds, MD.
Estelle began riding as a child in California, trying both English and Western. Her strong inclination was for jumping. While at college at George Mason University, she followed that dream and began jumping in earnest. The world of jumping eventually brought her to the Potomac Horse Center in Gaithersburg, MD. There she was influenced by British Horse Master Betty Howett to try this new sport, dressage. Estelle was part of the Potomac Horse Center group that formed the Potomac Valley Dressage Association, our nation’s second oldest USDF Group Member Organization. She also served on PVDA’s first board of directors in 1965.
Estelle has always enjoyed training her own horses up through the levels. So, in 2002, when she began her search for a new horse, she put a premium on calm temperament as well as athleticism. She found an 8 year old Percheron/TB cross who had primarily done trail riding, and the partnership between Estelle and Atticus Rocks (Atticus) was formed. It didn’t matter to Estelle that it took two months to teach this trail horse to pick up the right lead canter. Estelle was up for the challenge.
With only once a week lessons with trainer Cheryl Ann Loane, Estelle took Atticus from trail horse to FEI horse. She diligently crossed trained with cavelleti and hill work and gradually brought Atticus up through the levels. Flying changes were a particular sticking point, but two years of persistence paid off and Atticus does wonderful tempi changes and is currently schooling one tempis.
Life is not without setbacks. Estelle had a long layup with a broken leg. Atticus had a year layup from a collateral ligament injury. But this team has been resilient through every setback, and they are not done yet. Atticus does a solid passage and is schooling piaffe and one tempis. Don’t bet against Estelle and Atticus showing Grand Prix in their future!
Marla Stoner and Fox View Limerick
Marla Stoner and Fox View Limerick rode a Century Ride on May 18, 2024. Marla and Limerick have been together for 27 years. A number of years ago Marla started to think that a Century Ride might be a possibility and started counting down the years to when they would be eligible. That time came to be on May 18. Marla and Limerick have accomplished many goals over the years and this is the last goal that they accomplished together.
After anticipating doing a Century Ride for so long, it was hard to believe that the time had come. The week preceding the ride did not go according to plan. Early in the week Marla’s back flared up and she couldn’t ride for most of the week. Then the day of the show was rainy. Limerick warmed up very well in the indoor and seemed to be enjoying herself. The footing in the outdoor ring where the test was held had gotten very sloppy and Limerick had trouble with it. But she was a trouper and they made it through and completed the test. We are so grateful for the many friends who came out to help and support us and that I was able to do this ride on my long term partner.
Leslie Raulin and Cromwell
On June 4, 2025, at her farm in Jefferson, MD, Leslie Raulin (age 73) and her Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding Cromwell (called Ollie as his breeder named him after her distant relative Oliver Cromwell, 27) completed their Century Club ride. They rode First Level Test 2 to 67.576%. The ride was judged by Cheryl Loane, Leslie’s long-time trainer and scribed by Jayne Hench, who was taught by Ollie. Also in attendance was Ollie’s veterinarian, Dr. Mia Lee, who has kept him sound.
Bred in South Dakota to be an eventer (his sire was Cimarron who was the leading eventing sire in 2008 and top 10 in 2009 and 2010), Ollie was afraid of his shadow so, after some dressage training, he was sold to a junior rider with whom he competed through Second Level. He was then sold to Leslie to be her lower-level schoolmaster. Unfortunately, Ollie is injury-prone, so Leslie never showed him above First Level. Due to injuries, Ollie has been retired three times, each time recuperating so he could be a lower-level schoolmaster for two friends. His most recent un-retirement was so Leslie and Ollie could do their Century Club ride.
Leslie has been an on-off-on equestrian. She rode a little as a child and teen years (one group lesson per week). She then concentrated on schooling – college, dental school, two residencies, board certification in periodontics, PhD in microbiology/immunology – and a career in the US Army Dental Corps, retiring as a colonel. In 2011, at age 60, Leslie purchased her 25-acre Blue Horse Farm, where she is enjoying her “retirement” riding, mucking, mowing, having fun, and staying “young.” Leslie supports the local dressage community by organizing a series of dressage schooling shows at local farms, including three shows at her farm for which all profit is donated to equestrian and non-equestrian charities. As a hobby, Leslie also makes and sells bling brow bands, the profit of which is donated to the same charities.
Leslie and Ollie prove there is life long after retirement and are pleased that the Century Club allows them to celebrate it.