Team #720 Catherine Jacob and Ayrus
Team #720: Catherine Jacob and Ayrus
From: Okeana, Ohio
Ages: 76 & 24
Combined Age: 100
Test: First Level Test 1
Date: October 22, 2023
Ever since I was close to having a horse and my age equal to 100 or more, I have wanted to ride the horses that have taken me up the dressage ladder in a Century Club ride. Ayrus is the first of three.
Ayrus and I met in March 2015 when I purchased her from Kathy Hogue. Sue Kolstad was our trainer who coached us to many Regional and National Silver Sturrup Awards, as well as many GMO year-end awards. Ayrus was able to get my last score for the USDF bronze freestyle bar and Fourth Level MFS scores. The best part is Ayrus and I performed Prix St. Georges at the US Dressage Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky. She prepared me for further training to Intermediate 1.
Ayrus was able to help others achieve their goals of either bronze, or silver medals, or scores required for the status of "r" judge. This wonderful, sweet, kind, and talented Hanoverian mare has brought so much unmeasurable joy to whoever has ridden her. Now at 24, she has a beautiful, forever home retired to my farm. She is babysitting newly weaned thoroughbreds. I will be forever grateful to Ayrus for showing me I could eventually achieve my USDF gold medal. Thank you for this special opportunity from The Dressage Foundation to highlight wonderful, gifted horses like Ayrus and seniors like me. It was wonderful to, at the age of 76, share one more First Level test at Old Stone Schooling Show with a winning score of 69.05%.
