Team #725 Betsey MacDonald and Reno

Team #725: Betsey MacDonald and Reno
From: Clayville, Rhode Island
Ages: 73 & 27
Combined Age: 100
Test: Training Level Test 1

My 27-year-old Morgan Horse, JCPLionheart (Reno) is affectionately called Mr. Bean. He’s nicknamed Mr. Bean because he is a very funny guy. He loves to open his own door and then let my other two 21-year-old Morgan brothers out as well. Fortunately, they can only go into the paddock! He picks up things that I drop like a hat or fly whisk and can even identify and pick up certain items from a group if you ask him. He always makes me laugh but he wasn’t always funny.  

He came to me when he was four and he was the most challenging horse I’ve had but that’s a good thing! He made me read and go to horsemanship clinics and learn.  If it weren’t for natural horsemanship and dressage, I’m not sure Reno and I would still be together but it’s been 24 years and I’m crazy about him! Our relationship has grown over these years and has become a rewarding partnership, for both of us. 

I’ve spent my life with horses and any horse I’ve had becomes a lifetime partner. Not only do I ride horses but I paint them as well. So, I need to understand their behavior and their anatomy. I work with them and watch them. I constantly read about them and study them. Because dressage is about relaxation and submission, it was the perfect discipline for Reno and me when we were younger and building our relationship. We moved on to all sorts of events such as riding with a hunt club (which was wild), hunter paces, trail riding, showing and my favorite, versatility. Both of us enjoy the challenge of figuring out difficult obstacles and Reno was very successful with his versatility challenges. To perfectly negotiate an obstacle, sensitivity and responsiveness to the aids are very important. I‘m certain Reno’s success with this was, in part, a result of his dressage training which calmly helped us to build trust in each other. 

The Century Club has been one of my goals for several years. Reno and I have stayed in shape and I’m thrilled that we were able to practice and ride a judged dressage test at this point in our lives! 

Thanks to my husband, Al, for being supportive of this lifetime passion. Thanks to my friend Karen Grande who allowed us to use her arena and to her trainer Doris Carlson who was encouraging and so helpful. Thanks to The Dressage Federation for this wonderful opportunity and for the inspiration to continue to train and to work with my versatile and funny Mr. Bean in spite of the fact that we’re both getting a little long in the tooth!