Team #742 Col. Michael Cathey and True North

Team #742: Col. Michael Cathey and True North 
From: Staunton, Virginia
Ages: 79 & 21
Combined Age: 100
Test: Introductory Level Test B

Michael Ray Cathey was born and raised in Texas. If asked he’d say he was raised on football, horses, and the King James Bible. He loved his horse. He and his friends would ride, swim, and camp out with their horses. If you couldn’t find him, he’d be lying on his horse’s back reading a book. He played football and graduated from Garland High School. He left Texas for Annapolis to attend the United States Naval Academy. He left the Academy for Quantico for the United States Marine Corps. He left Quantico for Vietnam. He spent 24 years in the Marine Corps. His next memories were those in the sky flying A-6s. He’s the proud father of Chip and Miles and grandfather of five wonderful grandchildren. 

Michael and his wife Patricia are enjoying retirement. He loves playing bridge, golf, and getting back into riding horses. He left Western riding and tried English. His latest adventures include polo lessons and dressage. True North is a 21-year-old Westphalian gelding also known as “Ru”. Ru had a successful career in the hunter/jumper world as a youngster and in the most recent years has trained up to Fourth Level dressage. His previous owner Denise Lennon earned her USDF bronze medal with Ru. He now resides in Middlebrook, Virginia, and competes in dressage and giving pony rides to his young riders.