Team #806 Mary Ellen Mulligan and Tequila Viola
Team #806: Mary Ellen Mulligan and Tequila Viola
From: Trumansburg, New York
Ages: 76 & 24
Combined Age: 100
Test: First Level Test 2
My passion for horses began well over seventy years ago on a small farm in Rehobeth, Massachusetts. At eighteen I was introduced to Morgan horses. In fifty-eight years of training, owning, and breeding them, I’ve found their versatility amazing. I was introduced to dressage in 1969 while attending Porlock Vale Horsemaster’s School in Somerset, England. It fit perfectly with the versatile Morgans I began training. Whether Park, Pleasure, Hunter, Jumper, Western, Reining, or Driving, a balanced beginning was, and is, always important.
Tequila Viola, the horse I rode, is owned by Gale Wolfe, my dressage coach. Tequila is a Dutch Warmblood imported from the Netherlands. She and Gale competed at the FEI level. Tequila is 24 years old and still has the “moves”! I have only ridden her a few times but have learned so much from her. Tequila and Gale are a fantastic teaching team.
As a side note…I was thrilled that the judge for this ride was Scott Peterson. Both Scott and Gale were members of the Twin Tier Pony Club when I was one of the instructors.
I want to thank The Dressage Federation for giving me this opportunity. My plan is to do it again with my young Morgan when I am 84!
