Cassandra Ann Thompson of Greenacres will be inducted into a nationally known group for senior dressage riders and horses on April 16. The ages of Thompson and her horse, Byriels Murphy, qualify them to become members of the Dressage Foundation’s Century Club.
The Century Club recognizes dressage riders and horses whose combined ages total 100 years or more. Thompson is 72, and Byriels Murphy is 29. In addition to having ages totaling 100 years or more, the horse and rider perform a dressage test of any level and are scored by a dressage judge. Thompson will be riding at the Gold Coast show held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.
The Dressage Foundation provides a Century Club ribbon and wall plaque to each horse and rider team. Local dressage clubs, family and friends help to make the ride into a celebratory event.
The Century Club was formed by the Dressage Foundation in 1996, at the suggestion of noted dressage judge and instructor Dr. Max Gahwyler. The intent was to encourage older dressage riders to remain active in the sport. Since that time, the Century Club has grown into a meaningful and popular endeavor and has more than 540 members.
The Century Club is sponsored by Platinum Performance. Since 1996, Platinum Performance has been committed to providing high-quality equine nutritional supplements that are developed, tested and made with care to ensure results. For more info., visit www.platinumperformance.com/equine.
For more information about the Dressage Foundation or the Century Club, contact Sara Weiss, director of grants and programs, at (402) 434-8585 or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
