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The Northeast Texas Dressage Club hosted its Beat the Heat Show Saturday. The club is a part of the larger United States Dressage Federation. Staff photo by Ariel Phillips
Centurion rider in attendance
The Northeast Texas Dressage Club held their Beat the Heat Horse Show at the Equine Pavilion at the Hopkins County Civic Center Sunday.
The club was able to hold one show last year in November and have continued practicing with proper social distancing and safety precautions in place.
Saturday’s turn out was a little less than expected due to a few riders not wishing to show later in the day and dropping out.
Present at the show was Eileen Leek, a member of Northeast Texas Dressage Club who was recently presented a plaque to commemorate a monumental accomplishment.
In May at the Civic Center, Leek and a horse named Silent Cynic, affectionately known as Magic, were recognized for completing a Centurion ride, which occurs when the combined age of horse and rider totals 100 years.
Silent Cynic is a retired thoroughbred race horse that was bought right off the track at five years old and trained for dressage and eventing.
Magic also gives pony rides to children, participates in lessons, and even does trail rides.
Leek started riding as a young woman in London, England.
Leek shared that "the first horse I ever rode was a Shetland pony.”
Leek enjoys general English riding, competing in dressage, eventing and also participates in carriage driving.
When asked what advice Leek would give to new riders, she says “Have fun and always keep learning.”
Northeast Texas Dressage Club is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to educating, supporting and advancing the sport of dressage by offering schooling shows and educational opportunities for a variety of dressage types: classical, Western, cowboy, in-hand and driven dressage.
Northeast Texas Dressage is a Group Member Organization, GMO, that is part of Region 9 of the United State Dressage Federation, which encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. Region 9 is the third largest region, with Dallas and Fort Worth ranking first and second largest.
“The USDF’s goal is to foster a love of dressage and to celebrate all riders and all horses,” Angie Hughes, president of the Northeast Texas Dressage Club, shared.