The 500th member of the Century Club is Helene Dellechiaie of Oak Ridge became the 500th member of the U.S. Dressage Federation’s Century Club, for riders and horses whose ages total 100 or more and complete a dressage test.
Helene is 71 and her Connemara pony, Finnian’s Chase (Finn), is 29. They received a score of 73.125 percent for Intro Level Test A on June 26 at the Greendell Dressage Schooling Show in Newton.
Helene and Finn.
For the 26 years she has owned Finn, Helene has received several Awards of Excellence from the American Connemara Pony Society, the Master Challenge Award from the United States Dressage Federation, and three Horse of the Year Awards from the United States Equestrian Federation. Helene is a member of the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association, the same USDF Group Member Organization as the first Century Club rider, the late Lazelle Knocke of Readington. Lazelle and her horse, Don Perignon, joined the Century Club in 1996.
Helene said, “I would like to thank my husband Phil for his unrelenting support of my passion and my trainers, Kara Stark McGrew and Suzanne Marshall, for their patience teaching Finn and me how to dance. We would especially like to thank The Dressage Foundation and congratulate them on their 25th year of inspiring seniors toward achieving one more goal and honored to be the 500th team.”
In 2020, The Dressage Foundation welcomed 48 new members. So far in 2021, 24 riders have joined. With the support of Platinum Performance and donations from dressage clubs and individuals, TDF awards ribbons and plaques to each new Century Club member, as well as providing an annual Century Club Newsletter to all members.
“The Century Club members are some of the most inspirational equestrians I’ve ever known,” said Jenny Johnson, TDF’s Executive Director. “They come from all walks of life and all equestrian backgrounds. Some have ridden their entire lives, some just recently picked up the reins. We receive many calls and emails from riders who tell us that joining the Century Club is on their ‘bucket lists,’ even if it’s years away. Many thanks to all of the donors who help us recognize and honor the seniors of our sport, and congratulations to all the members!”
To learn more about the Century Club, visit dressagefoundation.org or contact Sara Weiss, director of grants and programs at sara@dressagefoundation.org or (402) 434-8585.
To support the Century Club, contact Jenny Johnson at jenny@dressagefoundation.org or (402) 434-8585. Donations to support the Century Club may also be made online at dressagefoundaltion.org/support.