76 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Never Too Old
By Jenny Johnson
Riding for Century Club membership is a very admirable
endeavor, but qualifying six times is just remarkable! Charles
"Chick" Chapin, of Chatham, Illinois, holds this record for most
Century Club rides with The Dressage Foundation.
Born in 1921, Chick began riding at the age of 12 when he
purchased his frst horse, Roany, for $25, which included a saddle
and bridle. He rode throughout his teenage years and continued
to do so during the war when he played polo at Quantico and rode
Mongolian ponies while stationed in China.
Chick married Nancy in 1958 and they purchased two horses
from a local sale barn. Three children came along and Chick
and Nancy started the Sangamon Valley Pony Club when their
two daughters began riding. In the years that followed, Chick
organized many Pony Club and Horse Trial events and served as
a Combined Training Technical Delegate.
When the Century Club was frst announced in 1996, Chick's
daughters did the math and pointed out that he already had two
horses ready to qualify. Additionally, they had other horses coming
along in age that he could ride when the time came. So it began!
In 1997, Chick's frst ride was on Chicaro Cocoa, who had
previously been a match race horse. Chick's daughters had tried
to retrain "Bob" for eventing and dressage; unfortunately, the sight
of the other horses reminded him of his race days and he was
ready to challenge each of them. Therefore, Bob's showing career
wasn't very successful. As he aged, Bob became a well mannered
pleasure horse for Chick. They became Century Club Team #4
and Bob didn't try to race the other horses that day.
The same day, Chick and Piroshka also qualifed and became
Team #5. Piroshka was a steady mount for Chick's daughter, had
won many ribbons and qualifed to go to the Pony Club National
Rally. Piroshka had also raised two foals and came through a
tendon operation to perform the Century ride. Piroshka was proud
of herself for getting a higher score than Bob!
In 1999, Chick's horse, Touche', turned 22 and was ready to
join the Club. "Fred" was a homebred horse that the Chapins
competed in the 1980s. Fred's only signifcant placing was 8th
in Training Level. Over the years that brown ribbon faded to a
purplish color and Fred was not about to tell anyone that it was not
a championship ribbon. After years of the "easy life" Chick said
that Fred "was a little annoyed to be asked to help enlarge the
Century Club." However, Fred enjoyed the day that they became
Team #9.
Meanwhile, Chick had started planning a Century ride on
his daughter's horse, Zeus. He asked Lowell Boomer of The
Dressage Foundation if he could ride a borrowed horse. Lowell
replied, "You could qualify on a stolen horse, if necessary!" Chick
said that Zeus, who had competed through Prix St. Georges, was
probably bored with the lower-level training, but he never let on.
Chick and Zeus became Team #11 in 2000.
Chick's ffth ride came on Piroshka's daughter, Beezie, in 2002
as Team #18. Beezie had a wonderful disposition and smooth
gaits; however, Chick's daughters didn't compete her much
because she was distinctly pigeon-toed. Their loss was their
father's gain, as she was a delightful addition to his farm herd.
After qualifying for the Century Club fve times, Chick said
that he was through. However, his daughter had purchased a
retired event horse that she brought to him saying, "Here's your
next Century ride!" Chick said, "I didn't have much choice. My
only problem was that he was 16.3 hands and I had to have a
Six Times A Charm!
Chick and Zeus join
the Century Club
mounting block to get on. Thank goodness that wasn't in the test!"
Ask Mikey was Chick's fnal Century Club ride; they became Team
#26 in 2003.
Chick has fond memories of his Century Club rides and all the
special horses he rode. The horses received loving care in their
senior years, with fve of the six now in horse heaven. Ask Mikey
is 28 and is enjoying retirement at the Chapin Farm. At 91 years
old Chick no longer rides, although his record number of Century
Club rides still stands and will be hard to beat!
The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club
is a program designed to
honor senior dressage riders and their senior horses and to encourage
them to remain active in the sport. To become a member of the Century
Club, the ages of horse and rider must add up to at least 100 years and
the pair must ride any level dressage test before a judge or dressage
professional.
For more information on The Dressage Foundation, please visit
www.
dressagefoundation.org.
Photos: Photos courtesy of the Chapin Family
Chick
bought his
frst horse
Roany
for $25,
and that
included a
bridle and
saddle