60 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
A lifetime of loving and riding horses began
in 1937 when a three-year-old little girl named
Carol Morehouse was placed on the back of
a 17-hand Draft horse named Dan. For the
next 10 years Carol would pet, groom, sit on
or ride any horse available. Mostly, she rode
one of two Iowa’s workhorses, Queen or Kale,
bareback with work bridles.
When Carol was 13, her mother bought her
a 13-and-a-half-hand Mustang off the Montana
range, complete with all tack for $200. Babe
was small, fast and a great first teacher. Two
years later, Carol bought a two-year-old Draft/
Morgan cross, Cindy, for $75 and broke and
trained her so she was safe to ride in traffic all
about town in any season.
After Carol graduated from high school,
Babe and Cindy were given to family members
and Carol moved to Washington State where
she got a job and met and married Bob, the
love of her life. Riding for the next 20 years
was only occasional, mostly on rental horses,
as Bob and Carol raised their four children.
In 1977, they bought a buckskin Quarter
Horse mare, Crackerjack, for their youngest
son. When her son went off to college, Carol
had a horse of her own again! Carol turned
Crackerjack from a western horse to English
pleasure and jumper and then bred her to a
17-hand chestnut Thoroughbred, hoping for a
tall dressage horse. Instead, she got another
15-hand buckskin mare that she named Toy
Surprise.
Eventually, Crackerjack had to be put
down at age 21 and Toy was injured in a
trailer accident so for seven years Carol rode
school horses and honed her skills. Then, in
2000, magic happened! She was offered the
opportunity to lease Batiste – a Quarter Horse/
Trakehner cross who had been trained and
ridden to the Prix St. George level by his owner, Carol Lanbt.
Batiste became Carol’s friend, teacher and therapist. When
Carol was hit by a car in February 2001, Batiste went home for
a few months as she healed. Then, they were rejoined while the
healing continued.
In January 2002, Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer and
Batiste remained as her therapist as she went through a bilateral
mastectomy and six months of chemo and radiation. Batiste
always asked her how she was feeling before their ride began;
this thoughtful and polite courtesy was, of course, with his ears.
For the next eight years, Carol and Batiste did some schooling
shows at training and first level, while Carol survived another bout
of cancer. As time approached for Batiste to retire, they decided to
do their Century Club ride. Since both were a little too arthritic for
a higher level, they performed a training level test at Broken Auger
Farm in July 2010, with many friends and family in attendance.
e
Never Too Old
Following the test, there was a lovely retirement ceremony for
Batiste – complete with cake and champagne! Carol said that it
was a GREAT day!
Since Carol’s Century Club ride, she has had to face more
challenges, but with enduring courage. A hip replacement kept
Carol out of the saddle for quite some time and, after being a
companion during Carol’s illnesses, Batiste was put down a year-
and-a-half ago. Shortly after that, Bob, Carol’s great support for
over 58 years, passed away and she misses him dearly. However,
through all her trials, Carol’s love for horses and riding is strong
and she is longing to get back in the saddle soon.
Carol Morehouse of Ferndale, Washington, was 76 at the time
of her Century Club ride and Batiste was 29. She has been a
member of Whatcom County Dressage and Eventing Association
and Equestrians Institute.
A Lifetime of Loving and Riding Horses
The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club is a program designed to honor senior dressage riders and their senior horses. To
become a member the ages of the horse and rider must add up to at least 100 years and they must ride any level dressage test before
a judge or dressage professional. For more information on the Dressage Foundation, please visit
.
Carol and Bob
Morehouse during
their Century Club
ride.
Photo courtesy of
Carol Morehouse
