94 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Jenny Johnson
Two Michigan riders, with very different backgrounds, came
together not long ago to celebrate friendship, horses and many
years of dedication to dressage. To top it off, friends and family
were there to congratulate each rider, and their horses, as they
became members of The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club.
Dr. Jorge Gomez was born in Colombia, South America and
moved to the United States in the 1960s to obtain a medical de-
gree in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He served as a United
States Navy commander from 1967-1970 and in the Reserves un-
til 1976. “Horses have been a strong part of my life. My grandfa-
ther was a cavalry officer in the Colombian Army and had a farm,”
Dr. Gomez said. “I rode horses before I had a tricycle, at about
five years old!”
Following his military service, Dr. Gomez bred and imported
horses, primarily Andalusians, for about 10 years. His first dres-
sage horse, Pregonero, was a Spanish-import Andalusian stallion
that was originally used as a bullfighting horse.
Under the tutelage of Roz Kinstler, Dr. Gomez showed to the
Prix St. George level. He first became a Century Club member in
2010 with his horse, Semik, a Kladruber stallion imported in 1984
from Czechoslovakia. His present horse and teammate for his re-
cent Century Club ride, Embrujado, is an Andalusian who was
born at the Gomez’s Michigan farm in 1989. “Embrujado, which
means ‘bewitched’ in Spanish, has been my dressage horse for
the last 22 years,” said Dr. Gomez. “My wife, Ginette, and I have
always felt that Emby is an exceptional horse and great compan-
ion. Although Ginette passed away last year, she was there in
spirit watching us perform.”
In contrast to Dr. Gomez’s lifelong affiliation with horses, his
friend and fellow Century Club member Sue Hughes didn’t pick
e
Never Too Old
up the reins until she was 39-years-old. When her daughter came
home from a Girl Scout riding camp and proclaimed, “You could do
better as a troop leader, mom.” That was all it took! Sue learned
how to ride and led the troop for 20 years.
In addition to leading the Girl Scouts, Sue became a dressage
instructor, judge and volunteer extraordinaire. She has been the
USDF membership chairperson and also served as a USDF Re-
gional Director. Sue has been a board member of the Certified
Horsemanship Association, Centered Riding Inc. and the Midwest
Dressage Association. Sue is also an active judge, earning her
USEF ‘r’ judging card in dressage in 1985 and adding an event
license in 1987.
“With Maryal Barnett as chair, I served on the Violet Hopkins/
USDF Instructor Symposium Committee for 11 years. Watching
and listening to those master instructors – Colonel Agee Sommer
and Major Anders Lindgren – gave me an incredibly wonderful
foundation for my teaching and judging. I was certainly at the right
place at the right time to receive that gift,” said Sue.
Sue also rode and competed up to the Prix St. George level.
She said that her current mount and Century Club teammate,
Isaac, “teaches me so that I, in turn, can keep on teaching and
judging. I think it would be difficult to do those things without the
ongoing conversations with my horse.”
Sue and Dr. Gomez encourage others to continue riding. Sue
said, “The Century Club is such a valuable program that keeps
people looking ahead and living long, happy riding lives.” Dr. Go-
mez added, “We congratulate all involved and toast these wonder-
ful celebrations of long friendships forged by the love of horses.”
About the writer: Jenny Johnson is the Administrative Director at The Dressage
Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to that full-time job, she also has the
full-time job of being a wife, a mom to three children, and “mom” to her 20-year-old
Quarter Horse who she’s owned for 19 years.
A Long Life of Horses, Friendship and Riding!
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
.
Sue Hughes and Dr. Jorge Gomez celebrate their Century Club rides on August 26, 2013. Sue, 84, rode Isaac,
20, and Dr. Gomez, 77, rode Embrujado, 24. From left to right: Judge Maryal Barnett, Sue, instructor Roz
Kinstler and Dr. Gomez.
Photo courtesy of Sue Hughes
