16 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
is a lifelong pursuit to communicate with your horse. The goal
of this communication is to enable the horse to develop his
gymnastic abilities into a harmonious partnership with the rider.
If it’s approached with patience and respect for the horse, it’s an
enjoyable journey.” Sharon’s advice to dressage riders is to focus
on the journey, not the destination.
To become a member of the Century Club, the ages of the
horse and rider must add up to at least 100 years, so on October
27, 2013, the trainer and student pair rode their Century Rides at
an R Barn Stables Schooling Show. Sharon, 68, rode her partner,
Slick, a 32-year-old OTTB that she has owned for 30 years. Peter,
76, rode Hammer, a 28-year-old Quarter Horse, as his own horse
wasn’t yet old enough to qualify for the Century Club. Both riders
own horses that will enable them to continue their dressage
journeys.
Together, Peter and Sharon have purchased R Frodo, a tall,
young, unbroken Warmblood. They hope to tackle Third Level or
above with R Frodo. Peter also owns Noah, a Dutch Warmblood
that has schooled upper level dressage. Peter spends summers
working with Sharon and winters in Florida learning with Noah.
About the writer: Jane Fucinaro is the administrative assistant at The Dressage
Foundation. Outside of her part-time job, she is a full-time dressage instructor and
trainer specializing in children’s riding lessons. She stays busy with her local GMO
and 4-H dressage club.
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Never Too Old
By Jane Fucinaro
Becoming a Century Club
member is a unique milestone
for senior equestrians. Recently,
the occasion was even more
special for an instructor and
her student, who rode for
membership on the same
day — a first in Century Club
history! Instructor Sharon Curran
of Bethlehem, Connecticut,
and student Peter Rosow of
Woodbury, Connecticut, were
both introduced to horses at a
young age, but in different ways.
Sharon recalls a picture from
her past as a 3-year-old on a
traveling photographer’s pony.
That day set her future in motion.
As soon as she was old enough,
she rode her bike to a local
stable in New Jersey where she
worked for her riding lessons,
which led to more training
opportunities. As a 14-year-old,
Sharon was given a spirited
Palomino gelding with whom
she won many ribbons in open
jumper classes. She continued
on to another stable where she
began riding and showing the
sale “greenies,” which was a real
equestrian education.
Peter’s father was a rider and arranged for him to learn to ride
when he was 8. Shortly after, Peter became more confident and
rode through the bridle path in Central Park. At about 16 years
old, he discovered girls and temporarily lost his enthusiasm for
horses, as many young riders do. After college, work in Germany
and fatherhood, he resumed his equestrian career in New York,
where he picked up jumping. When Peter turned 70, his jumping
horse developed arthritis and Peter received a hip replacement.
His family saw these as signs from God to focus on something
less dangerous, like dressage.
While Peter was working and traveling, Sharon was attending art
school in New York City during the week and riding on weekends.
After moving to California and teaching English riding lessons
for five years, her family moved back East and finally settled in
Bethlehem, where they renovated a large dairy barn into a house
and stables. After her divorce, Sharon made the decision to turn
her small horse business into a full-blown career and opened R
Barn Stables as a boarding and training facility. This is how Peter
and Sharon crossed paths.
Both riders came from jumping backgrounds, so when they
decided to make the switch to dressage, Sharon thought, “This
should be a piece of cake!” Sharon goes on to say, “Dressage
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
.
From Jumping to Dressage: A Shared Journey
Sharon Curran and Peter Rosow
