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| Herman and Wasim riding the test |
Herman Aguayo, age 75, and his 28-year
old Arabian gelding SA Wasim joined one of the most exclusive clubs in the
world—The Century Club. Established in
1996 by the U.S. Dressage Foundation, the Century Club currently has only 133
members. To be admitted to this select
organization, the combined ages of the horse and rider must total at least 100
and they have to ride any level dressage test at an event sanctioned by the USDF. The goal of The Century Club is to celebrate
those senior riders who continue to enjoy and have fun with their senior equine
partners. Herman and Wasim became the 134th
pair to join the club, only the 6th in Washington state.
“Riding in the Century Club has always
been on my bucket list,” says Herman. “The late Lt. Col. Eugene Dueber of Port
Orchard, who is one of the original members of the Century Club, encouraged me
to try for this honor years ago.” Eugene
Dueber didn’t start riding until he was in his 60s. At age 85, Eugene Dueber won his place in the
Century Club in 2001 by riding the 16-year old Arabian mare VP Medley. Eugene gave Herman, a fellow Marine, his
United States Marine Corps blue saddle pad to remind Herman about his goal to join
the Century Club. “My wife Kathy also
kept encouraging me to get back in the saddle after my knee operations,” chuckled
Herman.
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| Getting a big wave and smile from the judge and scribe |
Herman started riding as a child. He has had great success in riding Western
and hunt seat and in driving. The
Aguayos have been breeding and showing nationally ranked Arabs and part Arabs
for years from their Sawda Equestrian Center in Port Orchard. In previous years, Sawda’s Pirouette, Shetan,
and Nelita have all won the Tripoli Cup, originally donated by Eugene Dueber to
the Equestrian Institute. The award is
given to the highest scoring Arab or half Arab in dressage in the state of
Washington. Herman and Kathy are members and supporters of the Lower Puget Sound
Dressage Club. As Kathy explains, “The LPSDC
is a great, low key venue for beginning riders to start competing in dressage before
they move up to the A shows. All breeds of
horses are welcomed—not just the traditional dressage horses.”
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| Kathy presents the Century Club ribbon Herman and Wasim |
Herman’s partner in this venture was
Wasim, Arabic for “handsome,” a gelding from Herman’s own breeding program. Herman has special affection for Wasim since
he was an orphan foal who needed to be bottle fed. “He thinks he is more human than horse,”
laughs Herman. Wasim was owned by several
4-H riders until he came back to Sawda for his “retirement.” Wasim wasn’t ready for retirement so he
started dressage training at age 18 with Broox Trudeau. In 5 years, Wasim won his Legion of Honor award
from the Arabian Horse Association by earning 75 points in dressage and other
events. “Even though he has had Cushings
disease for the past six years”, Herman adds, “Wasim continues to give the
occasional lesson to beginning young riders.
He also keeps us on our toes by making us carefully lock all stalls and
feed rooms since he can open any improperly latched gate.”
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| Herman is congratulated by one of his former students |
Despite having both knees replaced in
operations in 2011 and 2012 and never having ridden dressage before, Herman was
still resolved to try for the Century Club.
To prepare, he worked with Shannon Lockwood, a Grand Prix rider who
teaches dressage at both Sawda and Chalice Farms in Port Orchard. “Herman already had great equitation basics,
he just needed to work on learning the dressage pattern,” says Shannon. Herman and Wasim rode for 10 to 15 minutes a
day. Both horse and rider had fun. As Kathy, Herman’s wife, explains, “Wasim
didn’t want to just walk and trot.
Herman had to remind Wasim that there was no canter in the pattern they
were learning.”
Herman and Kathy have always had a big
heart. They have rescued strays—dogs,
horses, and children—giving them a home or extra attention depending on what
was needed. Herman has been a 4-H
leader in the equestrian program in Kitsap County for 16 years. “A horse is not like a bicycle,” Herman
says. “You can’t ride a horse and then
put it away until it is wanted again. Caring for a horse teaches kids
responsibility, empathy for animals, and how to plan for the finances required
to properly take care of that animal.” Children
working with Herman learn to set goals and then work towards meeting those
goals. Many achieve a sense of self
worth for the first time. Herman’s former
students now include three equine vets, an Air Force pilot, nurses, lawyers, a
human resource manager, a foreign diplomat, two vet techs, and several farriers
to mention only a few of the success stories.
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| Wasim takes a bow |
On Sunday, July 7, 2013, several of
those former students witnessed Herman and Wasim ride their Century Club test during
the Lower Puget Sound Dressage Club hosted by the Aguayos at Sawda. Herman and Wasim, decked out in the blue
saddle pad with red and yellow border gifted to Herman by Lt. Col. Eugene Dueber,
scored an impressive 64.688. This score was
high enough to win a blue ribbon in most of the classes that day. {{{Need quote from former student. }}} To celebrate, attendees enjoyed chocolate
cake and sparkling cider while Wasim snacked on his “carrot” cake.
Taking what he has learned from
preparing for the Century Club, Herman looks forward to continuing to work with
the next generation of young riders. Hopefully,
Wasim will eagerly greet young and old visitors to Sawda for many years to come. Together, Herman and Wasim certainly exemplify
the Century Club motto “to do good, we must do well.”
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