December Quiet Achiever - Marilyn Costigan

Marilyn Costigan – E level Dressage Judge celebrates her 80^th Birthday in December!     

Marilyn learned to ride when she was 39 (after having 7 children!)  In 1977 she joined the Maryborough Active Riders Club (MARC) in its inaugural year, and she has been a continuous member of the committee for the past 40 years!  During this time she has been President (for 12 years), Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and Dressage Convenor (for about 20 years!!).  She still continues to help organise Dressage events as a Dressage Assistant, and in 2017 she was elected Treasurer again!! 

Although Marilyn is probably now thought of as only a Dressage rider, this was not always the case!!  She has competed in all types of events including sports, jumping and cross-country. Apparently one of her more spectacular stacks was in the final jump-off of the Six Bar Jumping at the Maryborough Show.

Marilyn learned to ride on the kids' pony Twinkle, and says “You'd turn his head one way and he'd go the other!”  Her most successful horses have included Fernando (the grey Galloway that did everything well – jumping, hacking, dressage, and sports); Tallai Miss Tamara who was successful in hacking and dressage (competing up to Medium); and Maggie (Indigo Girl) who also took Marilyn up to Medium. Now Marilyn enjoys training and riding for pleasure on the gorgeous Summerlee Gilda, although she doesn’t compete as often.

Marilyn has also been an official Dressage judge for more than 30 years.  As the only E Level Judge in the region between Sunshine Coast and Mackay, we are lucky to have her expertise in our club. 

Marilyn has always been very generous with her time and commitment to helping fellow riders, and she has spent MANY MANY long days judging a wide range of riders from professionals at Dressage Championships or EA Horse Trial events, to beginners at the local Pony Club “come & try” days. 

And at all events she has always been careful to make encouraging comments ….. well …there was once when she was judging me, and my horse had a total freak-out throughout the whole test (I should have retired!) and her comment with the collective marks was just “Mmmmmm….”  She didn’t have to say more, but at least it wasn’t negative!

Marilyn on Brutues & a friend in a pairs class - don't they match well!

Marilyn and Tallai Miss Tamara competed in Hacking and Dressage up to Medium level

Marilyn & Summerlee Gilda at the 2015 Fraser Coast Dressage Championships.