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 Virginia H. Martin of Warwick, passed away on December 20, 2008. She was 77 years old. Born on April 1, 1931 in New York, NY, she was the daughter of the late Ferrier T. Martin, Sr. and Helen Virginia Slattery. Ms. Martin had been the President and Chief Instructor of Borderland Farm since 1962. She was a past President of the Eastern States Dressage & Combined Training Association and an honorary lifetime member of the Windy Hollow Hunt. Ms. Martin was a graduate of Skidmore College, who started a film production company in the 1950s. She put that background to use with the production of the films, Saddle Pals and Challenged Equestrians. Both were innovative documentaries about therapeutic riding, a field she helped pioneer. She was instrumental in creating Winslow Therapeutic Riding in the early seventies. Ms. Martin was a former program inspector for the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, receiving the James Brady Professional Achievement Award for her lifetime of accomplishments in the field. This includes organizing the first regional equestrian competition for the disabled and demonstrations at the National Horse Show, coaching riders at international competitions, giving clinics and presentations on therapeutic riding at locations throughout the world. Ms. Martin also believed strongly in local causes and supported the Purchase of Development Rights, Community 2000, the Warwick Conservancy and the Orange County Land Trust. A family statement reads: "Virginia was a unique person who lived life to its fullest. She touched so many people through her words, actions and the example she set. While she will be missed, Virginia will live on through the generations that she taught about riding and about life." She is survived by her brother, Ferrier T. Martin, Jr. and his wife Alice of Vernon, NJ; brother-in-law, Dr. J. Timothy Mullhaupt of Williamsville, NY; nephews: Dr. Andrew Mullhaupt and his wife, Susan, Christopher Mullhaupt and his wife, Zoe, Vincent Mullhaupt and his wife Patti, Patrick Mullhaupt and his wife Ruth; nieces: Catherine Mullhaupt and her husband Greg Hall; Karen Martin, Dr. Claire Coolbeth and her husband Morgan; and seven grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Joan Mullhaupt. Memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550 (Hospiceoforange.com). | |
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