Millcreek Community Hospital nurse rides to victory

By Melissa J. Dixon

Cindy Poulson, an R.N. at Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH), is an award-winning equestrian. Photo by Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News

Working as a registered nurse requires stamina and is charged with challenges.

Cindy Poulson, an R.N. who currently works in outpatient surgery endoscopy at Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH), operates on adrenaline. She also thrives as an award-winning equestrian. Poulson’s been competing for 11 years on her current horse, Regalia, aff ectionately called “Reggie.” Her daughter, Caiti, who also works at MCH, was the fi rst to take lessons. Poulson’s husband, Randy (who consequently also works at MCH), encouraged Cindy to participate aft er witnessing the joy it brought Caiti. Now the equestrians run three generations deep because her granddaughter rides, too. Poulson’s goals are to receive a gold medal in the Grand Prix and to qualify for regionals at the Intermediare level. But she’s no stranger to winning. She’s been the grand champion every year for each level she entered in the NODA Championship Show.

“The biggest highlight of my equestrian career happened in the 2019 show season,” Poulson said. “I moved up to the Intermediare level, and we were having some trouble with some of the movements in that test. I was frustrated ... until my trainer, Wendi Skelly, surprised me and told me I earned half of my gold medal – and qualifi ed for the regional horse show!” As competitors advance levels, they receive medals from the United States Dressage Federation. They have to earn a certain

Poulson competes with her horse named Regalia, affectionately called Reggie. Photo contributed by Cindy Poulson

and Prix St. Georges enable them to earn a silver medal.

Her secret to winning? “I’ve had good, correct training for me and my horse. And I keep it fun.”

In addition to riding horses and working as a nurse at the LECOM Health hospital, Poulson babysits her 8-month-old grandson. Juggling schedules and stress can be a challenge, but having a good support system makes everything possible.

“If it weren’t for my husband, it would be really hard,” she said. “And riding my horse is absolutely therapeutic. It’s as if all the stresses of a workday just melt away as I’m driving to the barn. By the time I get there, no matter the weather, it’s a bright, sunny day. Riding Reggie brings such peace. I have a strong partnership with her.” This September will mark 29 years that Poulson has worked at MCH. She started in the original emergency room, transitioned to the new emergency room, then started giving stress tests in the heart station, and eventually moved to endoscopy where she has been for the past 20 years. During the last four years she’s cross-trained into endoscopy outpatient surgery and the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

Poulson graduated from Purdue University in 1986 with an associate degree in nursing and an associate degree in English.

amount of scores from a certain amount of judges. For the fi rst through third levels, they can earn a bronze medal. Fourth level

Cindy Poulson, R.N., rides her 15-year-old Oldenburg mare, named Regalia, at a stable in Greenfi eld Township. Poulson, 59, regularly rides dressage, described by the International Equestrian Foundation as “the highest expression of horse training” where “horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.” Photo by Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News

Cindy’s equestrian awards:

■ Grand Champion of the 2021 NODA Championship

Show and High-point Award (+ grand champion each year at every level).

■ Adult Amateur Dover Saddlery Medal for Dressage at Second Level in (2014) - twice in one weekend! ■ 2nd place Adult Amateur and 5th place Pro Am at

Fourth Level at the Region 8 horse show (2018) in

Saugerties HITS, in New York.

Interested in lessons?

Cindy recommends: Three Point Farm 9039 Williams Road North East, PA 16428 (814) 873-9409