Equine Affaire stuff
Mar. 29th, 2004 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreA day and a half of nothing but horsie stuff. First thing Friday morning was an English Equitation clinic-- kidlet gleaned enough tips and exercises to keep busy all spring.
After that, off to see Captain Mark Phillips of the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team. It's the fourth time we've seen him, and his clinics are still utterly fascinating. (The first year, frustrated at trying to explain a technique, he borrowed a horse and demonstrated... the women sitting behind me could not have been more excited if that year's movie hunk had walked in and undressed.) He pushes the clinicians hard, but never TOO hard, and it's amazing to see the difference he can make in their riding in an hour or so.
This year he was working with four riders in the Advanced clinic. He'd send them over a jump or combination, then give a few tips and send them around again.. except one young woman, Kerry. "Thank you, Kerry, that was lovely... you can just walk for a few minutes." "Flawless again, Kerry...." After the fifth jump, he shook his head, and said, "Kerry... my dear.... what are you doing in August?" There was a gasp in the audience, but I think it took a while before she realized what he meant.
Went to a Clinton Anderson clinic, and sat through about half of Ga-Wa-Ni Pony Boy's clinic. Pony, otherwise known as "Hunky Boy" (as my sister in law says, the only possible response to meeting him would be "would you like me to brush your hair?")... anyway, poor Pony got a horse he just couldn't deal with. After 25 minutes, he hadn't done anything but tire it out. I certainly hope he had better luck with the other horse in that clinic!
Having seen John Lyons and Monty Roberts both in previous years-- I'd rate Roberts best, Lyons and Anderson tied, and Pony last (but I very much doubt that I saw him at his best.. well, at his horse-handling best anyway). Monty's really in a class by himself.
Two pics of Captain Phillips below, and one... well, if you were horse-crazy as a kid, you probably had a Visible Horse, so you'll understand.
