My Muses

18Dec09

Michael Matz (Courtesy Show Jumping Hall of Fame)

I admire most all riders who have made it to the top and are consistently proving themselves in the grand prix arenas of the world. Still, there’s a handful of riders that continue to impress and inspire me with their talents, personalities, and attitudes towards the magnificent sport of show jumping.

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Moving On

09Dec09

It’s never easy to let go of that first horse. Even if said horse has done his very best to put said rider in the dirt more times than the rider can count. My first horse was a long-awaited gift, and as such, I had sky-high hopes. Finally, a best friend, a partner, something I could tell my secrets to and that could comfort me in my times of need. We would overcome obstacles and gallop to blue ribbons and victory after victory. So maybe I didn’t really expect riches and glory, but I had in mind a solid working partnership and new opportunities for learning and growing. What I got completely shut me down.

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The Road to the World Cup

26Nov09

It’s that time of year again, when the show jumping World Cup qualifying classes are in full swing and riders and racing from show to show to rack up points and hopefully grab some money to take home. Now that I’m in a barn with a trainer trying to qualify, I can appreciate the dedication and managemant it takes to keep grand prix horses fresh over what can be a tiring stretch of months leading up to the Cup.

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Orchestra

24Nov09

I recently had the pleasure of watching and hearing a 25 piece guitar orchestra from Barcelona. I expected to witness something fantastic, and the sounds and sights of the concert were utterly amazing. What really struck me though, was how I kept subconsciously comparing the meticulous strumming and picking, harmony and grace of the guitarists to classical dressage riders. It was as if the musicians were great riders, subtly coaxing each note out of their finely tuned instruments. Initially, I wrote my comparison off as my habit of always having horses on the mind, yet as the night progressed, the similarities became more and more apparent-and less far fetched.

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Oliver Townend Grabs Burghley 09 Win

12Sep09

Photo Courtesy burghley-horse.co.uk, 2009

Riding the fabulously-named grey gelding Carousel Quest, Townend set his sights on his own quest and followed a steady route from the dressage ring, over hill and dale, and through the timers on the final stadium round to grab first place. Townend called his mount “a class horse” and certainly proved himself once again to be just as classy and capable in the saddle.

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