I love watching old footage of show jumping and eventing -- there is something more spontaneous and disarming about the horses, the riders, and the rides. Look at the sense of humor this rider shows when things go wrong....
Saturday, December 12, 2009
1988, Hickstead: A blast from the past
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Decidedly interesting course, too. Love the attempt to remount. I never would have managed to get back on myself. *lol*
ReplyDeleteIt's defintely a very rough and ready kind of riding. The lack of subtlety allows you to see a bit more of the "conversation" between horse and rider, with her driving the horse on and the horse pinning his ears, 'OKAY already!'. Her body is all over the place yet the fences, and the rating and positioning of the horse, are done well.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that she managed to get back on. I would have called it done then.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to explain to a co-worker how *difficult* it would be to remount--not only is that horse freekin' tall and wiggly, but also: she just had a heckuva adrenaline rush and her legs must be hella wobbly. And yet, she calls him a knucklehead, hops back on, and finishes the course.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
Whoa, nothing like an unscheduled dismount is there? I give her two thumbs up and a round of applause for having a sense of humor about the spill and [more importantly] for not punishing the horse :o)
ReplyDeleteWhat a good boy he was not to freak out and leave but let her get back on and finish the job. His neck is much more upright and he looks more hollow and stiff than today's jumpers. Her hands are right up there by his ears too. They got the job done!
ReplyDeleteI love watching old footage like this too. I just love the rides, style (both turn-out & riding), the horses and just that attitude. I wish the horse world today was more like that.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I'm super impressed with the rider (kick, pull, KICK!) but I have to say that she never once touches that horses face over top of the fences and therefore I give her a round of applause! I think that this shows what todays show jumping lacks...the ability to gallop between the jumps! Watching this kind of makes you ask yourself "Isn't this what it was about in the first place?"
ReplyDeleteWow! They really get the job done! I can't believe she was able to get back on either! That would be one heck of a scare for me!
ReplyDeleteGreat ride, the horse is a real good sport, he moves around a bit due to the excitement, but cooperates and gets right back on task. What you would expect a hunter to do in the field. Speaking of speed and jumping, I just sent off for the 2008/2009 National Hunt year in review. :-)
ReplyDeleteLive to Fly said: "Isn't this what it was about in the first place?"
ReplyDeleteYes indeedy! It was about the kind of challenges one might encounter galloping across country.
It was such a pleasure to watch the clip.