I was reading The Dressage Curmudgeon's blog about "dressage jerks" -- yes there are many of them, and I have encountered a few this week as it turns out. But she is talking about dressage jerks of a magnitude far greater than the ones I meet, and as a counterpoint, she talks about David Marcus, a Canadian rider who she finds to be kind, generous, and an all-together nice guy. He's from Nebraska, which could partly explain an unassuming, down-to-earth personality. It ain't no Wellington. Just one more reason his ill-fated ride at London was so unfortunate. Have you all seen it? The fun starts at 3:35. His poise and tact through the incident is remarkable, and I almost wept at the little moments where, in the midst of a horrible moment, he keeps adjusting his hat.
Friday, August 3, 2012
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Agh! I watched this at work yesterday and couldn't stop making sympathetic noises. He certainly did make us Canadians proud with his composure. I think he was actually saluting all the judges, not just adjusting his hat, and that got me too!
ReplyDeleteIt was really unfortunate. I thought he was saluting to the judges to request to be excused from the ride.
DeleteOh I never noticed the part about his hat, but I can't watch it again! Sometimes the small things like that are the most heart wrenching, aren't they.
ReplyDelete(thanks for the mention btw)
How truly awful. His tact was admirable, to say the least. I feel for him.
ReplyDeleteThis past weekend, I got drenched in a downpour at a schooling show. My horse did not do anything dangerous, but he did invert and pick up his legs as high as he could to avoid the puddles and running streams in the arena. That was a disappointing experience at a simple schooling show. I cannot imagine experiencing it at the Olympics.
Oh I thought he was saluting the judge with the tip of his hat, like "seriously, I think we're giving up". Poor guy, it was a beautiful test up until that point!
ReplyDeleteAww and the ride was going so well! Does anyone know what set the horse off? It looked like he spooked at first and then just never settled back down... I can't wait until I have such a great seat!!! Wow. He never looked unsettled at all. :D
ReplyDeleteOMG! I can't imagine having to ride through that downpour! What a great job he did though of staying calm and dealing with his poor unhappy horse. How disappointing for him.
ReplyDeleteThat is so unfortunate. What a disappointment for him. I wonder what caused the horse to behave that way? Did everyone have to ride in such a downpour?
ReplyDeletePoor guy. I think he handled that very well.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this for the first time on Stephanie's blog, so had to google his name to read the press release. Such a heartbreak – for him and for the whole Canadian team! Thanks for posting a video, even though it only adds to the sadness I feel for them all.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you, having lived in Nebraska and married to a Nebraskan....
I read an interview with him and he was SO gracious about it all saying, "He was trying so hard in the first half of the test but, at that moment, something triggered him...I don’t blame him at all...anyone who is involved with horses has gone through something like this in their career...This is life with horses, and we can put it all in perspective by knowing that both Capital and I are going home healthy. He is going to have a long career in front of him.” How AMAZING is that!? What a classy rider and good sport.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he was adjusting his hat. I think he was tipping his hat in recognition of the judges and crowd. At least it appeared that way to me when actually removing it to salute would have been a mistake.
ReplyDeleteWow. I wish we could see what was going on off to the side where the horse saw the monsters.
ReplyDeleteThat would suck. To come that far and have it fall apart would be really disappointing. He handled it really well and kept the horse together, let alone in the ring, nicely though. Some days, it just isn't your day though. Too bad it couldn't have happened to someone who is a 'real jerk' though.
ReplyDeleteThe part that made me misty was the nice neck pat he gave his horse just after exiting. =+)
ReplyDeleteI was actually there but as it was absolutely bucketing down with rain, my friend and I were hiding under the stands and I missed his ride! I think only two or three riders had to go in the rain - it was mostly sunny.
ReplyDeleteHe first starting riding at a barn not far from me - he really had bad luck, but he was so classy and sportsmanlike throughout - I look forward to seeing him and Capital in the future.
ReplyDeleteHelmet?
ReplyDeleteTouching his hat was his signal that he was excusing himself from the arena.
ReplyDeleteHe also said in an interview that Capital is called "Quarterhorse" at the barn because he is so laid back and calm about everything. He said the spook caught him completely by surprise as it was totally out of character for this horse. He also said Capital was really scared because he could feel his heart pounded through his legs and seat.
I felt so badly for him. And then, to top it off, the most annoying bit check guy kept insisting he get the poor horse to stand still to have his bit checked. For heavens sake! He was eliminated, riding a truly rattled horse, and some strange guy wanted him to stand there so he could stick his hand in Capital's mouth! What for? I'm sure all David wanted to do was get Capital back to the barn so he could settle down.
His response to the whole affair proved him to be a true horseman and gentleman. I am so sorry the Canadian team lost because of this, but there's no reason not to be proud of a true display of graceful, tactful horsemanship--to say nothing of a phenomenal seat!
To be fair I don't think the guy at bit check could see the ring and probably had no idea that he had been eliminated, so he was just trying to do his job.
DeleteHe is pure class and an example of great horsemanship.
ReplyDeleteHe actually adjusts his hat twice--once when the "fun begins," and the second time to excuse himself because it was obvious he couldn't "get a grip and continue" within the 10-second "time allowed."
ReplyDeleteI also read somewhere (can't remember now--it's been a long day) that he wasn't sure if it was someone opening an umbrella or a camera swinging to get the shot but anyway, "something" set the horse off. And it's a shame because as Stephanie said AND as we could all see, he was doing masterfully there for awhile.
He also lost an iron during that rear and did not lose his seat. As Jean said, "phenomenal seat."
Watching this a couple times, I only just noticed he loses a stirrup around 4:25, and it slips back in place by 4:30. Remarkable poise, and such a nice test up until the "unplesantness." I saw another video, starting just after the rearing part, that really shows his lateral athleticism near the out gate.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBUSt8hPwio
It reminds us that dressage, while it appears effortless most of the time, involves horses. Horses are sometimes the "chaos" element in the mix. Humans make terrible errors, but since horses cannot communicate with us in "human" language, we have no way of really asking them "what gives?"
ReplyDeletePoor fella. I'm sure I would have been crumpled up in tears after that display. :(
How sad. I think he was saluting, not fixing his hat, but the point still stands. Poor rider. Poor horse. This is why we should turn dressage horses out in the rain from time to time :-P
ReplyDeleteI was actually at the event and saw this happen. The rain sounds really loud and heavy on the video, in fact there had been a heavy rain shower but this was at the end of it and ironically the rain was easing as he left the arena.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame for the rider, not sure what spooked the horse, as it had been past that end of the arena already in the test, but what a fantastic rider David was for staying onboard.
As far as I'm concerned this kind of grace under pressure deserves a medal more than some of the big names who crank the horses nose to chest and ride the tests with so much leverage the horse looks completely "reined in" the entire time.
ReplyDeleteIt actually looked to me like the horse went better when the rain was pounding down and once it let up he noticed the environment more. I love riding my horse in the rain because he seems to settle down to work in a more serious way - not sure if he just wants to get done and go in for his snack, or what. :) Or if he figures if I'm riding in the rain I'm more serious too!
Agree that he was saluting the judges and signaling he was calling it a day. I love that as soon as things settled down as they left the arena he reached forward and gave a reassuring pat.
It's about the HORSE and what is going on with the horse - and keeping the horse safe and healthy both physically and emotionally so future rides can go forward well. Not getting a medal or a high score.
What a heartbreak! And after the horse did so well through the pounding rain. I've had horses 'lose it' that way, once their brain switches off, there is no way back.
ReplyDeleteI think this shows how much power there is in a dressage horse trained to this level. Yes, they may look calm and controlled, but when you wind a spring up this tight, for such high performance, sometimes it pops!
Fabulous seat on the rider!
Love his composure, and how at the end he patted the neck instead of being stiff and angry. I know plenty of dressage riders who would have had a hard time not throwing a fit. On the dressage jerks subject, I've worked at many dressage facilities over the years from groom to manager, and have met my fair share. One rather prominent trainer screamed at her most supportive client (while the client was riding, an amateur adult) "I don't know how you made it through med school if you can't even figure out how to ask your horse to do something he does naturally." They are a shame on the sport, when so many kind people are active.
ReplyDelete