I arrived to watch the lower level students take their horses over a course of seven or so jumps. There were several who struggled and some lost control, but watching made me appreciate the amount of skill and confidence involved. They exited and left, departing as soon as they had their horses loaded in their vans. The few spectators departed too, as it began to rain and look ugly.
waiting
entering the ring
the penultimate jump
a distracted horse
the winning horse
the final gate
After the first course was finished, the stable workers came out and began rearranging the gates and re-adjusting their heights. The red and white flags at the heads of the gates were changed and the direction of the course was reversed. This was done to confuse the horses no doubt.
counting the steps
Finally the judges called the riders onto the course where they walked through it, measuring the gates against their chests and counting the steps between jumps as well as the distance ibetween the gates on double jumps.
debating a gate
devising strategies
The man with the umbrella appeared although the sunlight had come out to shine on his day. At first I didn't notice it, but then I thought, "how odd," and watched stroll about the course like a misplaced Dr. Who.
dr who arrived
Obviously the contestants were none-too-pleased with some of the gates as they cornered the umpire or groundsman in debate. With enough voices to make a quorum, the umpire conceded sending out workers to check the heights of the controversialo gates. adn to emasure the distance between the gates on the second double jump. One gate came down and another was carefully re-adjusted.
Satisfied, the contestants left the course to take their mounts.
the second was a double
A few disqualified when their horses refused the jumps. One rider seemed particularly vexed with his horse and struck it repeatedly on the second jump. This obviously was not in his favor because the stunned animal came to a frozen halt in bewilderment and backed out of the double gate. Apparently, this forfeits the jump as he had to circle and repeat the gates, but by this time the rider was writh and the horse perplexed and when it came to the nasty seventh gate it outright refused. The bell rang and the rider still heated struck his animal again with his crop and left the course without acknowledging the umpire. At the entry, he was stopped by the team coach who automatically soothed the horse while scolding the rider for his mean performance. Obviously, striking an animal is not a way to make it through an intensely difficult course as it only adds to the animal's confusion and anxiety. None of the other riders struck their animals and none caried crops. Control is in the cooperation and untiy of the rider with the animal.
enter the beautiful white horse
soars over the first gate
All the horses seemed perfectly normal and steady until the beautiful white horse arrived to take his place on the course.
sails over the middle gate
His presence was different than all the others. Eager to jump, the horse seemed to be totally aware of the ongoing competition. Among nobility, he was an aristocrat, flying over the first gate. And although he made errors, by tripping the pole on the second gate and sliding to a stop on the beastly triple:
he reovered with cool demeanor and sailed over.
Elegance befits him. If jumping were based on style and elegance of line, this horse would have won a gold metal in figure-skating, with airy amplitude and grace that excelled the others.
sailed over the seventh
But following him, came the dappled with a calm, cool rider who exuded regal bearing. The difference between seasoned riders and those who strike their mounts is in their bearing. They take their places on the course as if they own, talking their horses through their jumps with calm assurance, acknowledging the judges when they enter and stop to bow as they leave.
The dapple sailed through the course without any major errors and no refusals. And although close to perfection, he did not have the same charismatic temperment. Perfect may be cool, but it does not always set the heart on fire.
the dapple soars over the middle gate
easily clears the seveth
And the winners were the chestnut and the dapple.
But the beautiful white horse was my choice.
ready to go home
previous post
23 June 2006 Lazy Sundays
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976762262
horse-jumping
more horses at the races
14 June 2006 Picture Story Velke Chuchle
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976759924
14 June 2006 Picture Story Velke Chuchle
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976759924
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Comments: 19
and repetedly logging in every five miutes is more than annoying.
I really don't know how others survive all the very nasty glitches.
how is it that stories end up with multiple urls?
only the two were white-- but when you're sitting on the ring, it really makes a difference. You see the difference in the way riders control their horses and I think much of it is actulally self control and letting the horse do its stuff.
My horse jumps (a friend jumps with her - I'm flat only for time being at least) - she's a Belgian cross and doesn't really look like she'd be as graceful as she is. So far we've only taken her over 3 foot jumps, although I'm sure with some work she'd easily go over the higher ones.
Anyone else ride? I'm Hunt seat (started out dressage but just couldn't get into it and natural post is hunt type for me). Trails are great too - especially with Gracie since she's very calm.
you can read it here
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976771524
"What you've written here could never make it in a travel magazine; don't kid yourself. You hardly seem fluent in English, for one thing. It'd behove you not to take such an arrogant and condescending approach to the site. Don't like it? Leave and build and site that's only open to "real" bloggers (whatever that means)." Crazy Celebrity aug 6, 2006
it's like bike jumping-- you cont before the lift-off of the horse-- I have only a bad Kodak camera z700 and the only setting that really works if for landscape, but I put it on 1/700secs So actually I clicked the picture before his front feet came off the ground and that caught him sailing over the fence. the fences, 7gate is about shoulder high on me. maybe 5ft
and maybe it was all the times I tried to catch guys bike-jumping because thesee are my first horse pictures-- but as you now know, I can't write or photograph, so you must be addressing a ghost.
and sorry know nothing about horses, except unfortuantely it was the Czech team and I shoulld have flirted with the man with the beautiful white horse. He didn't place, but was really the best horse. the horse just loved jumping and was small in comparson to the big red. and horses seem to come in all shapes and stockier horses seem very strong jumpers. Belgians are very beautiful...
http://www.hitsshows.com/
HISTORY
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia. In January 2006 HITS entered into a private equity arrangement with Leonard Green & Partners, LP in Los Angeles. As a result, HITS, Inc. will be able to develop and execute exciting operational and strategic initiatives that both solidify its well-established position as the leader in horse show management and allow for new growth opportunities.
Rich J
but the beautiful white horse- ( with striped leggings and loose mane) - I haven't seen him since, but it was obvious that this horse really loved jumping and although he didn't place as a result of the rejected gate, he was definitely the best jumper there. He just flew--
Oh, and I love this line:
Perfect may be cool, but it does not always set the heart on fire.
thank-you for stopping by-- is really a terrible day for me
and no wonder good writers and artists get deprssed on this site.
But keep at it - your work and you are appreciated!
But as for Gather-- sorry it's no py and it is very self-destructive, so the days are gone when I would put up something like this becuse it requires about three days preparation and no one pays me to do it and I can't even feed myself.
it's a joke. this site isn't worth that kind of time or effort, epecially when it routinely promotes plagiarism on the front page with totally brainless and ampty articles.