My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
At the 1968 summer Olympics in Mexico, the tallest fences were 7’3″. That was back in the “old days” before the maximum heights were lowered. This year featured the largest jumps in any Olympic competition. Imagine then, riding a 14.1″ Connemara-TB cross around that course. Marion Coakes, riding her super pony Stroller, did just that, […]
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What’s the worst thing that’s happened during one of your dressage tests? For me, it was when an Amish horse and buggy drove down the road next to the arena. My poor horse had never seen a horse and carriage before and immediately turned into a giraffe. That experience pales in comparison to what Imogen […]
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I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions, but 2018 involved so much angst — my accident, my mother breaking her hip, my father recovering from a fall, my stepfather’s illness — that I’m going to make an exception this year. I’m planning a better 2019 and I’m hoping that the universe will comply. My resolutions […]
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When I was in the rehab unit last February, a therapy dog came to visit twice a week. It was a beautiful standard Poodle, but by the time he reached me, he didn’t seem that interested in offering comfort; he just wanted to go home. If only I’d been in France. Then, maybe I could […]
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Some days you just have to watch people riding fast. The legendary “cliff ride” in the Man from Snow River (1982) still stands as the most impressive horse chase scene in the movies. While many people assumed the ride was faked, actor Tom Burlinson (Jim) has confirmed that he did the ride himself. Burlinson wasn’t […]
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A temporary committee charged with an urgent review of the FEI’s endurance rules has had its first in-person meeting at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Of course, this has been a long time in the making. Since 2014 there have been scandals in endurance racing revolving around catastrophic injuries and doping that have persisted. […]
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Six months after a serious head injury sustained in a fall from Cooley Rorkes Drift at Tattersalls CIC3*, Olympic rider Jonty Evans made it back into the saddle. Okay, the saddle was on a simulator, but to me this looks like an excellent (and safe way) to regain his strength and coordination. I wouldn’t mind […]
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