BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS • THE 1993 COMPETITION - PART ONE

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Blythe at the Diamonds? GOOSEBUMPS! Even 30 years later! Sigh.

[@caroleminvielle9554]

Superb, thank you. Got any more? 😃

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BADMINTON 93?! Where is everyone??

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Back when a bounce meant something? Back when Badminton was still mostly a 3day event. Back when you had to SIT the trot, without clamping down, gripping, or even gritting your teeth. So lovely to see real schwung in the 3-day event dressage. Truly these days, we’re LOST. 50 years an equestrian, me. King William became LOVELY his back and shoulder. I’ve not seen such schwung even in recent haut ecole tests.

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Watkins! Look at the natural swing in his tail! First rate! The rein back is a FORWARD transition. People forget that, but it’s the real trick!

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And Mark Todd? Kinvarra?! Bounced up those steps so elegantly I actually got weepy! People think you can make horses do this. NOPE. It’s a partnership ALL THE WAY. Wish I could find such a husband as ANY of these horses. They WANT to do it. That’s why the onus is on the rider to protect the horse from its innate and unrestrained DESIRE to GO. It falls upon us to rein in, to stop a horse unprepared, too green, too young for a maximal effort. It’s our job NOT to push them, but to restrain them for our mutual safety. Physics are immutable. Compassion and conscience? OUR HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY.