Dressage At Its Best

You just have to see this (especially Georgie, Teleri and Deborah):

Can you make your horse dance like this?

That was brilliant. My horse and I could do a few of the simpler routines - extended trot and canter, half pass, pirouette. That was when I was in my late teens and fortunate enough to be involved in junior eventing (combined training) in Ireland.

Thank you to my uncle Micheal for sponsoring my trip to Australia. I am very grateful.

On the outskirts of Perth, Australia I was groom to Rupert, a farmer and a polo player (after being a nanny and groom outside Geelong to a show jumping couple) who had 6 polo ponies. One pony was a former race horse. He was almost completely black except for a white diamond on his forehead. His name was Ace. It was high summer and the front lawn was totally parched so we were allowed to use it as a dressage arena. Ace was responsive to leg pressure and I was only trying a few movements when he trotted across the lawn sideways crossing his legs. Neither horse or rider had ever done that before.

I was so surprised and delighted I jumped off and hugged him. It was only then that I noticed Rupert's mother watching us from behind the screened front door. She clapped. I cried.