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equus · 01-15-2006, 11:01 AM

It's an 18+ yr old memory and the asctual gallop plays in my head to the rythm of it, I physically remember the feelings, sounds, (particularly being aware of how much air the horse could process - the sound of that was deep!), all the body cantacts knees, knuckles, fingers, muscles - THE LOT.

I've told it lots of times to young grooms I've taken for their first gallop, close friends, D, different people because it always struck me as iconic. It just was.

I've never written it before and I think I had more guts not face to face to try and describe something I don't really have words for. When I've told it verbally it's been more about a childs dream, pretending to be a horse on any bit of green I could find (the grave yard) to the intense reality of living it - and BOY I'd never dreamed what reality would be!!

It's also a moment in time that's gone, that discipline is gone in yards as grooms often go to college first and are unwilling to ride in such a disciplined way. I was lucky to still work with kids young enough to listen and understand. I taught that riding is neither a sport or a hobby, you put metal in a fine animals mouth, you sit on it and ask so much from it and I believe no-one has any place there if they a playing a sport or doing a hobby. I taught that it's a discipline, to discipline your own temper, fear, excitement and ride right. That's what I was taught and it's a place that sometimes feels long gone.

The head girl in the story is now in her 40's and has probably the last job on earth where the rides are still disciplined. She's charge hand at the cavalry remount and still takes wet behind the ears squaddies out on cavalry horses 10 to 20 at a time through the towns and countryside - still brings them and all the horses back safe. Only in the army she uses arm signals to call the ride but I should think she'd still turn her head and call 'You right?' before going off at speed. I'd lay money she still rides alongside a newbie teaching them how to do each ride request.

I no longer ride - for now. My memories are incredible but without the daily practice, without the job to do I've got little interest as a hobby. It's still a discipline to me.

I enjoyed writing it - it's a precious memory and reminds me to hope. From a backstreet kid that had never touched a horse but was full of dreams - one by one I made them real and when I would get in a saddle whether for the first or fifth time in a day I'd remember that.

The gallop was in my first year of riding for a living, I went on to break youngsters and ride the two yard stallions - jet black. I LIVED the dreams people call childish and it was awsome. It's been the greatest achievment of my life - so far....

That's really all I can think to tell you about it, I'm glad you liked it.

01-15-2006, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
equus Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: uk Posts: 3,055	It's an 18+ yr old memory and the asctual gallop plays in my head to the rythm of it, I physically remember the feelings, sounds, (particularly being aware of how much air the horse could process - the sound of that was deep!), all the body cantacts knees, knuckles, fingers, muscles - THE LOT. I've told it lots of times to young grooms I've taken for their first gallop, close friends, D, different people because it always struck me as iconic. It just was. I've never written it before and I think I had more guts not face to face to try and describe something I don't really have words for. When I've told it verbally it's been more about a childs dream, pretending to be a horse on any bit of green I could find (the grave yard) to the intense reality of living it - and BOY I'd never dreamed what reality would be!! It's also a moment in time that's gone, that discipline is gone in yards as grooms often go to college first and are unwilling to ride in such a disciplined way. I was lucky to still work with kids young enough to listen and understand. I taught that riding is neither a sport or a hobby, you put metal in a fine animals mouth, you sit on it and ask so much from it and I believe no-one has any place there if they a playing a sport or doing a hobby. I taught that it's a discipline, to discipline your own temper, fear, excitement and ride right. That's what I was taught and it's a place that sometimes feels long gone. The head girl in the story is now in her 40's and has probably the last job on earth where the rides are still disciplined. She's charge hand at the cavalry remount and still takes wet behind the ears squaddies out on cavalry horses 10 to 20 at a time through the towns and countryside - still brings them and all the horses back safe. Only in the army she uses arm signals to call the ride but I should think she'd still turn her head and call 'You right?' before going off at speed. I'd lay money she still rides alongside a newbie teaching them how to do each ride request. I no longer ride - for now. My memories are incredible but without the daily practice, without the job to do I've got little interest as a hobby. It's still a discipline to me. I enjoyed writing it - it's a precious memory and reminds me to hope. From a backstreet kid that had never touched a horse but was full of dreams - one by one I made them real and when I would get in a saddle whether for the first or fifth time in a day I'd remember that. The gallop was in my first year of riding for a living, I went on to break youngsters and ride the two yard stallions - jet black. I LIVED the dreams people call childish and it was awsome. It's been the greatest achievment of my life - so far.... That's really all I can think to tell you about it, I'm glad you liked it.