Now ponies are always amusing, they have such personalities! Today was no exception, amusement came calling!! At the end of the lesson the kids turn , as a ride, across the centre line and halt; so far so good. Then they do 'round the world' (le moulin here) and dismount...cue two big Friesians (on holiday livery) breaking the fence with a helluva "crash" and cavorting with neighbouring horse. The sound of the crash sent the ponies in all directions, half of them (the half seated backwards at the moment of the crash) got dumped and the other half dived for the ground. It was utter carnage, pony and child spaghetti, lol. One little girl landed with a nasty thud but kids seem able to take the knocks and she's fine. Lydia was giggling and all the girls (why don't boys ride??) had to have a good old conflab in the tack room. Don't they say never work with children or animals?
Kate asked about Etienne Beudant's book from which I quoted, his major work Extérieur et Haute école was first published in1921 and his other work still in print Vallerine (when no longer able to ride his horse Vallerine, he wrote to the friend he gave her to and this is the resulting book) I believe he wrote another but I'm not sure this is still available in French or English. He was a student of Faverot de Kerbrech (himself a student of Baucher) and well regarded by the great Decarpentry.
4 comments:
Does anyone need reminding what a group of ponies can get up to? Although this time they had an excuse, I suppose. Do you have the tradition that those who do an "involuntary dismount" must bring cookies for the class next time? In Germany it was "buy schnapps" but I made it more kid-friendly.
Hehe, they'll have a whole bunch of cookies then!! I bet you wish you'd had the camcorder. Glad Lydia's ok.
glad they're all ok bar the odd bruise...it's at times like that one doesn't WANT to watch....
That's just what I said Di, why didn't I have the video camera!
Yes ER, it was always drinks all round for the grownups but 'gateau' here for the kids.
Claire, I'm always watching through gritted teeth, it's so scary watching, lol.
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