Spinoff: beautiful horse-rider pairings you have known

[twofatponies]

The unsuitable horses thread made me recall some really fabulously suited horses and riders I've known. Any you guys have been nearly moved to tears by? Like the compromised rider who has exactly the right horse?

Knew a very elderly lady who had some kind of physical issues - she couldn't stand up straight. She couldn't tighten a girth or mount without assistance. She had the most adorable, kind, elderly Arabian. That horse would walk and trot her around so gently, and even if badly startled would only flinch a tiny bit, making every effort not to disturb the delicate rider.

Another one - a very elderly guy who loved to go for gallops across the fields (while we covered our eyes in terror). He was a very good rider, but not strong anymore with his advanced age. His horse was a mean old mare, but she loved him, and took total care of him. Did everything to keep him in the saddle, totally obedient, he could scold her verbally and she'd hang her head and try harder.

Little girl with a competitive jumper pony. That pony never pulled a pony stunt - went where directed, jumped enthusiastically, forward and obedient. Kid and her friends could do "sliding dismounts" off the pony's rump and neck, dress it up in costumes, it would follow them around and enjoyed every bit of the attention... just sheer joy to watch them have so much fun.

[Grataan]

The ones that come to mind are Jean Cruguet and Seattle Slew, Ron Turcotte and Secretariat, Russel Baze and Lost in the Fog.

[work4horse]

I remember some truely awesome therapy horses from some years back. There was one old gelding (bless his soul he's gone to the bridge) but he was a therapy horse for I think it was 22 years of his life. He was truely what everyone ever wants in a safe/bombproof horse. He took care of those kids/riders with such care that the some of the riders with the more adanced Cerebral palsia (sp. I know) ect. that were still able to ride got this guy.

This is why I shake my head when people talk about horses being old and no longer of any use (dumping them at 15?) because they are "beyond their years and not able to do 'insert discipline' ". Some of the best most awesome horses are the ones when they are in their teens and twenties (definetly beginners).

[La Gringa]

Greg Best and Gem Twist

Conrad Holmfield and Abdulah

Joe Fargis and Touch of Class

Anne Kursinski and Starman

Melanie Smith and Calypso


Not only were these Olympic Pairings.. IMHO they were beautiful together as well.

I am sure there are many more than this list...

That pic of Greg Best on Gem Twist in the Gate at Seoul is one of my favorite pics of all time of any horse/rider pairing.. by Tish Quirk.

[Bluey]

Many public figures as mentioned above are well known, but our neighbor had an older ranch horse that I have seen ridden by his three year old or so grandson.
That horse would, when the kid was falling asleep and leaning to the side, drop down and to the side and hoist the kid back up in the middle, just as we would with a backpack that is leaning.
I told my neighbor and he got behind and, sure enough, he got to see it, as the horse kept doing it.:)

That kid rode that horse for a few years, until he got older and needed a faster horse.
By then, they retired the horse and we pastured him for them for a while.:yes:

[hellerkm]

Greg Best and Gem Twist

Conrad Holmfield and Abdulah

Joe Fargis and Touch of Class

Anne Kursinski and Starman

Melanie Smith and Calypso


Not only were these Olympic Pairings.. IMHO they were beautiful together as well.

I am sure there are many more than this list...

That pic of Greg Best on Gem Twist in the Gate at Seoul is one of my favorite pics of all time of any horse/rider pairing.. by Tish Quirk.

My first trip to the Devon Grand Prix featured Joe Fargis and Touch of Class, they are still on the top of my favorites list!!

[hellerkm]

Growing up a young girl in our barn WON an Arabian 2 yr old at Arabian Devon one year. Her mom was a single mom and they had NO money( her mom cleaned for us in exchange for board) it was the ONLY way this kid would have ever ended up with a pony. That pony was a complete SAINT, he packed that kid around from the day SHE broke him ( I think she was 12 at the time) they trail rode for hours , jumped anything and everything she EVER pointed him at, and never ONCE had a mean twitch or face or attitude! It was truly a match made in heaven!!! and one of my greatest horse/ride memories in my whole life!

[Ambrey]

One of my neighbors at the boarding barn finally got her first horse in retirement (she had ridden regularly, but not owned a horse). She had troubles with him initially but they worked through all of them- and seriously it gives me such a thrill to see her every day. She comes home from every ride with a face-lighting ear-to-ear grin.

She just adores him, and they are both really cute!

[Ambrey]

Oh, and there is an older man at the barn who has a saddlebred mare he just is so clearly head-over-heels, giddy in love with. He had a terrible accident last year (not horse related) and he dragged himself out to the barn as soon as he was mobile, and was back up on that horse before he could walk straight! It is just so freaking cute :)

People like are what make me love hanging out at the barn!