42 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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any years ago, Dr. Max Gahwyler, noted dressage
judge and clinician, thought there should be a
program to honor senior dressage riders and horses;
one that he hoped would work to “consolidate their knowledge
so it could be passed on to the next generation.” When his
idea of the Century Club came to fruition at The Dressage
Foundation in 1996, Dr. Gahwyler and his beloved 34 year
old teammate, Prinz Eugen, became the second team to join.
Several years ago, he recalled Prinz’s story:
Back in the mid-1960s, the manager of our club approached
me with the news that he had “just the right horse” for me and
that I should travel to North Carolina to see him. The horse didn’t
cost much, which immediately made me suspicious. Knowing
how many outstanding horse people lived in the Carolinas and
Virginia, I wondered why nobody had bought this horse.
When I asked what he had done and what his problem was,
I was told that he would no longer approach a jump; he was
panicky about the whip and being cross tied; could not hunt;
often took off at lightning speed and simply refused to canter.
I informed our manager that this horse’s behavior spoke
volumes about his trainer but didn’t make it seem worthwhile for
me. He fnally confessed that if I could not take the horse, they
would have to put him down. He felt that this horse deserved a
second chance and that I could prove it. So he decided to truck
the horse up so that I might take a look at him.
The horse was absolutely beautiful. I felt sorry for this horse,
nicknamed “Headlight” for his long blaze, and since we had an
empty stall, I put him in it for a few days (or so I thought). We
also changed his name to Prinz Eugen.
My education of this horse was a total failure. One year later,
I was still unable to canter him. I had been thrown out of the
arena, into the bleachers and over the outdoor fence. When he
saw polo matches with riders swinging mallets, he shivered; he
never went close to even the lowest hunter fence.
The real education - or rehabilitation - was not completed
by me or any other experienced rider, but rather, by my wife’s
experienced hunter, Gracie. Gracie was levelheaded, totally
safe, reliable and of undetermined origin. She had found us in
Vermont in 1960, at a cost of $150.
Every spring, our horses went to the farm in Vermont for a
relaxing time of trail riding, swimming and light work. They had
acres of open land and woods and total freedom to come and
go in the large fenced-in area. When we wanted them to come
in, we blew a whistle and led by Gracie they would come to the
barn. Having never been in a position like this, Prinz simply
followed Gracie.
After a few weeks, we saddled up and on a loose rein, Prinz
followed Gracie in walk, trot and canter. To my amazement, we
jumped over logs and stone walls. He learned to go down steep
slides, follow narrow trails and eventually to swim in our lake.
Back home in the fall, Prinz was a totally transformed horse.
We began basic work in the polo feld until I had exactly what I
wanted. We then moved into the dressage ring; however, I never
corrected or schooled him in this setting. Prinz thus realized
that coming down centerline was fun. Soon, his real character
as a “show-off” came to be recognized. Approaching the ring,
he puffed up and had a fabulous presence and forwardness,
which he maintained throughout his showing career from
Training to FEI Levels.
Prinz lived out his life under the watchful care of Dr.
Gahwyler and died in 2002 at the age of 40. When he was
79, Dr. Gahwyler performed a second Century Club ride with
another rehabilitated horse, Dresden, who was 24. Thanks to
Dr. Gahwyler’s thoughtful suggestion, today’s senior dressage
riders and horses have a way to share their love of dressage
and inspire the next generation.
The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club
is a program
designed to honor senior dressage riders, their senior horses
and to encourage them to remain active in the sport. To become
a member of the Century Club, the ages of horse and rider
must add up to at least 100 years and the pair must ride any
level dressage test before a judge or dressage professional.
For more information on The Dressage Foundation, please visit
www.dressagefoundation.org.
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Never Too Old
Max Gahwyler and Prinz Eugen
Photo by Terri Miller
Prinz Charming