72 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Maria Wynne
Sidelines Writer Across the Pond
Keith Shore was always a resplendent fgure, dashing in red,
on the hunting feld of my youth. I hunted every Saturday with
the Cheshire Forest Hounds and Keith Shore whipped in. In the
Hunting feld there is a grading system of “who goes” and “who
does not’” and Keith Shore WENT!
Be it a two-stride turn off a main road over a fve bar gate into
plough, or a huge stow-ridden hedge, tangled with barbed wire
with an uncertain landing, Keith always got his horse “there” and
made it look simple. Keith’s horses came out repeatedly week
after week, full of enthusiasm and as sound as the day they were
born.
The skills and sheer horsemanship Keith displayed on the
hunting feld was nothing compared to his skills in the show jumping
ring. His skills have led to him to become known for riding diffcult
horses and getting a tune out of them. The inimitable Dun Equity
and It’s Magic Max were two that Keith conjured performances out
of consistently, be it competing at home or abroad on Nations Cup
Teams. These two captured the imagination of the show jumping
public and will forever be inextricably linked with Keith’s name.
Shortly before I made my debut at Burghley CCI**** Three Day
Event I sought Keith’s help to improve the performance of myself
and my horse in the fnal show jumping phase. He (my horse) had
a penchant for decorating his hooves in as many different colours
as possible and this I knew was my fault for not knowing enough
when he was a youngster. Therefore seeking the help of a local
“magician” was a logical thing to do with so much at stake. Keith
showed me how simple it should be when done correctly.
He sat me on my prized CCI**** horse in the middle of the
jumping paddock and proceeded to demonstrate how it should be
done. Without ever taking his eyes off me, and without a break in
his speech, he jumped around a circle of fences at full height on
Keith Shore WENT! James Shore GOES!
a youngster. He never had to pull, he never had to kick. He was
jumping “blind” and it was so very simple. Just get the canter right,
keep the rhythm and that’s all there is to it. I was shattered. There
was no more chance of my being able to do the same thing than
pull a rabbit out of my (dressage) top hat.
An hour of frustration and sweat followed with Keith saying in
his very fat, monosyllabic northern way, “Just canter to the fence,
just BALANCE!
Just CANTER, don’t change it, just CANTER girl!” Followed by
a variety of expletives that I cannot repeat here.
Whilst Keith Shore and his son James, are most frmly from the
Planet of Equus; I am not. Despite his brilliant teachings that vital
“Canter Chromosome” is missing from my genetic make-up. So
whilst vastly improved, I was not transported into another body
with an eye for a perfect stride. Keith would argue that you don’t
need eyes, he does it with his eyes closed. I never did get it right
that day. But 20 odd years later his words still resonate in my
memory.
Keith’s son James has inherited the same talent and now rides
in Switzerland, jumping at the grand prix level every weekend. I
remember frst meeting young James when I visited the yard to
see Keith. In a fash James had offered to get his racing pony out
so that he could show me how fast she went. It was inevitable that
with the infuence of Keith and his wife Mandy, who previously race
rode, that James should have such natural talent and enthusiasm.
James is now 17 and fourishing in his career. Already a gold
medallist from his European Pony Days and a gold medallist at
The Children on Horses Europeans, he has carved his path deep
in European soil. James is based in Switzerland and rides for
Max Hauri, who has provided him with exceptional horses and
opportunities, for which he is eternally grateful. Thanks to the belief
that so many people have in him, including Max, James’s career
path is solid. He has just been invited to jump on two Nations
Cups Teams and is placing every weekend in the big classes on
the European circuit across France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium and
Switzerland.
In the meantime his father Keith continues to compete and
win here in the UK and across Europe, as well as fulflling all his
responsibilities with the hunt three days a week. He also trains
and supports his vast network of pupils. And still, all they do is
“Canter.” It is just the correct “Canter.” Has anything ever been so
elusive to a regular horse loving human being?
Keith Shore at Bolesworth Castle International.
Photo by Maria Wynne
James riding Vitales in Neuendorf.
Photo
courtesy of the EY Cup Chef
e