96 SIDELINES JANUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Ted Plaut
I still have wonderful memories of my first rides almost 70 years
ago while I was in the Royal Air Force stationed in the Sudan. I
bought a horse for pittance and spent hours riding in the desert with
no civilization around, just sand and more sand – an exhilarating
experience. When the war was over, my wife and I thought about
where we would like to live and bring up our children. The USA
was our choice and off we went with $3 in our pocket.
I spent 30 wonderful years with IBM and look back with pride
having been one of the early developers of computer hardware
and software (the 704 in the 1950’s, the 360 hardware systems in
the 1960’s, VTAM - the first intelligent telecommunication software
- in the 1970’s, and satellite control systems in the 1980’s). It was
IBM that enabled me to own and take up horseback riding again.
I was able to ride through the years and didn’t give it up until
about three years ago when my favorite horse, Vista, a Morgan/
Trakehner, died of cancer at the age of 26. He and I competed in
the Century Ride as Team #34 in 2005. The Century Ride was
an exciting event representing the culmination and demonstration
of many years of friendship between horse and rider. Vista and I
shared the same goals and the ambition to do well in dressage
shows. He also let me ride many relaxing trail rides after days of
stress and tension at work. He was totally dependable and safe
for a rider in his 80’s.
It was this love
for Vista that led
me to conceive the
Vista Vintage award
program through the
Connecticut Dressage
Association.
This
award is totally focused
on the horse. The rider
can be any age, but the
horse must be at least
18 years old to qualify.
The objective of this
program is to provide
more awareness that
our older horses don’t
have to be turned out
to pasture as “aged”
while they can still
show and excel at an
older age, just like
Courtney King Dye did
with her 18-year-old
Idocus at International
Grand Prix shows. Of
course not all of us
show at that level, but
we can still take great
e
Never Too Old
pride and satisfaction in showing our older horses at any level.
The program was started in 2008 with a $5,000 contribution
and has been a great success in Region 8 (encompassing much
of the Northeastern U.S.). It has given me great satisfaction to
have been the sponsor, and I would encourage other individuals
and groups to create a similar program in their area. You can find
more details on the program with Google search: “Vista Vintage
Award Criteria.”
Looking back on my 89 years of life, it has been a wonderfully
meaningful and satisfying time period (naturally with a few bumps
in between) with horseback riding being a key contributor. Vista
and the Century Ride were highlights, just like my marriage, the
birth of our children and our immigration to the United States. Vista
was that one unique horse I owned and will never forget because
of the way he fulfilled my needs. His name will be remembered
into perpetuity because of the award program.
About the writer: Ted Plaut was born in Germany and came to the U.S.A with his
wife after having served in the Royal Air Force during World War 2. He is retired from
IBM, has two grown daughters, lives in Madison, Connecticut and spends his leisure
time going to horse shows, playing chess, and walking his dog.
Remembering A Special Horse
The Vista Vintage Award Honors Older Horses
The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club is a program designed to honor senior dressage riders and their senior horses. To become a member the
ages of the horse and rider must add up to at least 100 years and they must ride any level dressage test before a judge or dressage professional.
For more information on the Dressage Foundation, please visit
.
Ted created the “Vista Vintage Award” in honor of his equine
partner Vista, who passed away at age 26.
Photos courtesy of Ted Plaut
Ted and Vista
