Their Moment to Shine.
Wednesday, March 30 2011
Semi well-behaved polo stallion. There’s never a dull moment in Wellington. Even though the show jumping season is winding down, polo season is still in full swing, with the U.S. Open brackets being fought out during most of April. And last night the 2nd Annual National Polo Pony Show was held over at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, which normally hosts CDI dressage shows, and of course, the recent Masters. But with nary a dressage horse in sight, polo ponies had their night in the spotlight with this event, dreamed up by one of polo’s most talented female players, Sunny Hale
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Cream of the Crop.
Monday, March 28 2011
And the hooooome of the, braaaave...... Photo ©Kym Ketcham Because if a skydiver trailing an American flag hadn’t touched down in the International Arena just as Ki-Juan Minors sang the final, pitch perfect note of the National Anthem, the night would have seemed incomplete, somehow. Fortunately, that is how the 2011 WEF season’s finale class opened, and the 7,000 show jumping fans filling every available space in the International Arena (a sight that warms On the Line’s heart) were thoroughly impressed.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
If Louboutins Were Saddles, They Would Be Called Voltaire.
Thursday, March 24 2011
Va-Va-Voltaire! When was the last time a saddle was likened to Sex and the City, or designer shoes? I would venture to say, um, never ! Until now, that is. If you hang around horse shows, chances are you’ve already met Brice Goguet. The tall, 32-year-old Frenchman is on quite the mission to tell the world about his Voltaire saddles. With a prime vendor booth at WEF that is right on the path where all the warm ups intersect, Voltaire has been impossible to miss all season
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Spring has Sprung, the Grass has Ris’
Thursday, March 24 2011
Spring in Aiken is unfolding in all its glory. Azaleas are in bloom, Banksia roses are open, the city has become a haze of lavender Wisteria
Notes From a Polo Staycation.
Tuesday, March 22 2011
Photo ©David Lominska My fondness for polo has been well documented, and for me, going to watch a game on a Sunday afternoon is a little like a stay-cation. After spending the week immersed in the horse show world, even the most dedicated show jumping fan/reporter/industry buff (which happens to sum up On the Line perfectly) needs a break from that scene.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
You Gotta Start Somewhere
Monday, March 21 2011
Several weeks ago when I was the photographer at Sporting Days March Horse Trials, late Sunday afternoon featured the Beginner Novice and Tadpole Division starters finishing their Eventing debuts with the cross country phase. I was struck by how many horses were getting their first serious start at Eventing that afternoon, piloted by some of the most capable in the sport. I’ve put together a collection of photographs of these Beginner Novice horses paired with their same riders at Intermediate and Advanced events over the last year or so. I think it is fun and I hope you do, too.
He’s The Man.
Friday, March 11 2011
It may have been all sunshine and Lamborghinis in Thermal yesterday, but in Palm Beach, dark and stormy clouds unleashed enough rain to cancel Thursday’s classes at WEF. Luckily, the highly anticipated Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5* were beginning down the road at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center under a much appreciated covered arena.Purely a fan of dressage with no desire to ever pick it up myself (where these people find their endless tolerance for flatwork, I don’t know), I nonetheless can appreciate how very difficult it is. And beautiful. And fluid. And when performed correctly – harmonious. Steffen Peters traveled from California to prove as much with the great Ravel, scoring miles above the 2nd place finisher with 80.87% in the Grand Prix test. We can safely say that they’re the favorites heading into today’s Grand Prix Special and Freestyle classes….dontcha think?
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Check out this FUGLY HORSE post!
Friday, March 04 2011
Even if you don’t breed, you gotta read this latest Best of Fugly Horse of the Day post, written by our alter-ego/kindred spirit on the west coast. It’s a great set of “10 Questions” with Fugly replies that zing at your third eye with the speed of a stray dart hurled in a rowdy sports bar! We think along parallel lines with this horseperson in many ways, but she’s got the brass to come right out and say this stuff !!! The truth often hurts. It can also set you free. As Meredith says on Grey’s Anatomy: But here’s the truth about the truth. It hurts
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs