| We invited some of the top scoring competitors to demo their
Morgans in the sunlit outdoor arena. It was very windy, with
loudly flying flags on the single strand wire fence protecting the off limits
grassy areas. The large arena had a youngster schooling her
Morgan pony over two fences, Doug Sande and Privilege, shown here,
practicing for their western class, another stallion being lunged
and our unmarked dressage arena.
I had promised to show the versatility of the
Morgan horse and not just film dressage classes, so when I saw this
handsome Morgan stallion, I asked if I could film him. Owner,
Chris Morris, was delighted and arranged for trainer Doug Sande to
demo Privilege for us and then while watching the demo, provide
expert commentary. During Doug's commentary about his
western demo on Privilege, he explained how he uses dressage as the
basis for training horses in multiple disciplines, including
western, reining, and hunter / jumper. Good basics are good
basics.
Chris Morris, professional songwriter, who
toured with his wife Janet and their own band, invited me to listen
to a song he wrote to his Morgan stallion who saved his life:
"Man About A Horse". What a kewl video this song
could be. Chris and Janet own Paradise Morgans in Versailles,
Kentucky.
And who could resist asking the youngster on
the Morgan pony for permission to film their jumping practice?
As the pair finished the two jumps, they took out for the other end
of the arena at a joyful hand gallop, going through our
"imaginary" dressage court, Privilege's western arena and
even the stallion being lounged --- carefully not getting in
anyone's way and not even raising an eyebrow on any of the other
Morgans. Doesn't everyone practice dressage side by side with
jumping, western and lounging? Morgans do!!! |
