Letters

It crossed my mind whilst bathing the big bird, that I hadn't mentioned the letters in the arena. Yes, we have parts of the alphabet on the outside so that the rider knows where the movement starts and finishes. The letters comprise of: AKVERHCMSBPF plus DLXIG on the centre line. Now you are going to ask who thought this up and what it all means, well I am as clueless as the next man/woman, still it does mean the organisers can dress the arena with pretty flowers and trees which will add to the excitement as horses see monsters and demons lurking behind them! 

Horses are strange creatures. For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed by them. I cannot remember why I became fascinated but I do remember I was about 3 years old when these creatures kept appearing at the bottom of our garden and nibbling the tops off my fathers tomatoe plants. There were three ponies and I named them Bill, Ben and Weed after the flowerpot men. Dad used to sit me on the wall so I could stroke them and feel the warm air from their nostrils on my skin. The smell of horse is better than anything, well unless I'm going out, then its Armani Diamond. Anyway from there it was riding lessons and 'I want a pony' at christmas and birthdays, this was duly ignored until I was eighteen and working and bought my own horse. What is it about girls and horses?

Dressage riders come in two forms, male and female. For the female version think Claudia Schiffer/ Elle. These days the younger version touch on nearly six foot and most of that is legs, headed up by blonde long hair that they keep pushing back with an elegant hand when its loose, otherwise its wound in a tight bun dressed with pearls. The men are much the same only with shorter hair. While the girls enjoy socialising at night clubs and gigs the men enjoy...well much the same, although the older ones can be found most evenings drinking copious amounts of wine and chain smoking Silk Cuts whilst discussing the horses, their love life and the latest gossip, who said men cant' multi task?
I said dressage riders come in two forms, this is true but there are different levels or rungs on the ladder too. There are the riders that are doing it for fun (amateurs), those that want to be professional, professionals,oh and theres' wannabes.
Wannabes are usually well off ladies what lunch, havent ridden since they were kids but now the children have flown the coup decide to take up dressage. As money is no object, horses are bought in Germany at Verden or Holland and sent to a trainer of high repute. He then trains the horse whilst lady what lunches pops in every now and again between shopping trips in her Pikeur or Anky matching outfit and has a lesson. Eventually she will venture out to a show with a team of fifty to groom him, tack him up and anchor down the horse before she gets on.After an hour of warming up and clearing the practice area as her horse leaps and bounds dangerously out of control, she will do her test. Having spent zillions she will be expecting high scores, but alas this is not always to be. Still,her trainer says shes improved and in another five hundred lessons she will be ready to leave intro and ride a prelim.
Now please do not think for one moment that I am bitter or jealous, no not so. I am also a wannabe though lacking in the loaded department and started much earlier.I just want to make it clear who makes up the club so to speak.We all have dreams. Without dreams there is no tomorrow.