The youngster Kennebec Echo on his first trail ride, ridden by
the excellent trainer Kathleen Bailey
I first fell in love with the breed when I visited the Kennebec Morgan Horse Farm in Maine 11 years ago, staying with a university friend with whom I had been on the polo team. We cantered through a grassy meadow by the Kennebec River and I fell in love with a bright bay mare called Kennebec Empress, one of the stars of Margaret Gardiner's yard. Miss Gardiner has been breeding Morgans on her secluded Maine peninsula for decades and has produced some superb examples of the breed, such as the magnificent Kennebec Count, father and grandfather of many fine horses. Currently flying the flag in fine style is Kennebec Ladyhawke, ridden by Margaret Bailey-Miller, who competes up to Prix St Georges in dressage, pulls a carriage as if she was born to it and has even been known to don Western tack for a 'father's' class with Margaret's dad! Nearly black and with a beautiful head, she is worthy of her parentage, dam Kennebec Sassy and sire Triple S Dark Eagle. The latter was acquired by Miss Gardiner from the Triple S stud and was notable for being hard-working, tough and good-natured. He knew his own mind, however, a trait he has passed onto his daughter Ladyhawke, who is as sassy as her mother's name and definitely in charge. This independence is typical of Morgans, who cannot be bullied into work and react badly to insensitive handling, but if you work with them and form a partnership, the bond formed is unbreakable and rewarding. Under saddle or in harness, Ladyhawke is a dream, and Margaret has done wonders with her. We drove her around Miss Gardiner's farm on a blustery, sunny afternoon, and even though she hadn't been in the shafts for some time, she was the consummate professional. I took the reins for the first time and she is so good that I could even pretend I knew what I was doing.
Kennebec Ladyhawke, born to drive
Empress, whom I last rode 11 years ago on my first visit to Maine, seemed to remember me and was as good to ride as ever, going sweetly onto the bit in the school and eagerly on the trail with plenty of energy, but always well-behaved. She is a fine-looking mare, and her daughter, Enchantress, has a particularly beautiful head, dished like an Arab but less delicate. Morgans have extravagant paces and great presence in an arena, being full of personality and intelligence. Although they rarely make more than 16hh, they ride far bigger and seem to grow under saddle. I was able to experience this first hand when I had the great, if slightly terrifying, privilege of riding Kennebec Angel, out of Kennebec Ariel and by CW Sterling Silver, in a tiny showjumping competition. Margaret's sister Kathleen has done a huge amount of work with her and told me all her secrets - principally, to not let her get away from me between fences. A collected trot was the key, as canter tends to get faster and faster, but she has such ability that she can jump anything from a standstill and I am proud to report that we won both classes, 2ft 6in and 2ft 9in. It was a tiny show, but considering I haven't been over coloured poles for years, having only hunted since I left university, I was thrilled! Perhaps I'll have to start showjumping properly...
Reunited with my darling Empress
In the field where we first galloped 11 years ago! It felt as if I had been
in Narnia for the intervening years - no time had gone by at all
Warming up Angel, finding the perfect trot
Angel makes her customary athletic shape
And again! What a horse
Pony done good. Angel with her proud owner, Kathleen Bailey
Jester's first ever cross-country jump
Kathleen and Rugby ready for Burghley
Don't you know there's a dragon down there?!
A fine pair of Kennebec Morgans
Jester gets his eye in
Proud sisters with their brilliant boys
Back in California, I swapped the wild forests and meadows of Maine for the manicured lawns of the Menlo Circus Club and the 44th annual Menlo Park Charity Show. Set up by Betsy Glikbarg to prove that there was interest in horses when the future of the equestrian facilities of the club was in doubt, it takes place in August and sees the equestrian glitterati gather for competitions and Champagne. From a half-day competition it has grown to six-day show with an AA ranking, the highest given to an American show, but still raises money for the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The atmosphere is a bit like Guards Polo Club, with linen suits and white tablecloths, and attendees include some of the most high-powered people in one of the most successful cities in the world, but it is nothing if not welcoming. It is a wonderfully relaxed event, and the organisers can be proud of the continuing efforts that have transformed it from a one-day local show to a week-long festival of the equestrian world.
The place to be: the sponsors' tent at Menlo Park
Local sheriffs stand to attention for the national anthem
Wine in the arena and in the stands: my kind of show!
However, I had to grit my teeth at times watching the Jumpers class. Showjumping in America includes 'jumper', 'hunter' and 'equitation' classes, the distinctions of which can be confusing to someone used to the straightforward English categories. Hunters jump rustic fences loosely based on the hunting field, and are judged on their manners, athleticism and appearance. Jumpers tackle coloured fences, but, unlike in international showjumping, time and jumping faults are added together from the first round, with the fastest winning, rather than having a jump off for those that went clear the first time. Equitation is a blend of the two, with riders being judged subjectively on jumping faults, rhythm, position, smoothness and even the horse's appearance. I have heard that hair extensions are used to improve tails! My problem was that the jumper classes seemed to be contested by amateur riders on enormous schoolmasters who did their best to scramble round the course as their riders hauled on their mouths and got behind the movement. Because every round was timed, any thought of collection or riding a line was discarded in favour of a mad rush, horses' heads in the air. It was a rather ugly display, and it was a relief when the Grand Prix class began and proper, professional riders showed how to ride a clear round in a quiet fashion, and then use their superior skills to ride a tight corner or change from speed to collection in the jump off.
Yes, that is a sofa in the Grand Prix course
In support of the United Kingdom? A patriotic Aston Martin
The Aston Martin fence, sponsored by Bentley San Francisco
I attended the show as a guest of Don DeFranco, a realtor and one of the sponsors. Before lunch, we watched the Lead Line class he underwrote in memory of his father VJ DeFranco, MD and pediatrician, a group of teeny-tiny tots led by their proud parents, either on their own teeny-tiny ponies or, amusingly, on a sibling's full-size horse. Without the native ponies we are so blessed with in Britain, it's normal in the US to see small people with their legs barely reaching the saddle flaps. Fortunately, the horses were remarkably calm; indeed, all over the showground horses were led or ridden through the spectators and past other horses with nary a squeal or a kick among them. Most horses live in large yards here and are far more used to people than to wide-open spaces, unlike the ponies that come from remote farms in the UK and only encounter crowds at shows. One quirky difference was the plaiting, or braiding, of tails - instead of the end of the French plait being looped vertically, hiding the end under the plait, the ends were wrapped around horizontally. Rather pretty.
Don DeFranco presenting a prize in the lead-line class
A tiny child on a not-so-tiny horse!
Every child was a winner, and with these prizes they wanted to be!
Plaited tails American style
Now that autumn has arrived and San Francisco is basking in the warm sunshine of the fall months, another equestrian event caught my attention that proved Betsy Glikbarg's belief that equestrian enthusiasm is alive and well in Woodside, a leafy village near Menlo and just over Highway 101 from Silicon Valley. The Day of the Horse is organised by Whoa!, the Woodside Horse-owners Association, and celebrated 10 years this October. A range of stands entice children, the Wells Fargo stage coach trundles along and dozens of riders tackle the Progressive Trail Ride, stopping at volunteer-manned way stations for sandwiches, lemonade and carrots (the latter being for the horses). This being the Chinese Year of the Horse, many were splendidly dressed in costume, equines and humans alike. At road crossings, patient representatives of the Woodside Mounted Patrol stopped traffic and gave directions, just part of a role that sees members exploring the hills, reporting back to park rangers on fallen trees, damaged trails and wildlife, stewarding and sponsoring equestrian events from its hillside base. This is an idyllic part of the Peninsula, a rural oasis half an hour south of San Francisco, and a centre of equine excellence. I might just have to bring a Kennebec Morgan over here...
The Wells-Fargo four-in-hand stage coach
Perhaps travelling a little slower than it once did when
it dashed across the Western plains!
Chinese-costumed riders stop for some welcome refreshment
Don DeFranco carrying off the Western look with aplomb
No comments:
Post a Comment