In my second year as a horse husband on the A-show circuit, I am starting to recognize some names and faces, and put them together with the stories. The horse world is fueled by stories. Things the horse did or didn’t do, things a rider tried or forgot, epic tack failures, narrow misses, and near disasters – these all make great stories. If you think about what it takes to get ready for that 90 second ride, it just makes sense that a lot of things can go wrong along the way – usually minor, and usually pretty funny in retrospect. Going to a horse show for the week? Better pack your ingenuity. Or a least your riding outfit. If you forget the latter, you are going to be leaning pretty heavily on the former.
Back when we were doing local horse shows, I would recognize horses and owners because I would see them regularly. At the A-shows, the horses change all the time, the owners are nowhere to be found, and it is the trainers I see year to year. And a few of them recognize me too. I guess I am the only one in the stands on weekday afternoons, so that helps. It also helps that Dev and Diane know everyone, so after each conversation I can ask “How do I know them?”and get a little reminder. In my defense – seriously folks – you all dress the same. It is practically a rule.
Horse trainers, the ones I know anyway, are real characters. Charm is practically a job requirement. Their job is to direct horses, riders, and clients to do things that seem unusual, unnatural, or scary. And convincing the horses might be the easiest part. So building trust and rapport is pretty much required. It’s a quality every trainer holds to some degree and I think mine is way up on that scale. But there are a few names in the horse world who are hailed as local heroes in that regard. George Morris. Buck Brannamen. Rodney Jenkins. A few others.
Their stories are legion and invariably true. George reinvented the rider to horse relationship. Buck turned a bucking bronco into a dressage champion in six minutes. Rodney taught a horse to do his taxes – the long form. Okay, so I made up that last one up. But these guys were pretty good at taking horses from bad situations, freeing them of their fears, and unlocking hidden talents, all in a remarkably short time. It was less about the starting state, and more about seeing the way to order, success, and fulfilled potential. It is about confidence, vision, and learning to listen.
Horse people would probably argue these are not “local” figures in the usual sense, how can they be local if everyone agrees? But I use the word in the most positive sense. Famous means you have heard of them, local means you know them and live in the same sphere, even if someone had to haul in to get there. Local means a common opinion, held by many, built one at a time.
I’ve only met one bonefied legend and though it was five years ago, I remember it like yesterday. He was sitting atop a barn trunk with a big smile, stood up, stuck out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m H. Ben.” I’m sure he would laugh at the notion of being called a legend, but all the traits were there. Natural born horseman. He had a personality that filled the room, no matter if the room was a horse barn or a thousand acre fixture. In the same manner Buck or George would make an instant connection with a troubled horse, H. Ben had that kind of feel for people. With contagious self-confidence and a knack for telling stories, he just made you feel better about yourself for knowing him. And stories – he generated new ones about as fast as he told the old ones. It was my first fox hunt – I don’t think I was even a horse husband at the time. I was merely a strong horse boyfriend who had not been run off yet. Some new riders were not exhibiting the right posture, and he tells me, “You think you’re safer closer to the horse’s neck, but you’ve got no balance. You’ve got to keep your head up like this – go on, try to push me over. ” He goes into a half-squat like he is sitting on a horse, looking forward, “go on, push me”. He is wearing an authentic civil war outfit like a Confederate Colonel because that’s what he wore for fox hunts, I met him less than an hour ago, and he is urging me to try to push him over. He is right of course – better balance with your head up. I think he was clenching, but still. So there you go – horse lessons are life lessons – keep your head up. A rated polo player and family friend, I had the privilege of seeing him a few times more at parties and hunt gatherings over the next five years before he fell casualty to the sport he loved, but I never knew him any better than I did that first day. If you met him once, you knew him. That was just H. Ben.
The horse world is good at minting legends, you just don’t know who they will be yet. I know some good candidates – real characters, distributing horse lessons and life lessons in equal parts, sharing tips, stories and capers along the way. I know a ring steward, a farrier, and a trainer who could fit the bill. Time will tell. Maybe someday they will become part of the legend lineage, like when Buck met George. Did you know Kevin was Dev’s farrier? Yes, really, they worked together for years. Did you know they both knew H. Ben? Yes, Dev hunted with him, Kevin played polo at his place. Did you know H. Ben hunted in a confederate outfit, complete with sword? No, but I heard Dev did the stake at the Christmas Show, wearing his client’s hunt jacket – his FEMALE client’s hunt jacket! Blue velvet collar, buttons all backwards, little roomy in front. And he did pretty well. I guess if the trip is good enough, the eyes needn’t wander.
Corgi Ranch, TX 