Monthly Archives: August 2012

Olympic Three Day Eventing Cross Country

If you are like me, then you are missing most of the Olympics. We can still enjoy this music video of Olympic Three Day Eventing Cross Country competition. I recommend, if your computer can handle it, maximizing the quality to HD and playing on full screen.

“A collection of horses and their riders who made it to the 2012 Olympics from recent competitions in the US. It includes a few internationals and the entire US and Canadian Three-Day Event teams. Crank it up!”

Ginny Howe and Cavort at the Sunken Lane during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2009.

Ginny Howe and Cavort at the Sunken Lane during the cross-country phase of Badminton Horse Trials 2009.
Photo by sffubs on Flickr (Creative Commons License)

FEI Eventing

2. Cross-Country Test The focus of the entire event is on the Cross-Country test, the objective of which is to test the ability of athletes and horses to adpat to different and variable conditions (weather, terrain, obstacles, footing etc…) and jumping ability of the horse, while at the same time demonstrating the rider’s knowledge of pace and the use of his horse. Exceeding the time allowed and refusals result in penalties. All penalties are added together and recorded for inclusion in the final classification. Fall of a horse and/or of a rider entails immediate elimination.

Video length: 13 minutes 33 seconds (can enjoy any small section)
Published on Jul 28, 2012 by 
Buzzterbrown is Lance. He films upper level eventing and jumper shows in USEA Area II with a Lumix GH1 camera. The camera can do lovely clear slo-mo. Lance has a great eye and steady hand for filming.

London 2012 Equestrian

Horses & riders in order of appearance in the video. They are amazing athletes. The horses really seem to be enjoying their runs.

The good horses love it! When you take them up to the lorry or dress them up [to go to an event], it’s like they’re off going to a party. – British equestrian, Mary King (interview)

Britain:
Opposition Buzz + Nicola Wilson (WEG 2010)
Miners Frolic + Kristina Cook (WEG 2010)
Imperial Cavalier + Mary King (WEG 2010)

Australia:
HP Leilani + Chris Burton (WEG 2010)
Rutherglen + Andrew Hoy (Rolex 2012)

Netherlands:
Oncarlos + Tim Lipps (WEG 2010)

New Zealand:
Nereo + Andrew Nicholson (WEG 2010)
Clifton Promise + Jonathan Paget (WEG 2010)

Germany:
Sam + Michael Jung (WEG 2010)
Butts Abraxxas + Ingrid Klimke (WEG 2010)

France:
Hidalgo de L’ile + Nicolas Touzaint (Rolex 2009, WEG 2010)

Belgium:
Gazelle de la Brasserie + Karin Donckers (WEG 2010)

Sweden:
Mister Pooh + Niklas Lindback (WEG 2010)

Brazil:
Tom Bombadill Too + Ruy Fonseca (WEG 2010)

Canada: (5:40)
Riddle Master + Rebecca Howard (Rolex 2011, WEG 2010)
Gin & Juice + Hawley Bennet-Awad (The Fork 2012, WEG 2010)
Exponential + Jessica Phoenix (WEG 2010, Rolex 2011)
Kilrodan Abbott + Peter Barry (Rolex 2011, Rolex 2012)
Amistad + Michelle Mueller (Fairhill 2008)

USA: (9:18)
Twizzel + Will Coleman (Fairhill 2008, Redhills 2011, Rolex 2011, Rolex 2012) Mr. MedicottKaren O’Connor (The Fork 2012, Rolex 2012)
Ringwood Magister + Tiana Coudray (Rolex 2011)
Mystery Whisper + Phillip Dutton (The Fork 2012)
Otis Barbotiere + Boyd Martin ( Fairhill Spring 2011, Fairhill Spring 2012, Rolex 2012)

FÉDÉRATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
“The primary mission of the FEI is to advance the orderly growth of equestrian sport worldwide by promoting, regulating and administering humane and sportsmanlike international competition in the traditional equestrian disciplines” – FEI Mission Statement.

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Just for Grins – Biggest police horse

Priefert's Radar, Belgian gelding, who was tallest horse from 2006 - 2009

Priefert’s Radar is owned by Priefert Ranch Equipment

What if Radar was a police horse? He’d probably be the biggest police horse in the world.

In 2008 a Belgian gelding named “Priefert’s Radar” was the tallest horse. Radar was born in Iowa in 1998 and grew up to be listed in the Guiness World Record book from 2006 to 2009.

Radar’s even bigger than the horse in this week’s “Just for Grins” video.

Officer Lloyd Douglas,  Sgt. Howard Mason, and Sgt. Chal DeCecco use a ladder as a mounting block to ride this large Belgian horse named “Hercules” at the California State Fair in 2008.

Hercules the Police horse ridden by three officers at California State Fair 2008

Hercules the Police horse ridden by three officers at California State Fair 2008


Uploaded by  on Mar 10, 2010

Priefert's Radar, Belgian gelding - tallest horse in world 2006 - 2009

Photo by Drew Gardner

Radar’s photos aren’t on the Priefert website anymore, but I’d saved some off years ago using photos of Radar as my desktop wallpaper. Just like Hercules the Police Horse, you would need a 6 foot ladder as a mounting block for Radar.

At 6 feet 7 1/2 inches at top of withers he would just squeeze through an average door frame in height by ducking down his head. Horses are measured in a unit of measurement called a ”hand”, which is 4 inches. This made Radar measured as the tallest horse in 2008 at 19 hands 3 1/2 inches. He weighed in at 2,400 pounds.

“You don’t realize how big they are until you’re holding onto their halter.”  – Charles Woods (3)

Priefert’s Radar is owned by Priefert. Radar definitely earned his keep touring the country to promote Priefert products. He travelled up to 30,000 miles a year in an air-conditioned, customized horse trailer with a canine companion called Hoss and his handlers, Guilda and Charles Woods. Every 4 – 6 weeks Radar returned to Mount Pleasant, Texas, the home of Priefert, to take a break from travelling.

Radar could eat 40 pounds of hay, 18 pounds of grain, then wash that down with 20 gallons of water each day.

“He’s our PR horse. He’s been promoted from labor to management, and he’s paid all the grain and feed he wants. It’s just like feeding two or three horses in one feeding.” – Charles Woods  (1)

“Radar is really smooth to ride at the walk and slow trot, but the faster he goes, the rougher he gets. Riding him is definitely an experience.” – Guilda Woods (2)

Radar had to “go large or go home” and Priefert retired him when another horse took the World Record. Radar joined another Priefert owned former tallest horse, a black Percheron gelding named Goliath, in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Radar, sorrel Belgian gelding: Limited Edition Breyer Model 2010

Radar was honored by Breyer Model horses in 2010 as a Limited Edition. As a horseless child I played with a the plastic Breyer horses instead of dolls, including a family of Palomino draft horses.

Priefert brought Radar out of retirement to attend BreyerFest at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Radar, sorrel Belgian gelding is former largest horse in the world at Breyerfest 2010.

Radar at Breyerfest 2010 – Photo by Appaloosa on Flickr
(Creative Commons License)

I’m glad that Priefert has such beautiful draft horses to promote their products. Priefert makes great horse panels. We have a set of  Priefert brown 10 foot utility panels with walk-thru gate as fencing for a paddock area for our two Icelandic horses. The panels are  sturdy well made safe and definitely ”worth-the-money” horse panels! I hope I can get to meet Radar someday. It would take 3 of our Icelandics to add up to the weight of Radar.

Priefert has a set of Percheron geldings called “Texas Thunder” that tours.

Priefert's Radar, Belgian gelding - tallest horse in world 2006 - 2009

Photo by Drew Gardner

Reference:
(1) The Salt Lake Tribune “High horse? Radar’s the highest” by Arrin Newton Brunson published September 13, 2006

(2) Ag Weekly ‘World’s tallest horse tours Utah/Idaho’ by Susan Dudasik published July 27, 2007

(3) Rexburg Standard “The World’s Biggest Horse visits Rexburg” by Joseph Law published August 31, 2007

(4) Rural Heritage Horse Paddock

Priefert on Facebook

Priefert Utility Panel video

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Bonding with your horse

“Somewhere Only We Know” is universal feelings of the special moments bonding with your horse. Natalie and her 16.2h TB gelding were together for 2 years before she had to sell him. Indy is missed, but has a good home.

“He’s finally ‘let me in’. Although he’s always difficult to understand, I think I’ve finally come to trust him. Even if it’s taken this long… sometimes that’s how long it takes. If I could keep him, believe me I would…” – Natalie

I find Natalie’s videos quite poetic. The thoughts Natalie expresses in some of her videos and descriptions reminds me of the feelings that I had with my horses as a teenager. She speaks of nostalgia, as well as accepting loss and change. Life is definitely full of loss and change and memories.

My parents got me my first horses when I was just 13 years old. Those horses kept me busy and out of trouble as a teenager and young adult. I thank my parents for supporting my dream of having horses in my life. Both my parents are now gone and I’m having to accept that I will never see them again. This video touched my heart and brought up a lot of feelings and memories. Those days of youth with my horses and family were some of the best. I make new memories with my horses spending time each day bonding with them and find peace.

Video length: 1 minute 58 seconds
Music:  “Somewhere Only We Know” by the band Keane. They are are an English alternative rock band from Battle, East Sussex, formed in 1997.
Uploaded by  on Sep 10, 2010

(Note: This was originally intended to be published on 07/25/12 for my Wednesday music video, but seems I goofed getting it properly scheduled making a skipped week.)

“Somewhere Only We Know”

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete
Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of?

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don’t we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don’t we go
Somewhere only we know?

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I’m getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you’re gonna let me in
I’m getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don’t we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don’t we go
So why don’t we go

This could be the end of everything
So why don’t we go
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know

This could be the end of everything,
So why don’t we go,
Somewhere only we know,
Somewhere only we know,
Somewhere only we know.

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