Memeage

[dancinghorse]

Along with the fact that I'm from 1965, am Sam from "Stargate," and my inner child is 10, here's one from sartorias via janni:

Ten Things I've Done That Others on My Flist Might Not Have

1. Had tea with Prince Philip in a Cambridge college garden.

2. Flown a glider.

3. Sold six novels at once--as my first fiction sale.

4. Stayed in a youth hostel near Hadrian's Wall.

5. Spent a day riding a dozen Lipizzan and Andalusian stallions from one of the traveling shows.

6. Bred, foaled out, raised, and trained my own Lipizzan stallion.

7. Ridden the levade--voluntarily, on a trained horse.

8. Been one of two "spectators" at an international conference on Gregorian chant.

9. Frequently wear a 2300-year-old coin as a pendant.

10. Spent an afternoon with all the illuminated manuscripts from the Newnham College library.
10a. Held in my hands the original ms. of the Cambridge Songs (oak-gall censorship and all).

Comments

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

That's the one where the horse sits down and raises his forehand--the equestrian-statue pose. Ask for a piaffe, ask for more forward but don't let him go forward, his front end leaves the ground.

Have also, not voluntarily, ridden Lipizzans in courbette (the scary stand straight up and jump one) and capriole (leap into the air and kicklikehell). Fell off in the courbette, but that was equipment failure--the grab strap broke off the saddle at the top of the leap, and I went over sideways. (I was on the longeline at the time, being sacrificial body while the trainer had a Discussion with the horse.)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Wowowowow!

Watching the muscle control of the rider and the horse during those performances is so fascinating. Some day I hope to get closer.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

If Pook and I ever get out of the baby-green phase, you can come and watch. :)

It's a real exercise in balance in motion--and every time I think I've found all the available muscles, we find a new one.