1 Aug 2007 - Crispin - the 'Russian' Dales Pony
Hi Everyone,I thought I'd tell you about my amazing time at the Para Dressage World Championships. It all started when my friends Sylvester and Liese set off home from the RDA National Championships without me. I wondered what was happening but Elaine and Mick stayed with me so I wasn't worried. It seems that the week after our RDA National Championships the Para Dressage World Championships were due to take place, also at Hartpury College, and one of the Russian team members had asked if she could borrow me. Russia had five riders all on borrowed horses. The other horses weren't used to wheelchairs or special equipment but, as all my riders know, I don't have a problem with them.
My rider's name was Maria. She is the Russian grade 1a champion, a title she has held on several occasions. We soon gelled despite Maria only having the stamina to ride for twenty minutes at a time. I was a little bit confused at first when she was giving me orders in Russian! However, Maria soon learnt to say 'walk' and 'halt'. During the week she picked up enough English words to tell us that her horse at home is called Sultan and he is about the same size as me.
Before the competition started, each country had to declare a team of four riders. Maria and I were on the team. The three best scores on Friday and Saturday were added together for the team score. Our score counted for the team on both days. On Saturday we had the highest Russian score of the day. Sunday was the Freestyle and I liked Sultan's music so we did really well that day.
The full scores for Maria and me were:
Friday 1a Team Test 55.059% 17th place
Saturday Individual Test 58.6% 17th place
Sunday Freestyle 58.273% 15th place
The Russian Team 18th place
We had a fabulous time despite the torrential rain and mud. We believe we were marooned on Friday night but did not realise it at the time. The outdoor arenas were flooded by late morning on Friday. The programme had to be altered to bring the outdoor classes into the old indoor arena which also meant moving the security fencing around the stables to allow the general public access to the old indoor arena.
At the end of the competition Maria said how pleased she was with me and how much she had enjoyed riding me. In fact I became known as 'THE LITTLE BLACK RUSSIAN HORSE'. I bet I'm the first Dales Pony with that title! I enjoyed riding with her too but now I'm having a couple of week's rest before I start work again.
Crispin (The 'Russian' Dales Pony)
The full scores for Maria and me were:
Friday 1a Team Test 55.059% 17th place
Saturday Individual Test 58.6% 17th place
Sunday Freestyle 58.273% 15th place
The Russian Team 18th place
We had a fabulous time despite the torrential rain and mud. We believe we were marooned on Friday night but did not realise it at the time. The outdoor arenas were flooded by late morning on Friday. The programme had to be altered to bring the outdoor classes into the old indoor arena which also meant moving the security fencing around the stables to allow the general public access to the old indoor arena.
At the end of the competition Maria said how pleased she was with me and how much she had enjoyed riding me. In fact I became known as 'THE LITTLE BLACK RUSSIAN HORSE'. I bet I'm the first Dales Pony with that title! I enjoyed riding with her too but now I'm having a couple of week's rest before I start work again.
Crispin (The 'Russian' Dales Pony)