Tough? Crazy? Dedicated? All of the Above? Why on earth would anyone get out of bed to go and ride in the middle of the off-season when it’s this cold?
Perhaps because Peter Gray was giving a clinic at Lands End Farm in Louisville? I’ll have a full report on EventingNation next week once I’m fully thawed, but about twenty brave eventers and even hardier auditors, and connections watched and learned, and silently cursed that dratted black labrador hogging the heater.
Peter was wonderful; no doubt because he’s such a well rounded horseman. Not only has he evented at the Olympics, he can now add competing and winning ribbons in the hunters and hunter derbies, as well as Grand Prix Dressage to his CV (resume), because at the very least he has the legs for it!
As well as the mind, and the patience, and the passion. Despite the cold, Peter couldn’t stop himself from going a little bit long on each session, he just loves teaching, and it shows. Everyone came away with tools and exercises to practice, and ideas and theories to contemplate.
At every level, the message was the same: “bend and flexion are your friends”, training begins at the mounting block, be very strict with yourself on all the basics. The training is a progression, a slow, deliberate, accurate process.
Much more next week on EventingNation, including what the riders thought, and would Peter consider coaching the Canadian Eventing Team again?
