SVI | Pure Imagination

SVI Schooling Show :: Mar. JUDGED, Apr. OPEN

When Gabriel was a child she would not have dreamed that this was how her life would play out. On Edens life was simple and beautiful, the fields stood tall with grassed that where always green and forests where she and her family would have garden parties.

Many things had happened in between then and now, she used to be a brave girl who gave nothing and no one a second thought, but the woman she had become considers others needs when assessing a situation and how conflict would best be solved. As a child she also had no idea that she would care for creatures three times bigger than her and much much more powerful in every way.

Gabriel does not think of her childhood often, she’d much rather forget that part of her life, she had long since forgotten her parents and her brother was not in her life anymore, but in moments like these where the green leaves in the trees rustled softly in the afternoon breeze and the rays of the golden sun poured down like water from a great river, she missed her home, and the memories of days spent in the silvery rays of the sun.

Now on the back of this magnificent creature, Gabriel tried to hold back tears as she remembered her mother’s caring words when she had explored a bit too far into the fantastical forests and gotten lost, it was not the adventure that she remembered now, but rather the feeling of comfort, the warm rays of sun that shine on her arms remind her of the soft touch that she will never feel again.

These things where what had taught her to care for her horses and her mother had cared for her as a child. And it was with the greatest care and respect between person and animal that she walked down the X line of the tree covered dressage arena. Mallymkun’s hooves brushed the soft white sand as she danced with the grace of angels. A working trot here and a collected walk there.

Finally it was time to showcase the walking pirouette. The first time they had exercised this movement was on the beach at Fox Estate in South Africa. It was not as magical as the silver beaches in Edens, but it came a deserving second. On the beach with a very calm horse under her, Gabriel had only asked for a slight turn and had congratulated a job well done with a looser grip and a pat on the neck. When Mally started to realize what was being asked, she made an effort to do what was required as best as she could. Gabriel’s caring nature never lead to punishment for a movement done wrong, but rather a soft nudge into the right direction.

While doing the Pirouette in the show arena, Gabriel and Mally were equally confident in their abilities. The mutual respect and admiration between the horse and rider that had developed form a young age was the reason for the collaboration between person and animal.