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Die klein dingetjies

So tussen al die veranderinge deur hier by SA Horseman, waar dit sommer baie maklik is om die oog van die bal af te haal, lees ek 'n stukkie raak in 'n wonderlike boek wat ek 'n tyd gelede by Horsebooks Unlimited gekoop het.

Dit gaan oor die strewe na ligtheid, en die balans en wysheid wat met die ouderdom kom. Ai tog, sê dit nie op sigself iets as die ouderdom 'n rol begin speel in jou denke nie?

Die boek is getiteld Alexis-Francois L'Hotte: The Quest for Lightness in Equitation deur Hilda Nelson (JA Allen 1997) en dit gaan basies oor generaal L'Hotte se ontwikkeling as ruiter, en die invloed wat sy twee groot leermeesters, Francois Baucher en Antoine d'Aure, op hom gehad het.

Nou, ons weet uit die geskiedenis dat Francois Baucher 'n sirkus-arties was. Hy het nie uit 'n bevoorregte agtergrond gekom nie en sy genialiteit as ruiter en afrigter, is grootliks deur die Establishment van die middel-negentiende eeu in Frankryk misken. Dit het hom baie gepla en waarskynlik daartoe gelei dat hy sy lewe lank 'n punt wou bewys.

Maar hier kom die stukkie wat my so getref het:
"In the past," Baucher once said to L'Hotte, "I often opted for movements that were complicated. Today it takes me six months just to get my horses to walk straight and turn well ... When total lightness is achieved by making a horse walk straight and become well-balanced, the feeling that the rider gets is a sense of complete accord with the horse's strength. One then hesitates to pass on to any other movement which will modify the combination of forces and destroy this feeling of harmony."

Dan volg 'n komiese stukkie: "When he (Baucher) noted that L'Hotte did not respond, Baucher continued: 'You will have the same experience. After having attempted all the difficulties of the equestrian art, you, too, will find great joy in achieving perfect lightness, no matter how simple the movements are.'

" Dan volg die laaste in dié verband: “Years later, remembering his master's wise words, L'Hotte added, as if as an afterthought: I have reached this stage for some time now."

Wat my tref, as mens die sentiment deurtrek na ons gewone mense, is dat perdry op alle vlakke bevrediging bied. Dit maak nie regtig saak of jy dit as 'n uitdaging beskou om bloot bo te bly, en of jy probeer om jou passage en pirouette te vervolmaak nie, die bevrediging is daar.
Maar die waarde wat eenvoudige goed, goed gedoen, vir jou kry, is iets wat met die ouderdom kom. En dit lyk my mens verstaan dit eers as jy daar is.

Izak Hofmeyr

This is the first issue of SA Horseman that was done exclusively in-house by our company, Plaas Publishing. Earlier this year I promised a new-look magazine in an A4 format. Reality, however, caught up with us and we realised that we will have to postpone these plans for a short while, until we have our ducks in a row.

In this issue we focus on horse travel – how to get your horse to the destination fresh and sound and ready to compete. We also look at a basic servicing routine for horse boxes. In addition, we have a special report on the equine insurance industry. With horse prices what they are, an increasing numbers of owners want to explore the viability of insuring their horses against mishaps.

In the health and management section we look at a case study where a shod horse was converted to barefoot. We look at management tips for winter time. In the training section we conclude our three-part series on bending and flexion. In another article, we provide tips on how to feel with which leg your horse is leading.

Finally, we put the spotlight on the so-called Endurance Tri-Nations held recently in Schweizer Reneke. Then we have a report on the free-jumping competition held during the President's Cup held at Maple Ridge.

Be sure to write to us about your experiences with your horse. We trust you will find it a good read.


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