Anky wins again!

Best Sport! For those of you who don't know, or don't care to watch equestrian sport - you are missing something really special if you don't watch dressage. At the top level, participants compete in a freestyle routine with music, and it is to this, and to the greatest exponent of this sport of all time, to which this blog is dedicated. Anky van Grunsvern is a rider from Holland who has been at the top of this sport for at least the last 6 years. It may actually be longer, but I haven't been into it further back than that! She successfully defended her title first won in Sydney 2000. What makes this feat so special, is that this time, it was on her new relatively green 10 year old gelding 'Salinero', as her seasoned master 'Bonfire' has been retired. (No doubt piaffing somewhere in a paddock, trying to get a glimpse of himself on the schooling hall mirrors). Her performance was so beautiful and so special, that I was truly pleased that she took gold again. I wish I knew how it was that she manages to instill in each horse such an acute sense of timing and rythym - maybe they are played music in the womb!! (the horses I mean). Perhaps, the horses have their choice of Beethoven or Bach with dinner... Either way, I watch in awe and wonder.