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I’ve been working here at Wood Lane stables for roughly three weeks now. I’m using the term “working” very loosely as I’ve also been having one of the most amazing experiences I could have imagined. Even though I have had the opportunity to work for amazingly accomplished professionals prior to coming here I was still beyond nervous upon my arrival. Having always been a huge fan of William Fox-Pitt combined with the fact that I had always fantasized about working and riding in England, my stomach was doing flips even through my first week here. Until I arrived here it hadn’t really sunk in that it was all finally happening.
It probably didn’t help to settle my nerves that as you’re tacking up a horse you also receive the horse’s full resume, none of which in this yard are too shabby. First I would get hit with a sense of excitement at having the opportunity to work with such an amazing animal, immediately followed by a sense of shock and caution, wondering if I should even be allowed to touch this horse, let alone sit on it. I didn’t want to be the one at the root of its demise. Of course followed by the resume, you are then informed of that same horse’s quirks and habits. Sometimes this list would be longer than the ever-impressive list of accomplishments. Exciting, intimidating and surreal all at once.
They say that it takes a special type of person and an even more special horse to event, and especially to make it at the upper levels. Who “they” is, I have no idea. I do know that special can be a very broadly translated term, but I do believe that out of all the definitions of “special” most can apply to eventers. Being here, surrounded by amazing athletes, two-and-four-legged, and you realize just how many meanings of special there can be. Whether it be the legendary Tamarillo, who is the spookiest and laziest horse imaginable all at once, having to be walked around while you tighten his girth, or current star Macchiato, a horse with the best heart and intentions but sometimes is prone to “panic attacks”.
At times, we all get frustrated with our equine partners quirks, be it on the ground or whilst riding them. But as we watch them compete or are lucky enough to be the ones competing with them, you forgive and forget these quirks as you realize it’s what makes them special. Yes, Gracie was a tenacious little four-lettered-word (mare) but that spark that she had is what I fully believe also made her such a cross-country machine. Tamarillo may be spooky, but you can guarantee he did not want to touch those scary colored poles on Sunday. Navigator may get a bit grumpy while blanketing him… or tacking him up…. Or picking his feet…. Or being in his stall…. But he takes his work at competitions just as seriously. Without all these quirks, I can’t help but wonder if it’s like I’ve heard so many times before, “Madness is Genius”
These horses are seriously special in every sense of the word, and the best part of that trumps any time they bite, kick, buck, or spook. You can’t help but laugh as you’re hacking a 4* champion that won’t go near the scary tree stump, knowing that if you were to gallop up to it he would pop over it like it was nothing, but clearly walking by it is absolutely terrifying.
As special as all these horses are, it sometimes becomes hard to remember that at the end of the day they are still horses. Because of their sheer genius it becomes extremely tempting to treat them like kings instead of horses, wanting to blanket every square inch of them with bubble wrap so nothing, not even a speck of ordinary dirt gets near such an extraordinary horse. But another thing I’ve realized here is that William and super-barn manager, Jackie, highly believe that they should still be allowed to be horses. On an ordinary day you can bring in a horse caked in mud, maybe even hack it with mud still in the mane, and find out that this horse you thought was a hunt horse is just coming back from winning a 3*. Yes, they clean them up well I would say. And you wonder as you watch William train them if they have ever had a day off because it looks like years of constant work to obtain such fluidity and centered work together. William may not take a day off, even if it means waking up at obscene hours and going to sleep, well, never. The horses on the other hand, get time off from “us” as I’ve heard it put. They spend all competition season with us picking at them, drilling them in practice and hauling them around that during the winter season they are put to field, allowed to just be horses, sans shoes, no torturous mane pullings, dreaded braids or terrible baths. Maybe that’s what makes them so much more willing to perform during season?
Of course the people that care for and work with the horses day in, day out are just as special. Every barn owner and top competitor has “quirks” just like their horses. Of course different quirks, but sometimes just as unexplainable and odd. I wont mention any names here, but I’ve been at barns were cobwebs were swept up religiously, as they were obviously the root of all evil, or a barn where the wood chips that covered the outdoor walk way had to be raked evenly three times daily. Some people like their stalls mucked, swept back, and banked just so. Some might call the habit of polishing bits and buckles with a toothbrush OCD; I call it relaxing instant gratification.
At Wood Lane stables, it seems everyone here has a different barn quirk, they aren’t spoken of but as you watch, you learn each person’s point of focus. We all pitch in and help get everyone satisfied, knowing that it may not seem like the most important to us but if it all doesn’t get done one person won’t be able to sleep knowing that there’s a piece of dirty tack, or a messily folded blanket. It’s been amazing, because being around so many people that are each particular about something different, means they have though about ways to do this particular part of horse care very efficiently, making every part of this experience a wonderful learning one, be it on a horses back or in the barn.
