LAPC #268 Tell Us Why

This week Tina of Travels and Trifles has given us the challenge of posting some of our favorite photos and telling us why they are favorites.Here are mine and all of these photos are from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon NC .

The photo above is of Carl Hester when he had finished his test ride in the Grand Prix. The people in the stadium were on their feet cheering for him. This was not because his ride was going to win the gold medal. It was for him as a horseman, rider,trainer and coach. He was cheered and applauded when he first came into the arena and he had not even ridden his test. The audience wanted him to know how much they appreciate what he has done for the discipline of Dressage. I was cheering with them.

I like this photo because it is a beautiful black stallion and his rider is putting him through the Grand Prix test with such a gentle contact with the horse’s mouth. You can see there is a loop in both reins. This not often seen at this level.

This photo is of German rider, Isabel Werth, on finishing her Grand Prix test on Bella Rose. Bella Rose had been injured four years previously. Isabel had never given up on the mare. Now she had ridden her in the World Equestrian Games and she knew she had ridden a winning test. Isabel is the most highly decorated dressage rider in the world. She has won in Olympics, World Games, European Championships etc etc. . I have never seen her be emotional however. But you can see that in this photo she is overcome. She knows the mare has given her all to repay Isabel for never giving up on her. I had other professional photogaphers tell me I could sell this photo for a lot of money . But I have never wanted to do that.

This is Belinda Trussell riding for Canada. Belinda said afterwards that her horse Tattoo had given her everything and she was so proud of him.

This is my last photo and it is of the same stallion I started with. This is the Swedish rider and the stallion performing a glorious half pass. It does not get better than this.!!