It had seemed like an ambitious project. German rider August Beyer and his Icelandic horse friends thought of rounding up old world champions and presenting them to the world cup’s audience. How did that work out?
Old champ Eitill frá Akureyri.
Twenty-nine old sport horses were presented during a grand ceremony at the oval track of Karlshorst. Some of them had to be led by the reins, but most were still fit enough to be ridden. And when the old champs entered their former medal hunting field, many of them seemed pleased with the cheers.
It was an emotional event. Every viewer probably had a story in mind, something that connected him or her with a very special horse. A tournament is an experience, a memory. The horses embody these memories, and quite a few members of the audience discreetly wiped tears from their eyes.
Memories of athletes, recreational riders or non-riders tear down the walls and make us soft. These memories could be felt, along with deep respect for these old athletes.
Eitill frá Akureyri had participated in an endurance ride only a few weeks earlier, the 29-year-old gelding with white hair in its face looked great.
Týrson from Saringhof still looked impressive with its long beautiful mane. It was shown without bridle in tölt. Yoni Blom’s former competition partner has not lost its beauty.
Magnús Skúlason showed Mjölnir frá Dalbæ in flying pace pass. Old age hasn’t made the champ lose its groove of flying pace.
The concept of the old heroes project worked out perfectly. The show was perhaps the most impressive of the whole competition week.
Click here to read more about the old heroes.
Dagmar Trodler reports for Iceland Review from Berlin.
