Very impressive reactions… and yes, he stayed on his feet, and she stayed on!
One of the most difficult things to manage as a rider is to overcome the instinct to grab with the hands when things go dramatically wrong. (A very analytical instructor told me that because humans are, in essence, apes, and apes climb trees and grab branches etc to survive, that’s why we instinctively grab for things with our hands, even as tiny babies!)
But sometimes when it all goes horribly wrong, top riders manage to let go completely, stay in the plate by balance, core strength and grip (and maybe a bit of luck!), and let the horse use its head and neck to save itself.
This photo is from when Jane Thelwall was 2nd at the Europeans at Burghley with Kings Jester, back in 1989. At the Trout Hatchery, they had to go up a step and bounce over an upright into a ‘house’ with a high roof, then after a stride or two jump out of it down a big drop, back into the water. It caused a lot of problems! Kings Jester got very close and, as you can see, nearly tipped up on his way back into the water. Jane’s fantastic instincts and reactions saved the day.
Michael Jung saving the day… just!
The photo on the right is of Michael Jung after La Biostheque Sam got it rather horribly wrong to the double of angled brushes at Luhmühlen this year. The poor quality of the photo is because it is a video still… the whole video is here
In both cases, the rider resisted the almost overriding drive to grab with the hands, and gave the horse full freedom to save itself… not easy at all, and probably not even something that can be taught… it is pure instinct at that point!
