3 January 2023
The Driving moment of … Ad Schout
From the entries for the end-of-year challenge 'My Most Memorable Driving-Moment', Hoefnet chose Ad Schout's piece as the winner of the Training Day, made available by PSC De Dijkgraaf. Of course we would like to publish Ad's Driving-Moment!My Most Memorable Driving Moment
There we were finally, after years of planning, years of cancelled plans due to corona. We, my partner and I, sat near E in front of a sponsor’s tent and on sponsor’s chairs at the dressage ring of the international four-in-hand competition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in England. At that time it was still the palace of Queen Elisabeth and where her 70th anniversary was also celebrated at that time. We have seen her as the guest of a wonderful evening full of equestrian shows staged in her honor with quality, drama and humor as only the British can. But, that was not my highlight.
My highlight of the year was when the Australian competitor Boyd Exell came driving his four-in-hand from M to E in a great extended trot. We were close to E and he came almost straight towards us. Just before his leaders came to E and the team had to follow the track to the left, Boyd squeezed his hands together once and then immediately let go. I repeat: once … and his horses went through the turn after this beautiful, and for me memorable, transition in a beautiful contact and harmony in working trot.
I had never seen so much control and such a beautiful interplay between a driver and his team and that is why that is my highlight of 2022.
Still reminiscing,
Ad Schout
Ad, thanks again for your great story and congratulations on your first prize!
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