Horse lovers are in for a real treat by watching this video. The video shows a full clip of Will Rogers riding his horse Esmeralda in what is called a mutual total trust relationship. When we see dressage performances we focus on the natural athletic ability of the horse and his willingness to work calmly and being attentive to the rider. Every time I watch this video of Will Rogers and Esmeralda it evokes certain feelings, from goosebumps to full-on tears.
Esmeralda is a really bombproof horse as she doesn’t mind performing even though tarps on the arena cover her completely. She doesn’t blink an eye but keeps on amazing the crowd with her moves. For most horses, a giant tarp would be really scary and most of the horses would spook but Esmeralda stays calm and relaxed, totally balanced and trusting to her rider. And moreover, the regularity of her stride in the trot never changes!
Not an ear back, not the slightest tension. This video is a master class in deconditioning the flight response in the horse. The connection between the rider and the horse is one of a kind based on mutual love, trust, and respect making the demonstration a wonderful one. Watch and enjoy the video!