Danny refused twice (I didn't blame him), and David wisely decided not to try again. But he handled it well and the pas de deux ended harmoniously as the two horses came down the center line side-by-side, with Michael waving a little American flag. The crowd loved it. This could be the start of a trend, who knows?
As Jeff Katelan, national sales and marketing manager for Pennfield Country Life Products, noted, it's a lot more original than ending by shooting off some fireworks.
Back in the stable, I talked with David about his groundbreaking performance.
Listen: David O'ConnorThen I chatted with Michael.
As if all this weren't enough, there also was a silent auction. Diana Orban, who has worked in public relations for the Rutgers University Equine Science Center (ESC), bought a painting of Karen O'Connor on wonder pony Teddy O'Connor and plans to donate it for use in the ESC's exercise physiology lab.
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- Dr. Joe Pagan of Kentucky Equine Research lectures on nutrition.
- © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer
"It may just inspire somebody," Diana said. "The little guy did good."
Proceeds from the tour go to the USEF's Young Rider program. Jeff noted it will be a few weeks until he knows the total of what was raised, but he estimated it will be in the neighborhood of $30,000-$35,000, which should be a big help for this important initiative.
Next year, the tour will take a different form because of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and in 2011, the tour will be focused on the West Coast. There should be more good information there, because Pennfield is the official feed of the USEF and has been used at every Olympics and WEG since 2002.
Wherever you are, try to come to one of these sessions. I got a lot of good information that I can use with my horses and an overview of nutritional principles. I can tell you that many of us are working in the dark unless we pay attention to this information when we decide what to feed our horses.
I like the theme of the tour. "That's a Promise" refers to this principle: "A promise to take care of your horse to the best of your ability for the time you are together." It's a promise I hope everyone keeps.
Until then,
