Calm, Forward, Straight(who by the way is having a contest so check it out!) did a post on the Olympics and it started me thinking about Ian Millar and Big Ben. The links below are of a documentary that Spruce Meadows did on Big Ben. What a team they were. Both elegant, both approachable and both enjoying their work. Their mutual respect and dare I say, affection, for each other is evident. I found it interesting that Big Ben could perform with the crowds yelling and clapping, and not bat an eye. Yet, put a garbage bag in front of him and he would spook. :-)
I have visited the statue of Big Ben and Ian Millar in Perth, Ontario many times. Emotions bubble to the top when you see it; admiration, awe and pride. Here's some pics from my last visit.
Thank you so much for sharing Big Bens' story! As I write this there are tears dribbling down my cheeks. I wish I could have met that big guy. What a wonderful horse!
Big Ben was an awesome horse and Ian Millar a talented rider. Thanks for the videos. I've always been a big fan of Ian Millar's and was so happy he got to compete in the Olympics again and I got to watch his rides. I was secretly rooting for him to win...oops not a secret anymore I guess.
Thank you so much for sharing Big Bens' story! As I write this there are tears dribbling down my cheeks. I wish I could have met that big guy. What a wonderful horse!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! I got choked up a number of times when I watched the videos. :-)
DeleteThey were such an amazing team. Once in a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteLoved the videos... so touching. I think that's how Americans feel about Secretariat. Thanks for posting.
How lucky they both were to have found each other....a once in a lifetime partnership, for sure.
DeleteA fabulous statue for a legendary horse and rider! I loved watching the construction.
ReplyDeleteI found the statue construction very interesting, too, especially since I have seen it finished. It's beautiful and so detailed.
DeleteBig Ben was an awesome horse and Ian Millar a talented rider. Thanks for the videos. I've always been a big fan of Ian Millar's and was so happy he got to compete in the Olympics again and I got to watch his rides. I was secretly rooting for him to win...oops not a secret anymore I guess.
ReplyDeleteBig Ben was 17.3hh...the same as your beautiful Erik, right? I like Ian's style...he's a gentleman. :-)
DeleteErik was that big and a handful at times. I like Ian's style too. Very classy guy.
DeleteBig Ben was my FAVORITE horse when I was a kid! It's what made me want to start jumping! (still waiting to get into it though ;-))
ReplyDeleteMine, too! I loved how quiet the crowd got as he went around the course and how they exploded when he had a clean run. :-)
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