August 23, 2006

World Equestrian Games Journals from Aachen
Mack's Musings
By Father Mack (a.k.a.: Father Larry David McCormick)
Photos by Ruth S. McCormick

“Not Your Mother’s ‘Back to the Future’” Part Two
Special to Dressage Daily #10

I am considerably taller than Al Pacino and I don’t have the gravely voice he affected as he played the role of Michael Corleone, but I must borrow one of his best lines from “The Godfather – Part 3”: “Just when I thought I was out . . . they pull me back in!”

In my case, I am not being reintroduced to a life of crime (I lead a considerably more sedate existence). Rather, I had shut down my faithful PowerBook ™, I had gone to the loo in preparation for a bumpy bus ride back to our hotel, and was fully five steps outside the door of the Media Centre here at the Soers. But I couldn’t keep going on that course.

At first I was drawn back toward an electrical outlet and within range of the Internet by the remembrance of two really nifty people who simply have to be thanked and congratulated for their hard work at these games. I speak of two grooms, one of whose names I am embarrassed to admit I don’t even know. This young lady is groom to one of the sweetest individuals I have had the pleasure to meet in the world of dressage. She is groom to Doctor Cesar Parra (a distant neighbor in the wilds of New Joisy which Ruth and I call home). The second groom is a fellow who may soon have a cult following of his own, dear Ruben, groom to Debbie McDonald’s Brentina.

As I stood near the in gate of the massive dressage stadium here in Aachen during the rides of Cesar and Debbie, their grooms stood with almost sublime devotion as they both guarded their horse’s accoutrements and -- at the same time -- kept their eyes fixed upon the rides unfolding in the stadium

As I watched these dedicated people looking on with pride as Cesar & Galant du Serein and Debbie and Brentina discharged their artistic responsibilities in the ring, I was reminded of the affection one sees in a mother’s or a father’s eyes as they enjoy their children’s first steps, graduation from school, and so forth.

The second item which pulled me like a magnet (that would make me an iron filing . . . just about the level of my I.Q. at the moment) is the proud, nay, make that EXUBERANT announcement that the USA finished third as a team in the dressage competition and will stand upon the platform to receive their bronze medals. Pretty nifty. Ain’t it!?!

So – depending upon what time of day it is as you read these words of mine – I invite you lift a glass of orange juice, a cup of coffee, an afternoon seltzer, or a glass of something a little more potent if the sun has sunk below the yardarm. Toast, if you will, these dear people, the grooms, and all that they do to make the sport we love so much what it is. I give you as well the dressage team representing the United States of America at the 2006 edition of the World Equestrian Games. Cheers!

Post Scriptum: Doctor Parra (dare I type, “Cesar”?) and Galant du Serein finished the day’s competition as they represented Colombia with a fine score of 63.500. This gave them 49th place in the rather large-ish field of competitors here in Aachen. A tip of the bowler hat to Cesar and to Debbie, as well.