I realize we have looked at this horse twice before in the past, but I believe it is worth looking at again, in case some didn't see him before, and on the off chance anyone could have forgotten him.
It has been "suggested" to me many times in my life, that I tend to get obsessed with an unusually breathtaking, one of a kind animal. I take great offense to that because I don't think it is true. That said, here is what I have been able to find out about Merlin:
Merlin(Orpheo) is a Bullfighting Lusitano stallion 7/8's Lusitano X 1/8th Quarterhorse, bred by former Rejoneador Jacques Bonnier (the tall gray haired gentleman in the video who greets de Mendoza before he returns to the bull). Merlin was initially trained by Rafi Dumond, who is seen in the opening segment schooling Merlin. He is currently owned and ridden in the bullring by Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza. Although a Spaniard, de Mendoza, fights in the Portuguese style in which the horse and rider dispatch the bull rather than merely weakening the bull as the horse mounted picador does for the Matador in classical Spanish Bullfighting. De Mendoza is often called the finest Rejoneador in the world by aficionados and press.
While Bullfighting/Rejoneador are controversial subjects for some, I suggest you keep your attention on the horse and rider. As a team/partnership they transcend anything to be seen in any form of equitation including olympic calibre dressage. Fact is, Merlin and Pablo are performing high level dressage movements in the face of a charging bull. If we ever forget that mankind's first use for horses was on the battlefield this video is an "in your face" reminder.
FYI Madame Col. The score is by Evanesence, and the song is called Bring me to Life.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Merlin--registered name Orpheo
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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18 comments:
Wade,
WOW !WOW! WOW!that is/was/will be spectacular/brilliant/greatness
Rebecca
Never tired of looking and admiring. Great horse makes a great Rejoneador.
Also whoever made the video is very clever and my kind of person, everything matched, they held the video until the action started again to go actually to the music adn then faded out as did de Menoza, how many noticed all that. Beautifully done.
Wade thanks for the name of the song, love it.
Dianne,
Trivia about this particular clip. If you recall in the other ones, they were longer and had more footage of the placing of the banderillas and Pablo killing the bull. So many "numbnuts" objected to that, and flagged it as objectionable on you tube that this "more professional" clip was made to promote the horse. Only a few "numbnuts" now find it objectionable. It is surly a bewildering world we live in. That is what my comment was in reference to "just watch the horse and rider".
Wade
Wade - I agree with Dianne. I never tire of watching a great performance, regardless of the discipline. A great cutting horse will show some of the same "cat-like" moves that these horses show, but instead of staying ahead of or avoiding a bull, they are controlling a calf and there has to be total communication between the horse and rider.
Jeannie
Jeannie,
There are some cutting horses that are on another planet when it come to performance/athletic. In some of the correspondence I have had about Merlin the 1/8 Guarterhorse is purported to be Joe Hancock blood. The thought is that cutting blood is ideal for the legs/lower bone and the quick powerful hip/loin of the cutting/Guarterhorse. Down side and why they choose cutting lines more for structure then "cow" is the the feeling that the "cowy" horse is timid, and they are looking for an aggressive attitude, or something that doesn't have to be pushed to attack.
I watched a cutting horse at a Will Rogers Futurity that was stalled next to a pen of calf, crouch down and peer through the slats of the pens and "shove" the calves from one side of their pen to the other with his body position. Some "numbnuts" watching said, oh look he can't hardly wait to work. I suggested it may be more that he just can't help himself, like a junkie at a coke house. I a tried to explain "cow" to them, but they just knew I was wrong, and he loved working. LOL
Wade
Wade - Yes, I'm sure they do it because they just love working. People also think that any horse can work to any music because "they keep time to it". They don't realize that there is more to selecting music than just picking a song you like and riding while it plays. Dianne and I had this discussion when watching freestyle reining videos. The majority of them have no clue about choreographing and matching tempo to the horse.
As for you being wrong? Well, you are a man.
Jeannie
Jeannie,
They don't love working. The "cut" it breed into them.
Because I am a man, I wrote a country wester song titled "It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chewed My Ass All Day." What do you think. LOL
Wade
Wade - I understand it is bred into them, was just being a little sarcastic. I have heard that song and I think Mac Davis wrote one for you too - Oh, Lord, It's Hard to be Humble. But, that's one of the things we love about you. By the way, please go back to the picture with Iron Eyes Cody. You in a Gunther bra next to Nixon is just way too scary.
Jeannie
Jeannie,
Isn't it interesting that something like "cow" can be bred into an animal, when it is not a clearly defined behavior.
What's one of the things you love about me, that I'm humble or that I am perfect in every way?
Wade
Wow, say something nice about you and you fish for more. You are so needy! You should learn to dance, it might build your confidence.
Jeannie
Jeannie,
I wasn't fishing, I was just seeing clarification.
Wade
Wade mon Cherie.
The video tape is fantastic,what a great team .thank you.
sory I had to come in here.
but...
As for the remark on your beautiful Eagle costume, which look great and the Pass President .
don't go well at all.
it is because they are jealous.of your costume .and dint get to posed with the pass President.
your costume maker.sincerely Mireille.
Mireille - Was just poking fun at Wade. Nixon was not the best of presidents. And I was certainly not making fun of the costume at all. You do beautiful work. Jealous? Yeah, well, maybe a little.
Jeanne
Mireille, how nice to see you here! I agree that the eagle costume is beautiful and should stay. You are so brilliant and creative. As for the people criticizing the picture, maybe they should take a look at their own.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann and Mireille,
Ladies, I didn't take offense to what Jeannie said at all. I took in the manner it was delivered. We we be careful we do not take anything personal if we are going to look at animals and their mental/physical health rationally. That is the ultimate purpose of this blog. I hope it makes sense in this case, kinda.
Iron Eyes Cody, who was of Italian decent from an southern state in the United States, managed to make the world think he was an Indian. My personal belief after much study of Nixon/Watergate, is that he was guilty of nothing other then covering up for some idiot's, leading to the death of his career/profession. They are both appropriate poster children for NO SPIN, which is why they are used. No other reason what so ever, with the exception of an American Eagle which was also one the belt buckle in the Cody picture. God Bless America and anything American. You ladies would have noticed that eagle on the buckle, if you hadn't been marveling at what the eagle was perched on. LOL I love and appreciate you all.
Wade
Thank you for posting this video, for every world class dressage rider should watch it and learn from it. It is sad that the Dressage realm has no clue that this is the true foundation of dressage. For it is written that horses cannot canter sidepass, how wrong are they?
I am knowledgeble as to the basic dressage training required for bull fighting horses...and it is not the mushy stuff competitive riders play at, it is the basis of the war horse.
DragonHarte,
Well said, and yes, Merlin was nothing short of brilliant in his movements. Look up "bridled" in the dictionary and there should be a picture of Merlin.
Wade
I have shared this video more than I shared videos of my children!The most beautiful dance I have ever seen.My heart overflows as do my eyes when I see Merlin. Thank you for sharing.
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