Archive for the "Hidalgo" Category
Last weekend we took a drive to the New Jersey Horse Park to compete in a Judged Trail Ride. We were lucky to stay with our friends Sandy and Ryan Gaum who live nearby.
This event was held at the New Jersey Horse Park on the cross country course with 15 stations where we were judged on how we accomplished the task at hand. Most of the stations were comprised of situations you may encounter on a trail ride such as jumping over a fallen tree, walking over a tarp, walking over a bridge that moves, dismounting and flagging your horse, roping a calf, walking by scary obstacles etc…. Nearly one hundred horses showed up for the annual event, including english and western riders.
I rode Black Gold, RJ’s 3 year old filly who has barely a month of training and she finished an astonishing fourth place! Nothing seemed to phase her as she tackled each obstacle and situation with patience and grace. Joa rode Brownie and Lauren rode Peadar who also performed very well.
This was such a fun event to take any horse to, I would encourage everyone to participate in a Judged Trail Ride with their horse to test their skills and training of their horse. It is also a wonderful experience for any horse to get out in an atmosphere with lots of activity.
RJ is the magnificent steed ridden by Michael Lang, the organizer of the Woodstock Music Festival in Ang Lee’s new film “Taking Woodstock”. This film is the story of a family in NY State who were a part of making the festival happen in a small farming community. No one knew these 3 days would become a massive gathering of over half a million people who would congregate to celebrate music and peace. It was remarkable that there was little violence with such a mass of people at a time of tremendous turmoil.
RJ always makes an impression on screen and was even mentioned in the NY Times review of the film. Be sure to go out and enjoy this film about an amazing time in our history.
Grace rides Black Gold, RJ/Hidalgo’s 3 year old filly who has 11 days of training. This outstanding filly is a talented young horse with an amazing temperament. Black Gold is a 3 year old breeding stock paint mare with a great mind. This jet black filly has been trained by Rex Peterson and Cari Swanson. She is available for sale to someone looking for a special horse, she is such a talented athlete and will excel in any discipline.
Wyatt takes his daily lesson on RJ, his favorite horse at Windrock Farm. Wyatt is visiting for a month from LA.
Posted July 20th, 2009 — Filed under
Cari Swanson,
Hidalgo,
horses in film,
Rex Peterson,
RJ Masterbug,
Windrock Farm
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Cari Swanson,
Hidalgo,
horses in film,
R Masterbug,
Viggo Mortensen,
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After 5 years from its premiere, the Disney film “Hidalgo” remains popular among many horse lovers. Every week I receive emails from fans asking about the number of horses used in making this epic tale. Here are good friends, Viggo Mortensen (the human star) and Rex Peterson (the horse trainer) on TJ and RJ behind the scenes on the set in Morocco. You can see the make-up running off the horses faces. Each morning the 2 main cast horses had to sit for over an hour while the make-up crew painted them to look alike. Just another example of the magic of making movies.
Mashantum models the new rope halters made by Rex Peterson, each halter and lead rope is hand tied with a braided noseband designed to fit each horse individually. You can purchase them from directly from Rex
The horse is a beautiful creature
So proud and so bold
This we can see for ourselves
No need to be told
A beautiful creature
Right down past his knees
I look and behold!
What are these???
For his feet are contracted
Wry-footed, quarter-cracked
And bent
Without good feet
He’s not worth a cent
For to see a horse limp
Gives me grief untold
And if Someone’s at fault
I’ve been known to scold
Through sandy desert
And over rocky trail
A horse can’t do his best
If his feet they should fail
Though it’s been said before
I’ll say it once more
A horse can’t do his job well
If his feet are sore
A horse should be shod
With a sense of panache
If he is to run
A 300-yard dash
A horse should be shod
With a certain sense of style
If he is to carry his rider
For many a mile
The horse is a beautiful creature
Of fine symmetry and form
And so should be his feet
This should be the norm
It only makes sense
That his shoes be made neat
So that they only enhance
His already beautiful feet
So farriers please endeavor
To learn your craft well
If you don’t, you’ll cause
Many a horse living hell.
Mike Bromley, The Blacksmith Poet
Rex and RJ just finished their final demonstration to a pleased crowd. We have three hours remaining at this year’s Equine Affaire–an event that shouldn’t be missed for horse lovers.
The thing that stands out the most from our time here is the number of devoted fans of RJ because of the film “Hidalgo.” This stallion is truly a star. Men and women alike see him and melt. Stories abound of how people have seen the movie over and over and over. The fans know that more than one horse played Hidalgo and they know which horse Viggo Mortensen (the human star of the movie) bought. Rex spoke about why he kept RJ and how Cari pried RJ away from him, at least partly. It’s RJ’s larger than life personality that won Rex’s and Cari’s hearts as well the hearts of millions of devoted fans.
When Cari met Rex Peterson in 2005 she had no idea what she was in for. Last night at the Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts, an artistic version of their relationship played out. Two riders captivated the crowd at the Eastern States Expo Coliseum with a performance titled “East meets West.”
A top dressage rider (representing Cari) took to the arena with the theme from “Chariots of Fire” playing. A Grand Prix dressage performance began . . . then the spotlight switched to rider number two. A cowboy galloped in to the song “Dueling Banjos.” The contrast between the controlled, refined, blue-blooded dressage performance, and the raucous high energy cowboy on his Quarter Horse couldn’t have been greater. Imagine Rex Peterson.
Back and forth it went, world class dressage with the grandiose, inspiring, and rareified music, and then world class Western riding to the down and dirty music from “Deliverance.” It was a duel of cultures, worlds apart, yet so very complimentary.
Last night’s act just might inspire Cari and Rex to do one of their own riding RJ and Bond. The performers last night were great, but our favorite resident of Dutchess County and the legendary horseman from southern California could do even better.
We’re enjoying our time at the Equine Affaire. We hope to see you but if you can’t make it, keep checking here for updates. Buy the first three in the Rex Peterson training video series today by clicking here.
Cari’s brother Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer.
Rex greets his fans today at the Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Mass. Photo by Jim Breitinger.
