Col-BEARing Dressage Coverage

I hope you aren’t all grumped up about the coverage that dressage has been receiving in the media during the run up to the London Olympics. As politicians and celebrities say, “Any press—even bad press—is better than no press.” I’m just thrilled that in the future when my seatmate on a transcontinental flight politely asks what I “do”, my response won’t elicit as many blank stares as in the past.

Surely you’ve followed the fun-making on the Colbert report (and elsewhere) since Ann Romney’s horse, Rafalca, made the US Team. “Olympic Horse Prancing” I believe he called it. Dressage fans responded at the US selection trials waving giant “We’re Number One” foam fingers and quaffing six packs of Bud. No, of course we aren’t elitists practicing an elitist sport! See?

More recently Stephen Colbert was talked into taking a dressage lesson (of sorts), and the results were aired as a two part segment earlier this week on his Comedy Central show:

If you haven’t watched them, you need to. In the process, tell me what you think about this observation: Colbert, despite his protests, looks surprisingly at home with the horse. Watch how he mounts, and compare it to helpless, clunky, uncoordinated attempts you’d expect to see from a first-time middle aged male rider. Notice how he doesn’t flop down onto the horse’s back. The same when he dismounts—it’s a studied novice move, but not a spastic one. More to note: the comfort with which he holds the reins, the way he sticks on when the mare shies, the un-wooden posture while he mugs for the camera, hips that actually go with the horse.

I went back and looked up his bio. Born in S. Carolina, one of 11 children, strict Catholic upbringing. Nothing about farms or summers on ranches out west, but credit to him for how he pulled it off. And additional high marks to Michael Barisone (our Reserve Rider at the 2008 Games) for playing the foil to Colbert’s schtick.

There are folks who aren’t going to be converted no matter what. Never mind them, but I think our sport came off looking fine.