September 10,  2002

First Velvet had to prove that she could do all the gaits without being directed by a bit. She decided that just plain fox trotting around the arena might be just a little boring, so she elected to pull a rubber beach ball behind her. It was pretty easy to drag. The ball skittered and bounced as she trotted, walked and cantered around the arena! The beach ball was connected to Susan’s hands by a 4 foot length of elastic. (If your horse can pull a beach ball behind them, they will be able to pull ANYTHING!) Having definitely proved to the surprised crowd that she was a fearless gaited Missouri Fox Trotter, she elected to show her cow skills.

Yep, Velvet stopped, turned and dragged that "cow-ball" towards her. She seemed to want Susan to leap off and wrestle that "cow-ball" to the ground. Well, that wasn’t about to happen, so Velvet showed the crowd her soccer skills. Instead of pulling the ball, she walked to it and started knocking the ball forward with her feet. Her favorite ball was waiting in the center of the arena. That used to be Susan’s big exercise ball…the one that you can lie on/sit on. Velvet loves this ball best because she can knock it forward by either her nose or her feet. Velvet had listened to how well the USA Susan's Viewpoint - Extreme Versatility soccer team did in the World Cup. She showed the crowd how determined she was to become the first Mare on Team USA! Mind you, she was still pulling the beach ball behind her as she knocked the big exercise ball forward! If that’s not extreme versatility, we don’t know what is!

The next bit of versatility to show the crowd was to be a mini free-style reining demonstration. Velvet wanted to show her patriotism after the 9-ll attack, so she chose Susan to carry a flag. Susan had a 3X5’ American flag bolted to a 3 foot length of aluminum. This made the flag much handier to carry in different positions. Susan’s goal was to canter a large fast circle, a slow small circle and do a slow reining horse spin…on each end. Then we were to execute a gallop down the rail to a sliding stop. We were then do a rollback and gallop down the rail to the other end and do a sliding stop and then back. Velvet had almost the same goal. She didn’t go along with the fast part and she even stopped once by the rail. Her spin was a coke bottle spin as she moved both ends of her body instead of just the front end…BUT Susan and Velvet LOOKED GOOD, and one has to remember that this was bridleless. Velvet’s big crowd pleaser was the sliding stop. Velvet was barefoot, so her slide was only about a foot long. That didn’t matter, the crowd erupted in clapping and cheering.

(Velvet loves cheers. She offered to pay people $50 for standing ovations, but no one thought she was serious!)

By this time, the crowd really hooked. The announcer wondered what was next. Velvet had decided on a dressage move that Susan and Velvet call "sidepassing across the arena diagonally". Velvet’s job is to side pass one step and go straight the next. Her move was to start at one long end and end up at opposite long end. First they did this at a fox trot! Wowee! Velvet proved how great she is. Most horses have trouble doing this at the regular trot. Velvet had to do this at the fox trot. Just to let people see this amazing feat, they did it both ways of the arena. Another surprise was called by the announcer. Velvet elected to do the same thing at a slow rocking chair canter! This is a very advanced dressage movement! She has to sidepass and go forward at the same time at a canter. The crowd clapped on every sideways rocking canter.

"Whew, what could be next?" said the announcer. "Wait, what are those barrels doing in the arena?" Two barrels laying end to end on their side had been placed in the arena. The announcer goaded Velvet, saying, "Surely you mean to jump those, Velvet?"

Susan made the sign of the cross and prayed. Everyone held their breath as Velvet cantered toward the barrels AND went AROUND THEM! "Ah," the crowd thought, "It was just a joke." But NO! Velvet turned around, cantered to the barrels and sailed over them. The announcer was ecstatic that Susan remained in the saddle. Just to show the world how very special she is, Velvet turned and jumped them again. The applause was enthusiastic! This was JUMPER Velvet!

Velvet decided to show off and sidepassed over both barrels. She had a little trouble with one barrel. She knocked it askew. She had to knock it back straight again to finish sidepassing over both barrels.

The crowd and the announcer thought the Extreme Versatility Team might be done, but more astounding versatility was yet to come. Susan leaped off Velvet and ripped off the saddle.

Susan held up one of Velvet’s front feet and tugged on her mane. Velvet bowed. The crowd clapped. But wait! Susan was doing the same thing with Velvet’s leg. What…? Velvet went down again…and then Laid Down! The crowd did light clapping. The horse savvy crowd knew that lying down meant giving up all protection that the horse has…running and kicking. Too much clapping might make Velvet nervous.

Velvet had lain down in front of a large crowd. She showed the ultimate trust in Susan. Now Susan was rubbing her hands all over Velvet’s back, face and walked to her other side. What….? You could hear the crowd suck in their breath as Susan swung a leg over Velvet’s back and sat down. When Velvet got up, with Susan on her back, the crowd erupted again…and kept clapping as Susan and Velvet fox trotted around the arena for the last time…with Susan riding bareback and bridleless!

The Extreme Versitility Team was a HIT!

The video of this performance is available for $15.00 from Gene Moeller. Gene is in the process of moving, so his address is "fluid" right now. Just email Gene at g-n.moeller1@juno.com