| The idea of the "perfect riding" music has been in my | | | | built a relationship with their music never missed a beat, |
| head since last Saturday night when I was fortunate | | | | transition or opportunity to draw the crowd into their |
| enough to watch some of the best riders in the world | | | | performance. Those riders with new music or music |
| compete in the Masters Freestyle CDI*****. Eight riders | | | | with too many components seemed to be riding a |
| competed, with no two rider's music even similar. How | | | | pattern to music, not dancing with the music. At this |
| amazing and how fascinating. There were composed | | | | level or any level, that is the difference between a |
| pieces, there was rock, there was techno, there was | | | | breathtaking performance and a very good |
| classical, there were vocals, there were non-vocals | | | | performance. |
| and they were all inspirational in one way or another. | | | | Everyone has a particular fondness for one kind of |
| Finishing first was Anky van Grunsven with an 84.450 | | | | music or another. Some people always listen to |
| percent on Salinero. Finishing second was the | | | | classical music and others find the need for energetic |
| American pair of Steffen Peters and Ravel with a | | | | Latin salsa. Others love country music, while techno or |
| score of 81.70 percent. Third place was Isabell Werth | | | | reggeton moves another group of folks. |
| with Satchmo 78.950 percent. Inspirational to say the | | | | The point to this observation is to note that if you and |
| least, watching the top three riders in the world dance | | | | your horse really LOVE your music and it moves |
| to their favorite music with their horsey partners. | | | | YOU, it will be obvious to everyone including judges |
| ALL the music was fantastic, but you could really pick | | | | and spectators. It doesn't matter whether or not your |
| out the riders whose music actually MOVED them. It | | | | onlookers are educated in dressage or freestyles, a |
| showed in their accuracy, it showed in their transitions, | | | | passionate presentation by a rider who is moved by |
| it showed in their emotion, it showed in their risk taking, | | | | their music will leave great impressions on everyone. |
| and it showed in their horses. Those riders who had | | | | |