DOCTEUR CENTAUR RECOLLECTIONS

Early imprints of giddy up and donkey ride experiences reminisced by pictures in the family albums have faded out of my memory. My earliest equestrian recollection happened in 1939 in England. I was walking around the country side behind my older brother Bernard. He was eleven. I was nine. We spot a horse grazing peacefully in a field. Ignoring the fence, we cros through it to get near the horse. He is deeply involved in munching green grass. The horse let us get fairly close before he picks up his head to acknowledge our presence. We freeze. He sizes us. See no threat. Resumes grazing. Feels ignored but reassured we move closer. Boldly, my brother starts to pet him. The horse switchs his tail. I remain a safe distance back. Bernard turns around snaps his fingers at me and tells me to help him climb on the horse's back. Reluctantly, I help. As soon as he feels my brother's weight on his back the horse picks up his head, looks at me, lifts his front left hoof, and steps on my right big toe. The pain makes me scream. My brother dismounts in a hurry. He tries to push the horse away. In vain! The horse indiffferent to the harm he is causing resumes grazing. Bernard grabs me under the shoulders and pulls me back. The slickness of the English turf helps my toe slid from under the heavy hoof. I am in agony. No time for it. Someone is coming. Bernard runs away. To escape, I hurriedly limp behind him. My next recollections are my first rides way back in October 1943. Look at my smile. Ensuing memories abund. This E-book will take you through thousands of equestrian encounters. You'll see!

EQUESTRIAN ENCOUNTERS   OF THE FIRST KIND

TOP PICTURE: Summer 1935 Cabourg, France - Michel on Donkey; Bernard holding the Donkey BOTTOM PICTURE: Fall 1943 Fontainebleau, France - Michel riding the arab Radjah.

Copyright 2001, 2003. All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan & Beau Geste S.O.A.R.

This page was last updated on: May 27, 2003