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I know this is off topic as it has nothing to do with reining. But I’m on vacation, so I might as well. I finally found some real live (as opposed to bronze or marble) horses in Denmark. We spotted them during the changing of the guard at the queen’s royal palace, Amalienborg. They were beautiful Oldenburgs owned and ridden by Copenhagen’s Finest, the mounted police. The two officers we met told us about the training they go through with the horses.

The police horses are tested once a week for their calmness (bombproofedness?). Guns and chainsaws are a few of the things used to make loud noises for this testing. They are taught to actually push crowds back with their bodies. They also practice jumping once a week. Busy horses!

The riders study and practice dressage and jumping. The best part is what they do for fun. You know those giant exercise balls that are so popular right now for working your “core?” Well, they use one of those for a soccer ball and play horse soccer with each other. They even have a tournament every year with their “Swedish colleagues.” Sad to say, last year, the Swedish horse soccer team won. So, the next match should be good! I would love to see a horse soccer match.

I was admiring the double reins and Pelham bits when it occurred to me that this might be a great opportunity to see a turn on the forehand demonstration. The officer with the darker horse was nice enough to show me how it’s done. I paid attention to his leg position: just behind the girth strap. It was a precision maneuver. The horse didn’t lead with his shoulders at all. I was jealous and impressed all at the same time.