In 1986, 20 years ago, when we hosted
the first FEI ride in the USA and perhaps the western hemisphere at Swanton
Pacific, the East Region mustered a terrific team. Maggy Price was one of
the team and John Crandall III was another one. He placed second on a 1/2
Arab named Magic Aquarius (second only to Becky Hart on Rio.) We have a
video taken of the ride, and the scenes of John approaching the finish line in
the dark, posting in perfect synchronization with his horse was
breathtaking. There was music, as well, and I don't remember what it was,
but it was perfect for a trotting horse. I remember being quite impressed
with John's horsemanship then, and his quiet demeanor and apparent total lack of
ego. It's nice to see a winner, in Tevis' case a DOUBLE winner, being
so ego-free and just smiling in satisfaction while stroking his
horse's face.
John Crandell is a fantastic horse man from a family of
horsemen. Heraldic is a Fantastic ASGAURD arabian horse from
exquisite selective breeding. John lives in the mountains
similar to you South Easterner's Leatherwood, the
combination of outstanding human family and outstanding equine
family is what happened at Tevis.
