TRIBUTE TO SLIPPER OF ARROW EQUESTRIAN 1989-2010

I am writing this as I know many people here have been to Arrow and had the pleasure of being taught by Slipper.

Very sadly Slipper lost his life aged 21 to colic caused by internal melanoma on 27/10/10.

To me Slipper was the epitome of a classically trained schoolmaster and a credit to Sue’s training. He was the kindest of kind horses to complete novices, giving a feeling of real safety during lunge and vaulting lessons. For more advanced riders he gladly gave his all - revealing the pure gold of his nature and his innate sensitivity. But for riders who over-estimated their abilities and forgot to give forward that essential one tenth of an inch he would become heavy, leaning on the bit and with a rather large stopping distance (though still with a smile on his face). With Sue’s guidance he reduced many an ego to realise “it’s always the rider, never the horse”.

He had a very unusual start to life, his dam was used in a riding school that was sold. The new owners were puzzled by this mare that was mysteriously gaining weight despite the strictest of diets and one day Slipper just popped out!! On enquiry it turned out that a naughty colt had escaped into the mare’s field one day…. This colt was out of a grade A showjumping mare and was sired by Marius (the sire of Milton). So Slipper was related to the most famous show jumper in history. He thrived in their fields for a few years then was used as a demo horse by Monty Roberts on his first tour of the UK. He was backed in about 5 minutes…. Subsequently he was evented by Richard Walker for 9 months and also won about £100 showjumping. When the owners could no longer afford the training fees he came to Sue at 9 years old.

Slipper was the first horse I rode at Arrow and I learnt so much with him. I did one Erik Herbermann clinic with him and my own horse. It was extremely useful to be able to get the correct feel on a trained horse and then immediately ride my horse. When I was struggling with alignment and balance issues on my horse Erik would call out “which horse are you riding” expecting the answer “Slipper!” so that I would instantly recall the pathway that Slipper had taught me and my body would react accordingly.

After my first trips to Portugal I came back all fired up and primed to do advanced movements and Slipper rather to his surprise found himself being asked to collect his canter more and more as I worked with Sue on how to start the basic training towards canter pirouettes. And I was really proud of being able to work towards improving his flying changes.

The last time I rode Slipper was the week before he died. Sue was on holiday and I really had the rides of a lifetime on him. No I didn’t do any advanced work at all – I simply took pleasure in seeing how light an aid I could give to get a response, how smoothly could I make our transitions, how could I best help this older horse to feel good and dance. And dance he did – his final gift to me.

He will live on in everyone's hearts and in the riding of the multitude of people he helped teach. And whenever I have a problem with any horse I am riding I know I can think “which horse am I riding? Slipper!” and his last gift to me will be constantly renewed.

Run free Slipper, and eat all the grass you want in horse heaven.