In a few dramatic moments at the Palexpo Arena at the CHI Geneva horse show during the Saturday night speed class, Conor Swail’s horse Vital Chance De La Roque, loses their bridle!
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Irish Rider, Conor Swail and his horse, Vital Chance De La Roque had completed an intense 5-star class but when it came to the final oxer, the 13-year-old gelding let out a powerful buck in celebration. As he usually does.
However, this celebratory kick was not like the others. There was a collective gasp from the spectators, as every rider’s worst nightmare comes true. The bridle comes clean off the horse’s head.
Conor said in an interview
“I was forward in the saddle, riding through the finish, so this time when he bucked, he threw me up his neck. I was pushing myself back to try and get back in the saddle but that was when his head suddenly came up and I just pushed the bridle right off. Then, with the bridle off, he just started to run, and I almost came off the side. But, thankfully the corner was right there in front of us and him coming round to the left helped me get back up.”
Image by Quin Saunders from FEI.org
After the almost terrifying accident, Vital De La Roque and Conor nonchalantly cantered around the arena with the bridle in hand and no means of control. Conor remarked that “He is normally quiet, so I wasn’t that bothered that he would get too crazy.”
Once Vital De La Roque came to a halt, he stood calmly as the bitless bridle was put back on. Despite the dramatic finale, the duo placed fourth, with Conor’s team-mate Shane Sweetnam winning the round!
Related Read – An Illustrated Guide To Horse Bits!
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First image credit – Elli Birch/Boots And Hooves Photography
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