I'll never forget when I saw Jerry jogging back after a race. He pulled one of the classiest moves I thought I had ever seen a rider make. Instead of dropping his leg down and riding Indian style he held his foot up on top of the horse and never faltered. You would have never known what happened if you didn't have a keen eye. It's little things like that, that make someone as well respected as Jerry.
I remembered Jerry when it happened to me in a race. I managed to get the job done and pull it off but I'll be the first one to tell you it isn't an easy feat holding that leg up there, it's plenty hard. Plus, making it look graceful as Jerry did, that's a whole other ball game but I managed. That's where the "ballet" comes into the title of this picture I did. Ballet dancers are extreme athletes, and manage to make everything look effortless with their partners, despite mistakes that the unknowing observer might miss. That's what it felt like was going on. My horse and I where the dancers and we where the show. We had this huge mishap, and it was my job to make it look like nothing had happened to keep the audience happy so they would get what they payed for.
Who knew ballerina's and jockey's had so much in common?
I was proud to be able to get through that the way I did, and it was all Thanks to Jerry for unknowingly showing me that a great rider doesn't let anything stop them from getting the job done. That is, getting the job done despite what happens, and making it look gooood. Hats off to you buddy!
--Marvin Hayes
March 12, 2012
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