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| It has been my pleasure to follow Court's career. |
I can only image the thrill that Christine would feel
competing with Court. I can tell you about being his
fan trotting along behind him on the way to ring or to
the watching him impress George Morris in the jump
field at Hunterdon.
Court had a majestic look and attitude. He was very
powerful, graceful, athletic, smart and kind. I can
remember leading Court to the pasture on cold
mornings and he felt GOOD and he wanted the world
to know it. He danced, jumped and reared on the
lead line however I can't complain because no matter
what he was doing he never put me in harms way.
He was VERY careful. He knew exactly where his
feet were and he knew how much room he had and
he just did his thing. His careful and cautious nature
combined with his unmatched atheltic ability and
huge heart made him a superstar and a force to
reckoned with. He loved to compete and he knew
how to win. He loved to show off.. Beside seeing him
in my mind flying over monster jumps, I can see him
in the pasture at Seguine, right after I let him loose,
he would clown around then he would stand straight
up in the air on hind legs and twirl in a circle. He was
fun, funny and serious, he had class and was
sophisticated yet grounded, kind and honest.
Before each competition class I would watch
Christine walk the course that she and Court would
be competing on. Her otherwise very conservative
nature went by the wayside when she would plan the
route for her Court to take navigating the jumps.
She would take huge risks, make tight turns, and
leave out strides. Each jumper course is designed
so that a rider can take the safe and clean route or
use the technical challenges involving both huge
amounts of HEART and talent to finish without faults.
Christine and Court had abundance of talent and
heart and when she mapped her course you knew
that if was not only extremely difficult but that the two
of them would meet the challenge.
I always enjoyed being in Court's entourage at
shows. I was his personal photographer. He made it
so easy to take a good picture. His jump was always
BIG and in round perfect form, all I had to do was
push the button on the camera.
Court was an underdog but he didn't know it. He
lived at home with Christine, he wasn't in daily
training with a world renowned equestrian and he
only competed at less than a dozen horse shows
each year. The horses competing against Court
lived at professional training facilities, competed in at
least one horse show every week and were shown by
USET Team Member and Olympians. Christine and
Court not only entered these classes would raise the
bar and often win. Court made people pay
attention. At a horse show there is hustle and bustle
outside the ring and everyone is involved in getting
things done but when Court competed, people
stopped and paid attention. Court's talent was
recognized by many of the top pros and Christine
had to turn down serious offers to sell him.
competing with Court. I can tell you about being his
fan trotting along behind him on the way to ring or to
the watching him impress George Morris in the jump
field at Hunterdon.
Court had a majestic look and attitude. He was very
powerful, graceful, athletic, smart and kind. I can
remember leading Court to the pasture on cold
mornings and he felt GOOD and he wanted the world
to know it. He danced, jumped and reared on the
lead line however I can't complain because no matter
what he was doing he never put me in harms way.
He was VERY careful. He knew exactly where his
feet were and he knew how much room he had and
he just did his thing. His careful and cautious nature
combined with his unmatched atheltic ability and
huge heart made him a superstar and a force to
reckoned with. He loved to compete and he knew
how to win. He loved to show off.. Beside seeing him
in my mind flying over monster jumps, I can see him
in the pasture at Seguine, right after I let him loose,
he would clown around then he would stand straight
up in the air on hind legs and twirl in a circle. He was
fun, funny and serious, he had class and was
sophisticated yet grounded, kind and honest.
Before each competition class I would watch
Christine walk the course that she and Court would
be competing on. Her otherwise very conservative
nature went by the wayside when she would plan the
route for her Court to take navigating the jumps.
She would take huge risks, make tight turns, and
leave out strides. Each jumper course is designed
so that a rider can take the safe and clean route or
use the technical challenges involving both huge
amounts of HEART and talent to finish without faults.
Christine and Court had abundance of talent and
heart and when she mapped her course you knew
that if was not only extremely difficult but that the two
of them would meet the challenge.
I always enjoyed being in Court's entourage at
shows. I was his personal photographer. He made it
so easy to take a good picture. His jump was always
BIG and in round perfect form, all I had to do was
push the button on the camera.
Court was an underdog but he didn't know it. He
lived at home with Christine, he wasn't in daily
training with a world renowned equestrian and he
only competed at less than a dozen horse shows
each year. The horses competing against Court
lived at professional training facilities, competed in at
least one horse show every week and were shown by
USET Team Member and Olympians. Christine and
Court not only entered these classes would raise the
bar and often win. Court made people pay
attention. At a horse show there is hustle and bustle
outside the ring and everyone is involved in getting
things done but when Court competed, people
stopped and paid attention. Court's talent was
recognized by many of the top pros and Christine
had to turn down serious offers to sell him.
One time we were at the Garden State horse show in northern NJ and I watched Christine walk a turn that just made me say WOW. When her and Court competed and rode that turn I heard everyone in the stands gasp and comment on the how well the turn was executed. From my vantage point it looked so EASY! I know it wasn't but Court and Christine made that turn and every jump look easy. On the day of the "Inside Turn", Anne Kurzinski, one of the most famous horsewomen in the world complimented Christine and Court on her decision and ability to complete it flawlessly. Anne took her trip in the ring and rode the same turn however it wasn't as successful for her. That day Court & Christine competed again almost 100 other riders including Olympians and members of the USET. Most of the horses in class were horses with values in excess $100,000 and were horses who showed every week from January to October giving them an abundance of experience. That day, no one was able to match the time and clean round that Christine and Court turned in. THEY WON! They did it again the very next day too! His outstanding performance and top placings rendered him the Grand Champion. COURT JESTER 1983 - 2007 |