Our friends had a spot near the paddock where the horses would come out before the races and I loved the way these magnificent animals moved as they paraded around for all to see. Such grace and yet such power.
Then they were taken up to the track for the races and the races were amazing; such speed, and the way the horses leaped over the barriers with ease.
After each race, the horses would return to the paddock, and these once graceful animals were sagging and drenched with sweat and just looked beaten. Carlos told me that, many times, they cough up blood from their lungs because they really aren't made to run that fast and jump that high, with a tiny man on their backs. I sort of lost interest in the races because, to me, it destroyed the beauty of the animal.
Nic Fiddian-Green understands the beauty of the animal and has become quite the sculptor of horses....bringing their grace and strength and sheer size to the most unusual spaces.
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