Will Coleman, Off The Record & Chin Tonic HS (Dressage) - EDITED
5:52PM Mar 16, +0000
Speakers:
Speaker
Speaker 1
Will Coleman
Lindsey Berreth
Keywords:
horse
test
mariah carey
rode
amazing
tonic
kentucky
chin
star
woodhead
ian
clean
bruno mars
warmed
diva
biebs
badminton
pop stars
elastic
plan
Okay, well your test was alright, huh?
I forgot the question.
Tell us about your test.
Yeah, I mean Off The Record, he wouldn't be the best in cold weather. Such a stiff horse by nature. But I really thought he warmed up great, and the test maybe was a bit safe but it was really clean, and he's just becoming a consummate pro. I'm really, really proud of him. Chin Tonic is sort of the polar opposite, he's like riding a piece of cooked spaghetti. But he's just so incredibly elastic and he has these amazing gaits. I think there's still things to get better at. Obviously, I missed one change, but he seems to be maturing in a good way and we're just going to keep working to try to get a little better.
You said you rode your tests a little safe on Off the Record. What do you think you played safe in there?
I just think maybe I could have gone for a bit more expression at times, but he just felt like he was maybe holding just a little bit and I didn't want to push him out of rhythm and make a mistake. So I rode just to try to execute a clean test. And oddly, it makes a nicer picture than it feels when you ride him like that, so maybe I should do that all the time. But I was really happy with both horses.
What have you been working on with them this winter? Just like I guess specifically with the flatwork.
Just trying to do everything a little bit better. I don't think there's been one thing that I've decided, 'we need to do this.' Dressage is all about developing your horse to their physical and mental peak, and you're never really done. So I don't think I'm doing anything different. I've got a good program with my wife and my staff and my coaches. We know we're not good enough yet, I'm just trying to get a little bit better.
Who have you been working with on the flat?
Ian Woodhead. He's been amazing for me and my horses.
Are these two both headed to Kentucky?
That is the plan.
Is Chin Tonic gonna try his first five-star?
That is the plan. So we'll see.
He has really stepped up.
Maybe. He gets a good test here. He's been really good. He's done the work and I think he's ready to go and give it a try and see what happens.
You talked about like why you chose to bring them here. I know you've talked in the past you'd like Ian's course design.
I do. And I think especially for ones that are going to Kentucky, or Badminton, or a five-star, I think this course gives them a taste of what a five-star is going to feel like. For example, the jumps into water, a proper coffin, and some bigger questions. He's added a little bit more technicality to it this year. So I think it's a great track and it's always a good test. For me, it's just a good way for me to gauge where my horses are at. It's far enough away from Kentucky that you can still make an adjustment or do something else if you need afterwards.
As far as Chin Tonic, what's his barn name?
Chin.
Okay, can you just describe like, what he's like in the barn? What's his personality?
He's like Mariah Carey, he's a total diva. He's got this very boyish quality about him. He's one of those good-looking guys that knows he's good-looking. He's very sweet, like he's really amazing with my kids. But he's got this colty side to him, he's just flamboyant and needs a lot of attention. So, I don't know Mariah Carey personally, but I hear that she's kind of like that.
I can imagine that.
So, he's male Mariah Carey. I don't know my pop stars well enough to see who like the male equivalent of Mariah Carey is.
Bruno Mars?
Bruno Mars, yeah maybe. That could be good. I don't know. Justin Biebs? He's gone like bohemian now. He's a lovely horse. But he can be a bit much at times.