Jubilee was 11 years old at the Helsinki Games The rider was Lis Hartel of Denmark The horse was a mare named Jubilee They were in Helsinki Finland for the 1952 Olympic Games It was the first year that women were allowed to compete with men in any equestrian sport It was also the first year the games were open to riders who were not in their country's military Jubilee weighed approximately 1 000 pounds 450 kg but she looked feather light as she crossed the arena She lengthened her stride so that she seemed to be floating on air Then she shortened her steps so that she moved
up and down like a carousel horse She trotted sideways across the arena Her front and hind legs crossed in front of each other Still no one could see the commands that Hartel gave to Jubilee Hartel and Jubilee left went on to win a second Olympic silver in 1956 Henri Saint Cyr center won gold again and Liselott Linsenhoff took bronze
The pair trotted down the centerline of the arena and halted Hartel saluted to the judges The audience applauded It was a beautiful round The ride earned them the silver medal At the awards ceremony the winner Henri Saint Cyr of Sweden lifted Hartel from Jubilee's back and helped her stand on the podium Hartel could not walk on her own At the age of 23 THERAPEUTIC RIDING she was paralyzed by polio Hartel promoted using horses People wondered how to provide therapy for people Hartel could get Jubilee to with disabilities Today people around the world receive therapy listen so well when her own from horses movement was so limited Over the years Hartel and Jubilee built a relationship that let the mare sense the smallest cues from her rider Hartel could use slight shifts of her seat and thighs instead of her lower leg and heel Jubilee's sensitive mouth allowed Hartel to give soft rein signals without needing a strong grip The pair showed the value of softness and harmony when working with horses
ON THE BATTLEFIELD Dressage began as a way to prepare horses for war In ancient Greece and Rome horses had to obey their riders even during the chaos of battle They needed to listen Ancient soldiers sometimes held a sword or spear in one hand and a shield in the other
