Return To Wildwood – May 2024

It had been 20 years since my last visit to Wildwood Farm. Wildwood is a special place; steeped in history and holding so many memories the air feels heavy with both the past and the humidity. The trees and grass overwhelm me and I can’t help but feeling like it’s a bit of heaven on earth for horses. I hadn’t seen Olympic gold medal-winner  Melanie Smith Taylor in person since my last visit but after a fun Eclectic Conversation last summer I had thrown the idea of coming out to do some filming with her for the Gazette. We had just run an article in the issue No.134 of magazine about her clinics she was conducting with Alicia Byberg doing the groundwork and Melanie teaching the jumping. (I hadn’t seen Alicia since she and I rode in a clinic in Buck’s home clinic in Sheridan way back in ‘06 or so!) When I mentioned the idea Melanie was game and we found a time that fit our schedules and so off to Tennessee I went.

Melanie was kind enough to invite me to stay in her house and I was thrilled to stay. Her home is lovely, filled with horsey accents and memorabilia that catch your eye at every turn. Melanie’s longtime friend Jamie Caton who also co-wrote the book Riding with Life was there for the weekend too. So in between filming the time was filled with oh so many fantastic conversations on; you know me, I love to visit.

The first day we had rain which was not unexpected (back when we were planning dates we planned two full days to film, in case of rain.) Melanie suggested we start in the barn, which as you can see is one of the most amazing barns I’ve ever seen. I was introduced to Katrina Matz-Teel who works at for Wildwood Farm. We started filming with Steve Thaemert who has been on the team for many years and he did an excellent job talking us through working a horse on the end of a leadrope while tied; helping to step the hindquarters through and get soft. Many of the horses at Wildwood now are off the track Thoroughbreds so they present a common set of challenges.

Alicia arrived from her 3 hour drive down from Nashville area. Big hugs and it was like no time had passed. She got to work with a young horse demonstrating preparation on the ground. She’s an incredible teacher, offering detailed narration about not only what she is doing but her thought process, feelings, etc. What a treat to find another talented instructor! While it rained on we kept busy filming riding preparation and then she hopped on in the barn isle in a halter giving a clear picture of the transition from groundwork to riding in one of the coolest lessons I’ve filmed yet.

A little lunch break and then we were out in to the ring with two young jumping horses. Both Alicia and Katrina, did some preparatory exercises then started riding some flat work exercises. Melanie joined them in the ring and helped them school the horses over a variety of gymnastic exercises. I think the most memorable takeaway was her talking about how she likes to make the exercises challenge the horse and not the rider. So much to learn; jumping is not my forte, but it was amazing to see the direct connection between groundwork and riding and watch the changes in the young horses under the guidance of all three talented horsewomen.

Dinner and more horse chat and then off to bed early to be ready for another day of filming.

Sunday promised to be a hot one so we got right to it, filming the more advanced horses first. Two young jumpers worked through a variety of groundwork variations, particulary cool was the half circle exercise using cones for guidance, very helpful! Then on to gymnastics with Melanie offering instruction and encouragement. We took a minute to film some cool (I hope) B-roll with me sitting on the back of a truck, Steve driving though the pasture and the gals following the truck. It sure seems like its going to be cool. (Haven’t edited it yet!) We finished up filming with the two younger horses that Alicia and Katrina had worked on the ground the first morning. Some really basic exercises that made me feel like hey, I could try this with my non-jumping horse when I get home.

We took a lunch break to cool off then back to the barn for a wrap up visit. With all the cast and crew from the weekend “on the bench” we discussed all that we had done with the horses over the weekend and had some great laughs and exchanges about horsemanship and so much more. Jamie had mentioned several times over the filming that the work we were filming parallelled so well what they had set down in the book, the connection from ground to saddle. That felt like a fantastic complement because the Riding with Life book is one of my all time favorites.

What a weekend! So many connections through time, through memory, from the written page to video from groundwork to up and over fences. The editing process begins and I’m thrilled to have so much great material to share with you in upcoming issues of The Horesman’s Gazette!