Happy birthday Edward? Eduardo? Eadweard?

As everyone knows, or at least anyone who has used Google this morning, today is the birthday of the long dead Mr E. Muybridge (Muggridge? Muygridge?).

Notable for changing his names on a regular basis, he also found time to develop a method that proved that horses do indeed have all four hooves off the ground, and that they are tucked under the body rather than splayed out at either end as thought by those who worried about these things.

So well done there Mr. E., although nowadays readers of this site will have become depressingly familiar with how easy this is to illustrate with a digital camera.

Still, you will be pleased to know that yesterday marked the end of the Polo Season in Thailand. Cue much wine and champagne after the match and tearful hugs as everyone (apart from me) disappears to more pleasant climes for the summer.

As a birthday tribute to Eadweard, and to mark the end of the season, here is a hooves in the air shot this last weekend featuring a small Thai lady pushing a much larger opponent off the ball.

No more polo photos inflicted on you until October (unless I unearth something special); but my work is not done. A couple of thousand shots from last weekend to process, and then I have a commission for a polo book which will require several days trawling through photos, followed by a trip to Hong Kong next month to work with the client. Should be finished with the job by around September; just in time to clear the decks before the season starts again. Won’t even have time to change my name.

Comments 🔗

2012-04-09 | Pete says

Slippery Eggs ?????? The imagination boggles.

2012-04-09 | Barry says

Yes. Please explain.

2012-04-09 | Spike says

Some things are best left a mystery.

2012-04-09 | Pete says

That means you have no idea - dunnit?

2012-04-09 | Spike says

Jesus wants you to find your own path to the truth. I’ll give you a clue: " Jumpy Bunnies"

2012-04-09 | Pete says

On a separate note - if big chap in yellow shirt is holding his flexible stick-thingy in his right hand, as per the rules, how the hell is his left hand holding on to the horse?

2012-04-09 | Spike says

Right arm crosses over left. Try it in the comfort of your own home. Or on a horse.

2012-04-09 | Pete says

By ’eck, he’s a contortionist!!

2012-04-09 | Pete says

PS - Sorry to have omitted compliments on the picture. 8 out of 8 gravitationally unchallenged hooves - very good. Sharpish picture too - but the ‘slippery eggs’ are a little blurred.

2012-04-09 | Spanky says

I thought it was the Purportedly Magical Jew.

2012-04-10 | Spike says

Sharpish? It’s as sharp as something you might refer to as a razor.