[QUOTE=2ndyrgal;3786797]
only thing hotter than Sean Connery would be Sean Connery in breeches. On a horse. In front of me.[/QUOTE]
Bagged that one! :lol: I was stand-in for Sean Connery…
I was working in Ireland as a rider and groom for Michael Stone, who in the days before his political career in FEI was a good jump rider. We were providing the horses and horse expertise for the filming of the movie The Great Train Robbery which starred Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland. I have no idea how that came about, but probably through Michael’s father, Colonel Stone who I suspect was well connected (also a dear man dispite the imposing title).
Half of the stabling at the Michael’s place was rented out to Jackie Dougherty who was one of the leading dressage riders at the time. She and most of her “girls” were extras in the film, as were Michael and his brother David. Being a rather shy 18, I didn’t want to do that, so instead I landed the job as Sean Connery’s stand-in, which was a rather presumptuous title since it involved no filming per se.
Ironically, I had no idea who he was at the time, so I was totally unimpressed. I even tried to instruct him on how to hold his double reins so he would not look foolish on film (he had them gripped all four in one fist with his whip pointed skyward in the other fist). He looked down at me from his great height and haughtily replied " I know how to ride…I play POLO!".
I remember that Sean Connery also came several times to ride at the stable on one of Michael jumpers and I had to give the horse a good warm-up ride before Mr. Connery arrived so he didn’t get thrown. :>) He also complained about his horse in the film because everyone else were riding the nice jumpers or dressage horses and he and his lady in the scene were riding portly irish draughts!
Good story to tell my grandkids…