Great Time at WEG ! Great Pessoa story !

[red_squirrel_ridge]

Just returned home last night after an awesome but too short visit to the games. Saw vaulting, driving and final four jumping, definitely a great experience. Met the girls at the Coth booth who were very nice. And did a little shopping

ALSO met a little horse crazy girl and her grandma (who had been at the games for the jumping) at the airport who had had the most amazing experience:

They were turning in their rental car when a man approached with a brand new WEG Breyer model horse, and explained that he didn’t have room left in his luggage and would the girl like to have this Breyer …

It was Rodrigo Pessoa !

Who also gave her his autograph and arranged for her and her parents to meet his horses at the next show ! I was so impressed and a little jealous ! I am now a Pessoa fan. What a great ending to a amazing couple of days !

My friends and I are already dreaming about Normandy…

[poltroon]

Swoon! That is some memory!

[Brydelle_Farm]

[QUOTE=red squirrel ridge;5151615]
My friends and I are already dreaming about Normandy…[/QUOTE]

Me too!

Thanks for sharing that story re: Rodrigo, very sweet!

[Foxtrot_s]

Yes - athletes are role models and have fans - Rodrigo has earned my respect on a human level and an athletic level.

[Secret_Dove]

The Rodrigo story was so sweet! I heard that he did a autograph/picture session after he won the GP at Harrisburg last year. It’s always nice when a rider takes time out to meet with fans!!

[BBowen]

What a wonderful story about Rodrigo; lucky little girl.

When I found out WEG would be in Normandy next, I called hubby to start planting that seed. He is a huge historr buff, so there will be something for both of us.

[Bluey]

What a good story that is.

His father Nelson was also a very kind, nice fellow.:yes:

[Go_Fish]

I just like looking at him…

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=Go Fish;5151775]
I just like looking at him…:D[/QUOTE]
:lol:

[dressagetraks]

What a neat story!

I loved the shot of him during the final four where he was obviously giving the Saudi Arabian guy some extended advice on how to ride Rodrigo’s horse before that combination went. Class act.

[MimsEppi]

[QUOTE=dressagetraks;5151819]
What a neat story!

I loved the shot of him during the final four where he was obviously giving the Saudi Arabian guy some extended advice on how to ride Rodrigo’s horse before that combination went. Class act.[/QUOTE]

Seconded! He was really explaining how to hold the horse together (my interpretation anyway…)

[Jeito]

[QUOTE=Bluey;5151773]
His father Nelson was also a very kind, nice fellow.:yes:[/QUOTE]

He still IS, Bluey. I’m sure you know. I just thought it was funny the way you phrased it.

I thought all the Final Four riders were fabulous. . .but Rodrigo is the one I would most want to ride my horse!

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Discobold;5151867]
He still IS, Bluey. I’m sure you know. I just thought it was funny the way you phrased it.

I thought all the Final Four riders were fabulous. . .but Rodrigo is the one I would most want to ride my horse![/QUOTE]

:lol:

I phrased that in the past because it has been 40+ years since I saw him, not any other reason.
They were a nice family.:yes:

[PreppyPonies]

Very sweet story with Pessoa. It was great to see him look legitimately happy for the Saudi rider doing well.

[QUOTE=Bluey;5151887]
:lol:

I phrased that in the past because it has been 40+ years since I saw him, not any other reason.
They were a nice family.:yes:[/QUOTE]

If you looked closely during the final four you probably saw him in the warmup area with his son;)

[Pat_Ness]

My short hello from Rodrigo at the warm up arena made my day, but what a neat story at the airport. I was hoping for a Rodrigo Saturday night win but oh well - it was just a fascinating night to watch. The horse I wanted to win made it - go Hickstead!

[ceffyl]

[QUOTE=Bluey;5151773]
What a good story that is.

His father Nelson was also a very kind, nice fellow.:yes:[/QUOTE]

Was and still is. As a very young (teenage) rider back in the 1970’s in the UK at both the Royal International Horse Show and The Horse of the Year Show when they were both held at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, Nelson Pessoa was a regular competitor there. And he always was exceptionally polite, and helpful, and I will never forget his kind attitude when my father (much to my initial embarrasment) asked the great man for advice regarding a particularly difficult horse I was competing. So nice to see his son has the same characteristic, too rare these days.

[dwblover]

What a great story! That little girl must be on cloud 9!!

[mimiwenk]

He gave the winner Saturday night a huge hug when he won too.

[Jeito]

[QUOTE=mimiwenk;5152552]
He gave the winner Saturday night a huge hug when he won too.[/QUOTE]

Well, yeah, but the winner trains with Nelson (Neco)

[Jeito]

The winner trains with Nelson Pessoa. I would love to be in that 30-mile-radius area in Belgium where all four top riders supposedly train.