Horse show at Sedgefield Stables - circa 1964

Featuring Arthur Godfrey and his horse. A fantastic display by the horse. Arthur said he was the smartest horse in the world. I found this article form 1956 about this.
The familiar figure seen on horseback on these pages, frequently described as the most golden salesman of our day, is here engaged in an unfamiliar pursuit—one which, of all the many things he does, is probably closest to his heart. To Arthur Godfrey the business of learning with his horse Goldie the intricate and beautiful art of dressage is one of the major fascinations in his life, and if in the process he sells dressage to others—well, so much the better. Dressage badly needs a salesman. Until recently it was almost unheard of in this country by the general public and all but unpracticed by the horseman. But now this time-tested style of schooling is attracting some overdue attention. There are several reasons—besides Godfrey's—for this.
Godfrey makes no pretense of being an expert. "As far as the high school of dressage is concerned," he says, "I'm still in grade school. But Goldie and me, we're learning." Nor is he ignorant of the fact that his simple presence on a horse creates considerable interest—his horse show act with Goldie (full name, Catactin Gold) is shrewdly balanced between elements of international Grand Prix dressage and the more obviously spectacular high school tricks of the circus. So, in intervals between Goldie's saying his prayers, making like a camel and spinning on a pedestal, the uninitiated spectator is painlessly acquainted with the passage, the piaffe, pirouettes—and even such fundamentals of horsemanship as changing diagonals at the trot and leads at the canter. Since he wears a portable microphone during his exhibitions, Horseman-Showman-Salesman Godfrey can and does explain his moves as he rides.

To be sure, there are those inclined to curl the lip slightly and state that this is not Olympic dressage, but no one is more aware than Godfrey of just what he is doing and why; what he wants to learn and how soon he can learn it.

"We're both just learning," he is apt to say over the loudspeaker as he goes through a maneuver in the ring, "but if Goldie makes any mistakes, it's my fault."

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Entertainment

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• Horse
• show

[amazing763]

Arthur Godfrey and Mrs. Josephine Hartford McIntosh, heir of A&P Groceries and owner of Sunnyfield in Bedford NY, worked to bring good dressage instruction to the US. They brought in Hans Kuhse, formerly a German cavalry officer, and Werner Plaatze (whose name might be spelt differently), a former cadet at the Spanish Riding School. Several students at Sunnyfield in the early 1960s were fortunate to have them as teachers.

[littlegodfrey]

Sorry, my post below depended on memory! The auto accident was on Sat., Sept. 26, 1931, and he did not return to radio (WRC) until Jan., 1932. --littlegodfrey.

[littlegodfrey]

AG was badly injured in a 1933 auto accident on his way to a glider lesson. I first saw AG perform on Goldie (Catoctin Gold) in 1959. Since then have done some riding and still don't know how he did it, with all the permanent injuries to his hips etc. and a not totally successful 1953 hip replacement. Wonderful to see this act once again. WOW, in fact!!

[LastTree]

I used to watch Arthur and Goldie at the National Horse Shows in NYC every year at Madison Square Garden. He said he had lots of Goldie's. My Uncle said that is was did him in, he fell from a horse and was in pain for years. My goodness this is true horse show history!!!!