The English Cowboy (Dave Levy)

Even as a youngster from London I couldn't get enough of the cowboy as romantisised in western novels, Zane Grey, Owen Wister etc. 2 or 3 books each week. But it was in Canada where I realised my dream of becoming a horseman and acquiring cowboy skills.

My first involvement with horses began in 1961 when I worked as a “settler” in the first off-track betting shops in the UK. After getting a B.Sc. in Biochemistry with a major in Bridge my first job in IBM in computer design began my lifelong involvement in computers and communications. I emigrated to Canada in 1977, I was 33. For the next 11 years I slaved for BNR, Mitel and ITT before getting it together and starting my own companies, first Plaintree (1988 IPO 1993), Loran (1993 sold to Peregrine 2000), Mobile Knowledge (2001 now operates as a private company), and Objectworld (2004) sold to Adtran in 2009.

I met my beautiful wife Kimmie while fox hunting where our shared love of horses brought us together. Shortly after, the real trouble began when we decided Polo sounded interesting. A passion that only poverty it seems can cure. It all began innocently enough, knowing no better we contacted Memo Gracida (we didn't know he was the best polo player in the world with a 10 goal rating for over 20 years) to get guidance and training on Polo. He later told us no one had phoned him before and been so audacious as to ask him to introduce them to polo. He was so surprised he agreed to help. Amongst my greatest experiences was being in Argentina with Memo for the Tortugas and Hurlingham Cups. In one memorable friendly game at Ellerstina my team was me, Memo, Gonzalo Pierez and his son Nicholas, this is the stuff of fiction.

Amongst our great equestrian facilities I am very proud to have a USPA regulation polo field and a string of playing ponies.

In teaching and playing polo I realised that many of the skills I used in reining were equally applicable to polo and even more broadly to all horse riding. My friend Josh Lyons, who is likely amongst the greatest of present day horseman, concurred with this view. It was from Josh that I came to realise the central idea of horsemanship underpinning every equestrian discipline. My hero Monty Foreman likewise saw how the cowboy could benefit from polo skills and vice versa. And indeed , I see horsemanship as the core ingredient in all of my teaching and riding.
 
Riding is my cure for all lifes difficulties and through teaching horsemanship I bring this benefit to others.  I am truly blessed to have enjoyed my high tech working life, yet run a ranch where I can stick and ball on my favourite mounts Nostalgia, Columbia, Diablo and Bahjo. work my  trick horse Mr. Noodle, ride my performance mare Lena, or train and teach other horse lovers.

What can be better than being Canadian, have run my own companies, and own one of the great ranches just outside of Ottawa, where Kimmie and I can share our love of horses and teach others the joy of becoming better horsemen.