Grappa’s famous wild-eyed expression spelled trouble in his younger days. He’d fixate on some distant apparition and stand perfectly still, wooden-necked as a carousel horse. When he finally came back to earth, he’d either win the class or buck you off. These days his bright eyes show he’s still got it—that old exuberance and vitality—a gift at age twenty-seven.
I stood outside his window and saw myself and the green hills reflected in his eye (click to enlarge):
A couple of great shots from his showing days:
Photo: James Leslie Parker
Photo: James Leslie Parker
Here he is earlier this spring, demonstrating a tame version of the fixation stance. He maintained this exact mid-walking-step position while I crossed the field taking pictures. You can see from his handsome profile why we call him The Moose.
