Huaso Letters

Letters from readers about the World Record High Jump page.

RE: Huaso - World Record High Jump
12/28/07

I am a 69 year old chilean man who was lucky enough to be present at the Regimiento Coraceros, the venue where the equestrian high jumping record was set. Please don't take this as a criticism, but the name is Alberto Larraguibel. He is not Morales. That's what in the States is called the middle name, even when in Chile is positioned as the last name. It was a national party of immense proportions. The festivities lasted for 2 days. It was fantastic.
- Horacio Arce

RE: HUASO'S WORLD RECORD
HELLO:

I WAS VERY MOVED TO FIND THE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS AMAZING HORSE AND HIS HISTORY. THE REASON FOR MY EMAIL IS TO CORECCT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN YOUR ARTICLE.

THE CORRECT NAME OF THE TRAINER IS RAFAEL MONTTI, I KNOW SINCE HE WAS MY UNCLE. ALSO, THE OTHER NAME YOU DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL IS LUIS RIQUELME.

NEVERTHELESS, YOUR PUBLICATION BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. I GREW UP WITH MY UNCLE, HE WAS MY SECOND FATHER, BUT MOST IMPORTANT THAN THAT, HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING AND AMAZING HUMAN BEING.

WERE YOU AWARE THAT HE WROTE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON DRESSAGE, WITH ALL THE TECHNIQUES HE TAUGHT HIS STUDENTS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF THIS YEAR.

RE: Feedback of World Record Jump
8/2/07

Hi:
With regard to the world record high jump, here's a link to the actual video taken in 1949 of Huaso making the jump. It's amazing! It's on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyBmEF-dwbU

Thanks, Rufus

NOTE: Another video, in Spanish, is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_JK5UW4PEo

RE: Question About Your Website
6/20/2006
Hello!

I came across your site while doing some research on Puissance show-jumping records. The story you have about Huaso is great, but I was wondering where you found the information? The organization I work for, the Equus & Equestrian Sport Foundation, is holding a small Puissance in July, and I’m writing a short blurb about it to be read to the attendees. Thanks for your time, and keep up the good work. Oh, and the animation you put together of Huaso jumping is pretty amazing!

Best Regards,
Nettie

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RE: Huaso
3/20/06

I am very glad to have found out about your web page. However, there are some mistakes in your information that I would like to correct for you.

I was 7 years old at the time in Vina del Mar, Chile. My
parents were friends with Captain Alberto Larraguibel,
(Morales is the mother's maiden name and in latin america ones goes by the father's name: Larraguibel)so the proper name is Alberto
Larraguibel. Regarding Louis Riquelme, the names spells Luis. The name Raphael Monte is incorrect, the right spelling is Rafael monti.
The "show grounds" in fact were the Coraceros Cavalry
Regiment in Vina del Mar an army post. "Huaso"
means "cowboy" as you say, but chilean is not a language, spanish is. I have a DVD that I have transfered from the newsreels of the
time.I cherish that moment in time that I remember very
well although my short age.

My father was very much involved in this particular event behind the scenes so to speak, and he is on the newsreel carring Captain
Larraguibel after the jump at the moment of glory.I will be
glad to foward this DVD(it is in black and white ant the
quality is newsreel type, so don't expect a technicholor production) so you can reconstruct this event that after 57 years has never been broken.

Sincerely,
Ray H. Perez
Miami, FL.

World record high jump
Sept 28, 2005

Hi
I was trying to find out the world record for high jump and came across your site. You have it listed as 8 ft 2 in on Huaso in 1949. However, I also came across a claimed world record at Olympia in 1978, when Nick Skelton jumped 7 ft 75/16 in (not sure what 75/16 in means) on Everest Lastic.
I don't know what sort of jump that was, ie hurdle type like Huaso or a wall, but why is it listed as a world record when it is so much lower?
Hope you can solve this for me
thanks
Barbara