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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
FEBRUARY 1, 2008 "The movie we're doing with Keiko is a story that hasn't been told. We get to tell the story and show people footage of him swimming free, looking for a mate, interacting with wild orcas." —Theresa Demarest jUStjOUt.41 Bouffant Salon »10 OFF Haircuts $20 OFF Haircolor $10 OFF Waxing Demarest is producing "Keiko's Dream...Keiko's Legacy," a 15* to 20-minute educational DVD about the famous orca's five years in the wild. says Demarest. “It was a crazy thing to do, but I Still, it will be a while before Demarest is com didn’t know that. I just fell in love with her.” fortable riding Tehya. When she reaches that point, “Herd of Two” documents Tehya’s development she will be able to wrap up the second movie. as she grows from a filly to a young mare. The film During this flurry of filmmaking, Demarest has focuses on the training style called natural horse not been performing live as often as she has in the past. She is still an active songwriter and musician— manship, which Demarest is studying extensively. in fact, she is writing another album—but film “In natural horsemanship, you have to learn the making takes up much of her time and resources. psychology of horses,” she says. “You have to learn For instance, she is searching for a sponsor to how to communicate with them.” Demarest’s studies fueled her enthusiasm for her support a live studio recording of the music for horse, which she describes as “stunningly intelli “Keiko’s Dream...Keiko’s Legacy.” Demarest does miss performing, so whenever gent and beautiful.” She likes to say that if you were the right invitation comes along, she and her band, to throw a Rubik’s Cube to her horse, Tehya would Good Company, are likely to accept. In September, solve it in less than 30 seconds, “throw it back and they performed at In Other Words bookstore’s Luna say, ‘Now give me something hard.’ ” Music Series and did a live show for KBOO-FM’s Tehya is half Arabian, an ancient breed known WomanSou/ program. for its sensitivity, intelligence and endurance, and half American Saddlebred, a breed that some call the ulti mate show horse. • Because Tehya is young, energetic and strong, riding her is a challenge for Demarest, who jokingly describes herself as ancient. In addition, both horse and rider are relatively “green,” or inexperienced. “There’s a saying: Green on green makes black on blue,” says Demarest with a grin. So for now, Tehya and Demarest are mostly learning their roles as mount and rider separately. Professional train ers are working with Tehya, while Demarest learns to ride Demarest is studying a training style that focuses on the on more experienced animals. psychology of horses. Demarest is producing Whether performing live, writing songs or a follow-up movie to “Herd of Two.” It will chron recording soundtracks for film, Demarest says music icle her journey into horsemanship, which hasn’t will always be part of her life. “Music is one of the been an easy one. many reasons why I’m still sitting here today.’ © “I get on the horse, and as soon as the horse starts to go, 1 get scared,” she says. Demarest, who was told 20 years ago that she had only six months to live, is in great physical shape these days. But she risks her body every time she gets on a horse, which most people in their late 40s or 50s would probably agree is a bit scary. But Demarest perseveres, lifting weights and taking aerobics in order to stay fit enough to ride her young horse. “I spent the whole first year cry ing my eyes out, but now I’m cantering bareback and doing pretty well,” she says. View trailers for “Keiko’s Dream... Keiko’s Legacy ’ and “Herd of Two" and purchase THERESA $50 Mani Pedi Combo 33 NW 9 th A venue • S econd F loor • P ortland ■H- REBECCA R agai N is a Portland freelance writer whose family used to raise and train Tennessee Walking Horses. C,ontact her at www. rebeccaragain. com. ■ / 9: Portland L e sb i an Directed by Ray Elliott Zita Jefferson, Accompanist Passion For Sat. Feb. 9th v 7:30 PM Bridgeport UCC * 641 NE 76th Ave. Tickets $121 $10 in advance from Choir members and at: Touchstone Coffee House < In Other Words* Music Millennium D emarest ’ s DVD s and CDs at www.theresacd.com. Single songs can be downloaded from iTunes. 503.224.4099 Concert Sponsored in part by: Lon Ellie jUStOUt «/ newsmagazine
