yra Banks has been known for many years as a super model, I had seen photos of her, but to be honest, did not really know anything about her until her Talk show came on the air (around 2004 I think).  In December of 2005, I was adding her to my desired riders list.  I do not usually have many mainstream people listed on that particular list, but in a basic list of names.  I had set up the thumbnail and template but had not added the text.  Sunday, January 22, 2006, I opened up the template to work on it, but just wasn't in the mindset and closed it out.  Several hours later, I received an email from Brooke Donberg, a producer for her show, asking about being on her show and pony play.

We worked it out, contacted a few other pony people that I could track down, and ended up with Cymbra, Lady (Bridgett Harrington) and myself.  We all were flown in Wed night before the Thursday taping.  Our casting call was 8:15 AM to go to the CBS Television City Studios and into some dressing areas.  We met Brooke and her assistant/producer Sue, both of whom are extremely beautiful and given the opportunity I think would have taken a ride (at least, that was the feeling I got).  Brooke didn't mention something about being on my desired riders list, which she is now for sure (as is Sue)!

So, I arrived at LAX at 9:30 PM (12:30 AM my time) and my driver greets me.  We are at the baggage claim when he mentions seeing another driver from his company.  Turns out it's Cymbra and her driver!  We get a hug and wait for the bags.. mine came out first and we head toward the Hyatt West Hollywood making a short pit stop along the way.  Frederick was my driver and we were in a Hummer Limo.. cool ride!

I get to the Hyatt, check in and meet Cymbra and her west coast friend in the bar for a drink. I ordered a Courvoisier since I was only having one drink and then going to bed.  Her friend offered to buy, the 1 round of drinks (my drink, an amaretto something and a vodka something was almost $50.00.. that is enough to buy several bottles of tequila or bourbon and have a great time <LOL>.. ok it is LA, better yet.. it is HOLLYWOOD!)

I wake up at 4:00 AM (7 AM my time) and tried to sleep more.. the room was hot. I couldn't get the air conditioning to work, only the fan.  At 6:00 AM, I finally just went to get breakfast.  The breakfast bar was really good... fresh scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and onions, bacon, sausage, pancakes, fruit & yogurt, etc... The coffee was not like most restaurant coffee, it was more like the burnt Starbucks but the caffeine was still in it <hehehe>. The gift shop had Red Bull, so I was ready for the day.

MisbehavinPony called and was about to the Hyatt with the pony cart so she and I met up and talked until time to leave for the studio.  The studio driver came for us, I think his name was Greg; he was a different driver than the night before.  However, Frederick was there and everyone seemed impressed with him knowing me and telling the other driver to take special care with trigger.  We drove onto the lot of the studio and there was several hundred people outside waiting to go inside to be the studio audience for "The Price is Right".  I guess they wait a while before they get to go in, etc.. there was a concession stand, souvenirs shop, in the waiting line area as well.

We were escorted into the back area of the entrance and within a few minutes met Brooke & Sue in person... WOW... they are some hot looking ladies.  It appeared that Brooke had on (riding) boots and I think if she could have gotten away to go with us to shoot the field footage, she would  have taken a ride!  We went to the studio and office area, went into a dressing room and changed into our pony outfits for some photos.  We were then taken back down to the van which was now back in front of the studio and I know the "Price is Right" studio audience waiting was curious about what all was going on.  We were wired with the microphones and ready to record before we left so we were in front of them for 10 or 15 minutes.

We met the field producer, Mary, who was a lovely thin California girl.  She owns a horse and rides often.  She indicated she was going to ride me back to the van from the shooting point of the park, but I think she lost her nerve and/or ran short on time and just needed to get back.  She said it was because she didn't have her chaps and she never rides with out them... I'll come back for her ride with her chaps.. any day!

We had to take the cart from the parking area and through the park to an area suitable for filming the pony play for the show.  Bridgett pulled it through the park with Cymbra riding in it.  We shot some riding, some cart stuff, some lunging... Mostly with Bridgett as the handler and not the pony, both Cymbra and Bridgett rode me, and Bridgett drove Cymbra in the cart and on the lunge line.  We all were interviewed in the park in a commentary form.  This was made into a small montage for the beginning of the segment for the actual show.  Mary and Jay were excellent, went to the 7-11 and got us some water and a Monster energy drink and her breakfast snack.  The camera and audio crew were very nice and made sure we were comfortable as well.

We got back to the studio and was then taken to the Hyatt to change clothes and grab lunch, only the restaurant wasn't open.  In no time, we were back at the studio and waiting to go to the green room to wait for our part on the show.  They were running longer in taping the first show so we got to see some of it on the monitor.  It was about facing some of your fears, some with fears of clowns, another woman with fear of dogs..., etc... She had a Rottwieler  and it was so cute... Tyra was on her hands and knees trying to get the dog to come from the door to the couch area.... I think that is borderline puppy play there Tyra!<LOL>.

We were taken to our green room and told we were the first segment.  I would have preferred being the last segment and by then the audience and host are more loose and open minded than at the beginning, but no matter.  The green room had my name on it and the 4 of us were each taken to makeup, hair (well, not me), and brought some lunch since we all had not eaten. 

We were told there were some other people on the  show with various "kinks" but no specifics.  We found out that there were 2 ladies who were into Fish Hook Suspension, a couple that started a "Cuddling" party that is spreading across the country, and a guy who makes life like dolls.  The dolls didn't do much for me, but the guy who made them was so funny!

They also brought Dr. Yvonne K Fulbright, a sexologist from the DC area.  She was very hot!  They came and got me and her and took us up to be set up for online Microphones, we were taken from backstage out to the audience and place in specific seating areas so they could come to us for on air comments.  There was an MC warming up the audience, he was very funny and a lot of the humor went over the heads of the girls sitting next to me and probably most of the audience (90% female).  I did find it odd that they have a "sexologist" to confirm/deny the remarks/info from the guests, especially since I've been doing pony play since before she was born.  I will say she was very nice and positive in her comments on what all was said (I think she needs to spend a little time riding a human equine to give her a little more credibility about pony play <weg>!)

The audience had no idea what the show was about until it started.  When Trya came out of the opening doors, her beauty just jumps at you.  There are those that look good in person, look good on camera, or both... I felt her beauty was a lot more real in person than what I see on her show but it may just be my admiration for her.  As a host, she started out with not understanding and asking questions... this is what she is supposed to do.  The only thing that really got to me was that she didn't seem to be open to understanding it.. but to be fair, the questions she was given to ask and the questions she asked were not really about pony play, but more about Bridgett and Cymbra's reasons for liking to be "like an animal".  Also, it would take a lot more time than the 5 or 6 minutes allotted for our segment as well.

After the first segment, I was moved to another seat to sit in the audience with Bridgett & Cymbra.  Brooke came up and said she was sorry Tyra was so hard on them that she didn't think she would have been or had planned to be, etc... and I truly think Brooke felt bad, however; Bridgett & Cymbra were really good and thorough with their responses.  Brooke also said she was sorry Trya didn't come to me like she was supposed to, but that she must have chickened out or something... I personally think it was because I'm an older guy and she and her audience are so young.  I also got the feeling Tyra was a little nervous and/or uncomfortable with some of the subjects.. she seemed to stumble at the beginning but later was smooth with her delivery.

Later in the show, she was standing in the stairway area waiting to start on the question section and she looked down at me and gave me a wonderful smile and little acknowledgement.  I didn't see her do that to anyone else the entire show but she might have when I didn't see.

The 2 ladies there were there for the Fish Hook Suspension were interesting. I believe the one ladies name was Jeannette Hall, she and I made eye contact a few times but I never got to meet her.  I am going to try and find her on the internet as well as let Brooke know I'd like to email her, etc... She was so precise in her responses and beautiful.

The Cuddle Party couple was also very nice!  They are Reid Mihalko & Marcia Baczynski and are from Manhattan (a lot more information can be found on their website).  We shared the limo going back to the hotel and then I later talked with them in the dining area at the hotel.  I will be adding a link to their web site and hope to keep in touch with them.  Marcia did say she would do some riding someday! Yea!

So, Thursday night everyone was either leaving or getting ready to.  I was staying through Saturday to meet up with some possible riders and do some photos and such.  I thought I was going to meet with Mistress Nicolette, who was bringing Goddess Selene, on Friday and then Mistress Gemini on Saturday who would drop me off at LAX.  Instead, Mistress Gemini worked it out to join Mistress Nicolette & Goddess Selene to do some Friday riding leaving my Saturday open.  I received an message Friday morning from Mistress Nicolette that she would not be able to make it because of a problem the night before and not getting home till 6:00 AM and had to workout a way to get from the Hyatt to meet my riders (Mistress Nicolette was going to pick me up since she is not too far from the Hyatt).

I ended up taking a bus to a Metro station and going to Union Station, where I realized I was pretty tired... My legs were a little weak but I was determined to do some riding and photo fun.  I went to the loading zone where Mistress Gemini and her photographer/webslave (who is know as her "workhorse") picked me up.  We drove out to Sierra Madre, an area going out I 10 east to the foothills near Sana Anna Racetrack.

We met Goddess Selene at a coffee shop along with Sal, who's location were were shooting at.  I had met Sal years past, but still can't recall where.  We get to the location, secluded but very hilly and the riding area was rather small.  Both riders looked AWESOME in their riding clothes.  They both were excellent riders and it didn't take anytime to find their balance and seat. 

We took some still photos first, then did some video shooting.  I wasn't aware of what type of video they had in mind as I just wanted some still photos for a gallery and whatever they wanted for the video in riding would be wonderful.  What we didn't talk about was my "being" a horse and responding AS a horse, going into my pony space, etc... as opposed to what they are more used to with a pony boy who is a submissive acting and being treated/trained as a subbie "like" a pony, etc...  They wanted me to walk in place, something that is unusual, if at all, a bio horse movement.  In my pony space, I respond to the bit, whips, etc... so if a whip hits on my front, I go backwards, if the bit is pulled, I stop or go backwards, etc...   There was some adjustment in what was needed and desired and it took me a while to try to not go into pony space... the problem...  they were BOTH excellent riders and put me into pony space very quickly.

Mistress Gemini was active with the spurs and didn't care about the riding crop, Goddess Selene did kick some but was more into using the riding crop and I have to admit, she was free in her usage and not hesitant... they both were very determined in their riding.  Mistress Gemini rode me at a trot up the hill a few times for the taping and it was very obvious I was tired.  We went to the driveway area which looked more like a dirt road and did some more trotting and running... both ladies rode very well and Mistress Gemini was really getting her posting in rhythm with the trotting toward the end.  She did try to spur a lot, and a few times I seem to recall feeling a spur hit me on the side.  Mostly though she seemed to bring her spurs and heals more behind me before kicking than kicking in the front of my body and going back.  I did notice the next day I had some spur marks on my arms (from being in the binders and be side me) but do not remember feeling her spur me there.

Either of the ladies have a horse to ride anytime they want.

Photo Notes - Left to Right/Top to Bottom: 1) Hyatt West Hollywood Hotel 2) Hyatt Sign 3) Producer Brooke Dunberg 4) Assistant Producer Sue 5) Dr. Yvonne Fulbright 6) Mistress Gemini on trigger with Goddess Selene 7) Mistress Gemini with her horse trigger 8) Goddess Selene riding her horse trigger 9) Mistress Gemini riding her horse trigger.

© 2006 trigger