Filming with EquestrianPro.TV…..

On the 2^nd of August 2016, Rocky and I featured in a training video for EquestrianPro.TV, a company who create unique training videos, filmed on location at some of the top dressage yards in the country and brought to you through EquestrianPro.TV’s website, enabling the viewer to access hours of training ranging from backing and lunging to watching how the professionals school their own horses up to Grand Prix, alongside interviews with the riders, judges and breeders, giving an amazing insight into the world of dressage.

On the morning of the filming I admit to feeling a little sick with nerves, after all this was something way outside my comfort zone! However, I feel so strongly about my own training philosophy and how I get the results from my clients and my own horses, I wanted to share it, and what better way than with a company who offer this?! Mark was professional and reassuring, which helped the nerves settle before we got started.

I had two of my clients join me for the filming, showcasing my coaching, and obviously Rocky for the ridden section. My clients were amazing and showed how lateral work can help with a horse who tends to hollow and disconnect the hind leg, and the other one was quite “hot” and spooky, so gave the chance to showcase how to deal with these issues by being calm and quietly positive, resulting in the horse becoming more relaxed and focussed on the rider, rather than the mystery ghosts, for anyone viewing these videos, I felt they show the “everyday” issues riders face, and with the right training, how to control and improve from them.

Rocky was a little star, showing how I deal with his worry and tension in the walk using ¼ pirouettes to control his shoulders, and working on perfecting the rhythm in the trot to help his brain settle, he provided me with some great work considering there was a cameraman in the corner of the school!

After the ridden parts, I had a short interview with Mark and a photo shoot showcasing my top yard items, from my beloved Nettex Valegro range, MacWet Gloves, Aubiose Bedding, to the EquiAmi,  Back On Track Rug and the Equifeast feed.

The videos are now live on EquestrianPro.TV’s website: https://equestrianpro.tv/rider_trailer?id=45

The day passed by in what seemed like a nano second, and was thoroughly enjoyable, contrary to how I felt in the morning! I can’t wait to do it again!!

Back in the ring….

It was 8 Months to the day that Rocky last set hoof in a competition arena, following months of vets and physios advice and treatments, and today we were back at Castle Farm, a local, and spookily the very last place we competed (and won!) venue.

I admit to feeling anxious on arrival, after all, we are both slightly out of practice, and with the recent hospital stay for myself with heart related issues, my recent work load and only a handful of schooling sessions for Rocky, it was a little daunting!

I had decided last year to leave the Intro classes as Rocky was out of them, however as a welcome easy comeback I chose to do the Intro C, new for 2016, and Prelim 2, also new for 2016, that way there felt like little pressure if things went a little wrong!

On arrival Rocky was chilled and almost looked asleep, well that was until we approached the warm up where he promptly squealed with delight and I braced myself for a few high jinx, although to be fair, he did keep a lid on it – thankfully!

Warm up was great, although tense, his walk was so bouncy I was convinced Rocky had been learning Piaffe and Passage while he was on his rehab!!!

Our turn arrived and we managed a reasonable test, with his walk his downfall through tension, he was so keen, he just wanted to go! Can’t fault that in a young horse, just have to learn to manage it!

We achieved 63%, mid range in a huge class, not bad for the amount of tension we carried.

A quick break and Prelim 2 was upon us. Well, Rocky was on fire, warming up he was somewhat “forward” shall we say, but again, I am far from wanting to supress that.

In the test, well, tension and “forward” were the theme, the walk was like in the intro – short and with a feeling of “any moment now…” and when we hit canter, well shall we say I didn’t think I would regret selling a jump saddle!!! However, the majority of the test was ok, rhythm improved and tempo settled, just a lack of breaks in the canter! I also admit to having a sever blonde moment and losing 2 marks with an error of course… DOH!!!!

We again were mid range with 62%, not bad considering the blonde rider and lack of breaks!!

So, our return to the competition arena was complete, and on reflection, I was thrilled with Rocky, he did everything asked of him –even if exuberantly-  but mainly he was sound and felt amazing.

So, onwards and upwards I think now :)