14/02/11

Happy New Year! Yes, I know we are already in February, but last week was in fact Chinese New Year so we celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. In Hong Kong, where my family live, the festivities are huge as it is more significant to our culture than the actual calendar New Year. Although the atmosphere here was not quite in the same league as my home town (no massive display of fireworks for a start!), I still got that feeling of anticipation for the year ahead. I think as the beginning of the new competition season is now upon us, this is probably a feeling that all equestrian competitors can relate to. What does this season have in store for me and the horses? How will we perform? What setbacks will we face? What are the goals, how will we prepare ourselves for them and will we achieve them? 

I always find that thorough contemplation and planning at the beginning of the year really helps you develop real focus during the year ahead. Each horse will have their own individual targets depending on their age and ability, and to give them the best chance of achieving these targets it is important to take some time before the competitions begin to make a schedule that will best serve to make the goals achievable. Familiarise yourself with the rules, such as qualification procedures and deadlines, as well as the competitions that hold qualifiers. By doing this you will give yourself more flexibility to go to plan B if plan A has not gone to plan! Having a contingency plan will save you a lot of stress, as with horses so many factors are involved.

My horses have been coming on well since our pre season holiday, so at this stage I am happy with where we are at. Rocco is finally back to his normal jolly self, which is such a relief as the Asian Games had seemed to have knocked everything out of him. It was evident that the whole ordeal of having had colic at the event and then all the travelling to get home had taken its toll, as he seemed exhausted and his coat and condition was poor. So, it has just been a case of some TLC and giving him as much time as possible out in the field to relax. There are lots of supplements on the market to boost the immune system but at the end of the day once the horse is already feeling low there is no real substitute for fresh air and good pasture to graze on. This can be really frustrating from a riding point of view as normally you want to continue your progress, but there is no short cut as if you rush things you will only end up back at square one. 

Flora and Linco have both graduated from Young Horse competitions now, but my plan of action for each of them is quite different. Flora has proved to be fantastic at the competitions themselves, so I am now looking to concentrate a bit more on the training side of things. Linco on the other hand is becoming a real show off at home and offering me more than I need from him at this age, so I want to spend some time taking him to competitions so that he can really develop his confidence in different venues. As for the young ones, the priority is always to improve control and physical condition as well as stimulating them mentally but at the same time not overwhelming them.    I am looking forward to going to train with Ferdi this coming week so the momentum for 2011 is picking up!

 

23/01/11

I hope you all have had a good start to 2011. I’m writing this blog from Canada where Mark and I have made the habit of visiting each year. It is a trip that I always look forward to as the skiing is usually fantastic and it is such a beautiful part of the world, a great chance to catch a breath before leaping into a new season with the horses. This visit we have had great snow conditions and some lovely sunny days in between, excellent for a good skiing holiday. So, we have been making the most of this and kept very busy doing some ski touring and also heliskiing, which has been phenomenal! It is a pretty amazing feeling being dropped off on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere and then skiing your way down through a snowy paradise! So, after the last few days I am pretty charged up, although my body is a little stiff now! 

The other day I also took some time to visit a yard nearby that breeds Hanoverian dressage horses. It was really nice to meet the owners, see their breeding facility, and learn about the local dressage scene. It is exciting to see how the dressage community expands all over the world, and you can find people passionate about sport horses even in places you might not expect.

Meanwhile, the horses at home are hacking a lot, luckily there has not been a repeat of December’s snowfall so far! 

02/01/11

Happy New Year to you all, I hope that all your wishes for 2011 come true! 

My blog is early this time as I have some sad news. Last Thursday I had to say goodbye to my very special horse Boysie (known at competitions as Bancroft Brigadier). Sadly the cancer he contracted earlier in 2010 eventually became too much, but luckily he had lived a long and happy life. Boysie was my first horse, and taught me everything. He was not very tall, just slightly too big to be pony, and didn’t have fashionable dressage bloodlines, but more importantly he had a heart of gold and loved his job so much, learning all the Grand Prix movements, he was remarkable. We shared many great moments... I wore my top hat and tails for the first time, and we went on to represent Britain on Junior teams, our highlight being individual second place at Barcelona CDIJY. I know a lot of people were very fond of him, so Thank You Boysie for giving us so much happiness. 

 19/12/10

It looks like it is going to be a white Christmas! This weekend we have had a lot of snow, more than I have ever seen here. However, unlike the major airports, we are business as usual, thanks to our winter friendly facilities! We have dug out a series of pathways amongst the snow drifts to the barns and the horse walker, whilst the rest of the yard is pretty much self contained. So, although the fields are now becoming out of bounds as the dropping temperatures have made things icy, the horses are all able to get out of their stables several times during the day. Yesterday, I left home and ventured out to get some essential supplies, it was only then that I realised how difficult the conditions actually were, and was happy when I made it back to the sanctuary! 

Before all this weather chaos , I was lucky enough to fit in a visit to Ferdi’s for some training. I took Flora and Bolly, and it was really nice to have the chance to focus on these two, as the past few months Rocco has been the centre of attention! It was useful to get Ferdi’s opinion of what things we needed to work on next with them, and since then I have been getting on with our homework! However, on the way home we had a bit of a nightmare, as the horsebox began to overheat just before a massive hill. After a few phone calls, I decided not to attempt the great ascent for fear of blowing up the engine! To cut a long and boring story short, the truck is now at the garage and now with Christmas so soon, it’s unlikely to be back until after New Year. Oh well, with these snow blizzards I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere anyway!

With less than a week until Christmas, I am feeling quite organised or perhaps it is more a case of being blissfully unaware of what else I need to get ready over the next few days. So before I forget, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

 

28/11/10

Well, where do I begin? The past few weeks have flown by and been quite an emotional rollercoaster! I had to wait to write my blog until Rocco was home safe and sound from the Asian Games, so that I had peace of mind rather than worrying about him. We began our journey to China following the Pre Export Quarantine in Aachen, the horses left from Brussels and flying via Dubai they finally arrived at the Asian Games venue very late the next evening. Whilst some horses arrived looking very tired, Rocco was quite spritely upon arrival and had a few squeals and bucks on the end of the lead rope, as if to say 'China...here I am'! After a day off to recover from the flight the dressage riders had to already start some training as we were scheduled to compete in just 3 days! I started off with some easy stretching, Ferdi arrived the next day and we commenced our build up to the competition. Rocco actually felt on great form and I couldn't have been more pleased with our preparations. Everything then went to pot as the evening before the competition began Rocco started acting abnormally in his stable, he was not interested in his dinner...which for him was a clear sign he was not feeling well, colic. Our team vet Dan was on it right away and immediately we were over at the veterinary hospital giving him a load of fluids IV. At this point Dan made me aware that as we were so close to the competition, if he did deteriorate we would then need to start using medication that would rule us out of the competition. For me, the main thing was his health, so already in my mind I had put the Asian Games to one side. After a several hours of fluids, and putting some oily stuff into his stomach by a tube to help get things moving, Rocco started to look a bit better and his gut noises had come back again. 

The next day he looked much brighter than the night before, still a little quiet, but we decided to give the test a go. The weather was so hot, over 30 degrees, but he warmed up quite well and the beginning of the test was going ok, just rather flat. Then when we came to do the canter pirouette we had terrible timing as poor Rocco was obviously constipated but desperate for the toilet so we made an unscheduled stop! Well, definitely not our greatest moment but completed the test. We took him back to the stables and he looked exhausted, and it seemed that he was not sweating properly and consequently overheated, and then to top it all off broke out in a horrible rash. After some more fluids and some vitamins he looked refreshed and we competed the next day in the first individual round, our performance was better although still not on full power, however we made it through to the music final. Luckily we had a day without competition and I just walked him a bit so that he could regain as much energy as possible. The weather cooled off considerably and Rocco did me proud to battle on and come 8^th in the final, this combined with our other result meant that we were 12^th overall individually. So, we were hoping to do better and perform to our expectations but unfortunately things did not go our way. However, my horse proved to me that even when he was struggling physically he kept going for me and tried his best, a quality that means so much in this sport. With the dressage competition over Rocco had a few days to prepare for the journey home as the event horses were still to compete before the group flew back to Belgium. I headed home in preparation to meet them upon their arrival and make the drive back to the UK. 

It all went by in the blink of an eye, sadly it didn't go our way but that is the way it goes sometimes and rather than feeling sorry for yourself it is important to try and make the most of a bad situation because then at least you can finish with the feeling that you still gave it your best shot. The venue in China was impressive and really reflected the rapid growth of interest in horse sports in Asia. Having met lots of other riders at the Games it became apparent the huge personal commitment being made. Many riders from these Asian countries have spent vast amounts of time training with some of the world's best in Europe, away from friends and family back home, in order to reach their potential. Rocco is now enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation, and I have got some rather fresh youngsters to be getting on with!   

 

 

06/11/10

This past week we have been in Aachen for the Pre Export Quarantine (PEQ) for the Asian Games. Several guidelines were laid down for the entrance into the PEQ, such as original proof of several blood test results, plus additional paperwork such as a 60 day residency certificate as well as the usual export papers issued to us for the journey over to the continent. We were told that the horses must enter the PEQ between 2 and 4pm last Sunday, and basically if you were 1 second late you would not be allowed in, so your Asian Games journey would be over before you even made it to China! Bearing this in mind, plus all the delays that sometimes are possible when crossing the channel, I set off with Hong Kong event rider Annie Ho and her horse to Aachen the day before and our horses were settled into their overnight stables that night. On the Sunday afternoon it was pretty chaotic, with horseboxes beginning to arrive hours in advance and all the paperwork having to be approved for each horse first. During the two hours of opening, it was a frenzy of horses and equipment being unloaded, as all equipment also had to be in PEQ before the deadline otherwise it was not coming to China! Once your horses paperwork was given the ok, you were then escorted to the vet clinic where the horses were checked over, wormed, sprayed with a de-tick spray, and a nasal swap and blood test was taken for analysis, before being shown to your stable. It is important to stress that all these rules are in place as this is going to be the first time in history that horses are being allowed to enter China to compete and then be re exported out of China.

Our dressage team has however had a major loss, as my team mate Lily has been forced to withdraw her horse as he has sustained a bad injury. Obviously we are devastated, as Aram and I will now have to compete as individuals. In 2006, we were the first ever Hong Kong Dressage team at the Asian Games in Doha, where we finished 4^th in the team competition. Needless to say, our aim this time around was to do at least one place better, which would get us on the podium. Sadly, this is not an option anymore and I feel so sorry for Lily as this is a devastating for her after all her efforts to get qualified and prepared. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case with horses, and we always ask why it has to happen at the most important times. Aram and I are now trying to stay focused on our preparations this week, and in some ways although our official team is no longer, our team spirit is even stronger.

Last Monday, Ferdi Eilberg, our team trainer, arrived at Aachen and we have been lucky enough to have his help on a daily basis. Rocco is feeling extremely fit and fresh, so we have been working on keeping him concentrated and relaxed. We have been lucky enough to have the use of many of the arenas at Aachen, including the Deutche Bank Stadium where the annual CHIO takes place. This has been a really good preparation for the Games, and given me the chance to train Rocco in a different environment to what he is used to. Dan our team vet has also arrived in advance of the horses' departure on Monday, and has briefed us on steps that we might need to take for the travelling, including administering fluids prior to, and possibly after the long flight. Today we have all been getting our equipment organised, sorting out what needs to go where, labelling everything, as the rules regarding our packing list have been very strict. This week actually seems to have gone by really fast now that we are approaching the end of the quarantine period. Having watched some of the riders and horses training, it seems that the level of competition in Asia has really reached top quality. Not only has it been great to meet other Hong Kong riders from other disciplines, but I have met people from all over the place! Just about 48 hours left to go until Rocco takes his plane and I take mine, and I hope our journeys go smoothly so we can arrive in China safe and sound.

   

                                                         

 

21/08/10

Flora is off to the British Dressage National Championships! Following our busy time at Hickstead, I had a few days at home to get re organised before setting off for the Regional Championships. It felt almost like a holiday as I just had Flora with me, and she is always so easy to do at competitions. She went well, and despite a blip in the walk (just before the pirouettes as she knew that there was a canter transition over the centre line.. which she thought I had forgotten about!), it went well. She was one of the earlier ones in the class and held the lead until two of the very last competitors to go, but nevertheless finished third which meant that she qualified directly for the Nationals in September!

After the Regionals with the horses enjoying a well earned rest, I flew over to Canada to meet Mark who had been away in America. It was great to get some time to unwind and recharge, and Whistler was the perfect place to do this with its stunning scenery and lots of things to do from mountain biking to canoeing! I even saw three Black bears during the holiday, as they roam around the mountainside and valley in the summer months before going back into hibernation. 

Back home now and all is well. The two girls (Betty and Cha Cha the two three year olds who are also Flora's offspring) have also been in for the past few weeks. Both are attending a KWPN assessment in September so we are preparing them for that. It should be interesting to see what comments the assessors give them as they are both very different from each other.           

02/08/10

Last week we travelled down to Hickstead, which is always one of my favourite competitions of the year. It is really the only venue in the UK which is comparable to International shows on the continent, so a huge Thank You must be said to those who enable the show to go on. We arrived on Monday afternoon; as Flora was already due to compete the next day in the Hickstead Masters Championships. As usual she handled the atmosphere absolutely fine, we made a few little mistakes but I had a good feeling as she seemed to have a lot more power throughout the test. She finished 5^th, although the judges seemed to be divided with a score difference of over 6 percent! 

The next day the Young Horse Championships was taking place, for five and six year olds. Following his unsettled test at Hartpury, I was a bit worried that Linco would have lost a lot of confidence from that experience. It is always such a fine balance with the youngsters, as you want them to get more exposure but at the same time be self assured and find competing a fun activity. This is when it is vital to look at the horse as an individual, and find a strategy to suit them. Some young horses are ready to face the more difficult tests for their age group whilst others simply are not, and this is not to say that they are of any less quality, they simply need more time to develop. Anyway, I decided to take him to Hickstead on a mission to restore his morale. He felt good when I rode him earlier for a relaxed morning stretch, and maintained this in the warm up as well. So it was then time to face the impressive competition arena. To my relief he was composed throughout the test, and crucially, showed a super walk in between. He finished 6^th, which was great, but more importantly faced up to his fears from the previous week.

I think by midweek Rocco was beginning to feel a little confused as to why he had been at the show for a few days already but still had not competed! He also had to be stabled in the FEI stabling which was separate from the others and rather lonely to begin with! His turn eventually came and although we had a few blips in the test he still scored a respectable mark, which I guess shows that the quality of his work is improving. It was also really helpful that Ferdi Eilberg was able to watch our test, as he has been appointed Dressage Team Trainer by the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation. Ferdi gave me some very useful feedback, which I will certainly work on before next time. For now though Rocco has earned himself a little holiday before we begin our final build up to the Asian Games. I on the other hand have to wait a little longer for some rest time, as later this week I am off to the Regional Championships with Flora.   

 

 

19/07/10

Yesterday I arrived home from Hartpury, where the Premier League, National Young Horse Championships and a CDI competition were taking place. It was quite a week as I had four horses competing, and consequently a full range of experiences, some highs and lows and some in between! The first day was particularly emotional for me as I had Wenny competing in the premier league. As some of you may remember I had hoped to represent Hong Kong at the 2008 Olympics with him, but sadly this was not to be due to a serious injury. So, for the past two years (and a bit ..) both him and I have been patiently waiting for his recovery. To get him back in the competition ring was a really special moment for me, and he showed his great character by getting on with the job at hand (in some pretty testing conditions due to the wind). The test itself was pretty rusty to say the least but nevertheless I was very proud of him. 

Rocco was taking part in the International competition, as part of our preparations for the Asian Games later this year. I rode him the evening before in the allocated arena practice time, and he felt very fresh, it was by this point blowing a gale with heavy rain which did not help matters! The next day was still pretty breezy but at least it stayed dry. Apart from some rather spirited four time changes I was happy and Rocco stepped up to the challenge and scored a personal best. With less than four months to go we still have lots to work on but it is nice to know we are heading in the right direction! 

Last but not least Bolly and Linco were contesting in the Young Horse Championships. One was an angel, whilst the other was a little devil with huge potential! Bolly, just four years old behaved like a pro, and finished 5^th despite being at the very start of the class. You never really know what to expect when they are that age, but I was really impressed with his attitude. On the other hand Linco, who had a winning outing last week in preparation, was on edge as he went into the test. Despite some tension the trot felt phenomenal, as did the canter, but unfortunately something unsettled him as he began the walk and he then proceeded to show me and everyone else how he has taught himself half steps of piaffe. It was a shame, as I dare not even guess what his overall mark would have been going on the trot and the canter marks. But that is often the case with horses and sometimes you have to shrug you shoulders and carry on. Next week we are off to Hickstead!    

 

30/06/10

What a heat wave we are having at the moment! For the last few weeks it has been continuously hot, and I cannot even remember the last time it rained. So what happens when the sun shines in June.... make hay of course (literally)! One advantage of having a fair bit of acreage at the stud is that we can be totally self sufficient by making our own hay/hayledge. However, there is always an element of luck involved when it comes to timing the process of cutting and getting it into bales, due to the volatile weather we get in the UK, but this year was an exception, with the extended period of blue skies. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Mark had recruited me as part of his crew for the Round the Island race, a big sailing event around the Isle of Wight. I was slightly apprehensive in the run up to the race day as I don't have much sailing experience and did not want to let the rest of the crew down, however I was determined to try my best! The afternoon before the race the marina was bustling with activity with many of the competitors making their final preparations, this year there were around 1,800 boats taking part resulting in around 16,000 people getting ready to race! After dinner it was off to bed as we had a very early start the next day. I thought that horsey events sometimes resulted in ridiculously early starts in the morning, but the 3am start was a bit of a shock! It was a beautiful sight though, to see the sun rising as we made our way to the start. I need not have worried about not knowing when to do what as orders were given quickly and loudly! All in all it was a fantastic experience, and we made it through the finish line. 

The horses have been going well, and we are building up to a very busy month ahead. I had planned to compete at Hickstead Premier League, but despite my entry arriving on time they were overwhelmed with entries and many of us were put on waiting lists. It was a shame not to compete there before next month's international, but I was able to get a late entry somewhere else so Rocco could have another outing at Prix St Georges level. He was well behaved, but I was a bit overambitious in the first canter pirouette and made it a bit too small at the start which caused him to lose his rhythm. This work is getting much better at home so I now just need to see how far I can ride for this feeling in the actual test, so it is still a case of trial and error at the moment!

Today I went for a physio appointment, because my ankle has been bothering me a bit since skiing (I know... it has taken me five months to finally go!), luckily I don't feel it when I am riding, which is the main thing, and it is ok on the cross trainer or bike, but if I run it gets aggravated. I really want to work on my fitness in the run up to the Asian Games, so wanted to get some advice. Whilst I was there it was a good opportunity to have a check over, as I last saw a physio four years ago! Amazingly, everything was where it was supposed to be, although my neck was a bit tight which was quickly alleviated by some manipulation, and as for the ankle it seems that I must have sprained it previously but it has been prolonged due to the fact that my feet bear more weight onto the inside. As with horses... correct conformation plays a big part on soundness, so now I have sole supports to put in my trainers for running! 

 

 

 11/06/10

I cannot believe we are already into June, where has the time gone (and the sunshine as well)!? We have been out and about competing a fair bit recently, and it feels like we have experienced all four seasons of weather within the past week! Flora kicked things off with the semi finals for the Hickstead Masters Championships. I was really hoping to qualify her for Hickstead, as Linco will be contesting in the Young Horse Championships and I am also planning to compete in the CDI there as well, so didn't want to have to leave her behind at home! Luckily she qualified in second place, which earns her a ticket on the lorry down to Hickstead in July, yeay! 

Next stop was a Prix St Georges qualifier with Rocco. It was definitely the hottest day that we have had so far this year, but he was not affected at all by the high temperatures, being quite a lively character it might have even helped! He is still quite green competing at this level, but lots of the work has improved and he scored a personal best. The result was also quite important as it meant that he had earned his eligibility for the Asian Games, to be held in China this November! 

After a few days to re organise we then headed down to Wellington Premier League with Linco. He had not been out for a while and was rather jolly!   He was entered in the National Young Horse qualifier, as he has already qualified for the International Final at Hickstead. The test for this section is relatively straightforward compared to the international, and he found it all quite easy... in fact a little too easy, as we had some quite exuberant moments during the test! Nonetheless he finished 3^rd which gets him through to the final. Finally, the last two days I have been back and forth to compete Rocco at Wellington as well. The weather became the opposite of the following week's heat wave, with cold, wet and windy conditions. This caused the competition arena to be a little difficult to keep the horses focused in, and many competitors certainly had abnormally tricky rides. For me it was a useful exercise to have a more difficult situation, and although a few blips and tension crept into our test, the movements that I have been working hard to improve on were more confirmed. 

With no competitions for over a week, we have a nice opportunity to work on some things during training, so that it goes better and better in the tests next time! 

 

 24/05/10

Summer is most definitely here! The past few days have been scorching, with temperatures well into the late twenties, and I have the worst sunburn to show for it! Yesterday I was able to get a day away, and spent it out at sea on a sailboat which was perfect. Mark is into his sailing and races quite regularly, but yesterday was all about cruising around with some friends and enjoying the sunshine. I am slowly getting some idea of how all the sails work and which ropes do what, but it is all still rather confusing, nevertheless I have agreed to help the guys crew for the Round the Island Race next month, so yesterday was a good chance to get to grips with the tasks involved! 

On the horsey side of things, I finally got the horsebox back from the paint shop. What a difference! It's amazing what a lick of paint makes, but it did take me a little while to get used to the fact that the 'big red bus' was now blue! We were able to collect the truck just in time to get Bolly out again, and he was a good boy to come 4^th at Addington Premier League. He is going through a bit of a growth spurt at the moment, and seems to be going through a croup high phase, so his already very active hind legs seem even more so, and keeping the balance is a bit physically challenging for the little guy! So, recently he has been doing lots of hacking to keep him active, and see the wonders of the outside world!

Summer is most definitely here! The past few days have been scorching, with temperatures well into the late twenties, and I have the worst sunburn to show for it! Yesterday I was able to get a day away, and spent it out at sea on a sailboat which was perfect. Mark is into his sailing and races quite regularly, but yesterday was all about cruising around with some friends and enjoying the sunshine. I am slowly getting some idea of how all the sails work and which ropes do what, but it is all still rather confusing, nevertheless I have agreed to help the guys crew for the Round the Island Race next month, so yesterday was a good chance to get to grips with the tasks involved! 

On the horsey side of things, I finally got the horsebox back from the paint shop. What a difference! It's amazing what a lick of paint makes, but it did take me a little while to get used to the fact that the 'big red bus' was now blue! We were able to collect the truck just in time to get Bolly out again, and he was a good boy to come 4^th at Addington Premier League. He is going through a bit of a growth spurt at the moment, and seems to be going through a croup high phase, so his already very active hind legs seem even more so, and keeping the balance is a bit physically challenging for the little guy! So, recently he has been doing lots of hacking to keep him active, and see the wonders of the outside world!

Summer is most definitely here! The past few days have been scorching, with temperatures well into the late twenties, and I have the worst sunburn to show for it! Yesterday I was able to get a day away, and spent it out at sea on a sailboat which was perfect. Mark is into his sailing and races quite regularly, but yesterday was all about cruising around with some friends and enjoying the sunshine. I am slowly getting some idea of how all the sails work and which ropes do what, but it is all still rather confusing, nevertheless I have agreed to help the guys crew for the Round the Island Race next month, so yesterday was a good chance to get to grips with the tasks involved! 

On the horsey side of things, I finally got the horsebox back from the paint shop. What a difference! It's amazing what a lick of paint makes, but it did take me a little while to get used to the fact that the 'big red bus' was now blue! We were able to collect the truck just in time to get Bolly out again, and he was a good boy to come 4^th at Addington Premier League. He is going through a bit of a growth spurt at the moment, and seems to be going through a croup high phase, so his already very active hind legs seem even more so, and keeping the balance is a bit physically challenging for the little guy! So, recently he has been doing lots of hacking to keep him active, and see the wonders of the outside world!

 09/05/10

Last week we added two more qualifications to our bag, with Bolly and Linco earning their tickets to the Shearwater National Young Horse Championships in their respective age groups. It is starting to look like we have got a busy summer ahead! However, I am currently grounded at home, as the horsebox has gone in for a long awaited re spray. It seemed impossible to make a final decision as to what colours to go for, with hundreds of shades of every colour under the sun on offer. After changing my mind numerous times, the decision has been made... and there is no going back now! No need to panic too much though, I didn't choose anything outrageous and went for blue... surely you can't go too wrong with that?! 

On bank holiday Monday my Mum and I attended the KWPN College day at the Unicorn Centre. Having spent a lot of time over in Holland I have become increasingly interested in bloodlines and their system of breeding. The College day was a fantastic opportunity to learn about certain aspects of the studbook's system in detail, such as the linear scoring system used in the evaluation of mares and stallions. Frenk Jespers and Ine van Deurzen, both top judges for stallion and mare selection, were also present to give us their impressions of the horses and which qualities they give particular importance to. Emphasis was placed on the fact that certain traits were more desirable for show jumpers than dressage horses and vice versa, a concept that has only really been highlighted by the separation of the two categories for the purposes of grading  in recent years. One thing that really came across was how much investigation went into each of the bloodlines, by identifying the traits that were passed on by specific sires through detailed research. The KWPN seemed highly sophisticated in its approach to achieving the 'breeding goal' of breeding horses for top level competition. Perhaps this widespread and in depth level of interest and knowledge is the reason why such studbooks have gained the upper hand in sport horse breeding? One thing that I thought was a really good system in Holland was that at all affiliated competitions the horse's breeding is always included in the entry/results sheets of the class. This enables any bystander to look at the breeding and see if there were certain traits that they find for that particular bloodline. I believe that such education gives the breeder a better chance of success. As a very small scale breeder myself, I think that it is so important to look into the options that are available carefully and choose a match that will complement and improve on any traits in order to have the best outcome. This may mean that you have to be honest with yourself and be able make criticisms of your own horse to see where they are lacking, and also not be tempted to use a stallion just because it is in fashion at the moment but choose it for its appropriateness for the mare.   

Last week we added two more qualifications to our bag, with Bolly and Linco earning their tickets to the Shearwater National Young Horse Championships in their respective age groups. It is starting to look like we have got a busy summer ahead! However, I am currently grounded at home, as the horsebox has gone in for a long awaited re spray. It seemed impossible to make a final decision as to what colours to go for, with hundreds of shades of every colour under the sun on offer. After changing my mind numerous times, the decision has been made... and there is no going back now! No need to panic too much though, I didn't choose anything outrageous and went for blue... surely you can't go too wrong with that?! 

On bank holiday Monday my Mum and I attended the KWPN College day at the Unicorn Centre. Having spent a lot of time over in Holland I have become increasingly interested in bloodlines and their system of breeding. The College day was a fantastic opportunity to learn about certain aspects of the studbook's system in detail, such as the linear scoring system used in the evaluation of mares and stallions. Frenk Jespers and Ine van Deurzen, both top judges for stallion and mare selection, were also present to give us their impressions of the horses and which qualities they give particular importance to. Emphasis was placed on the fact that certain traits were more desirable for show jumpers than dressage horses and vice versa, a concept that has only really been highlighted by the separation of the two categories for the purposes of grading  in recent years. One thing that really came across was how much investigation went into each of the bloodlines, by identifying the traits that were passed on by specific sires through detailed research. The KWPN seemed highly sophisticated in its approach to achieving the 'breeding goal' of breeding horses for top level competition. Perhaps this widespread and in depth level of interest and knowledge is the reason why such studbooks have gained the upper hand in sport horse breeding? One thing that I thought was a really good system in Holland was that at all affiliated competitions the horse's breeding is always included in the entry/results sheets of the class. This enables any bystander to look at the breeding and see if there were certain traits that they find for that particular bloodline. I believe that such education gives the breeder a better chance of success. As a very small scale breeder myself, I think that it is so important to look into the options that are available carefully and choose a match that will complement and improve on any traits in order to have the best outcome. This may mean that you have to be honest with yourself and be able make criticisms of your own horse to see where they are lacking, and also not be tempted to use a stallion just because it is in fashion at the moment but choose it for its appropriateness for the mare.   

Last week we added two more qualifications to our bag, with Bolly and Linco earning their tickets to the Shearwater National Young Horse Championships in their respective age groups. It is starting to look like we have got a busy summer ahead! However, I am currently grounded at home, as the horsebox has gone in for a long awaited re spray. It seemed impossible to make a final decision as to what colours to go for, with hundreds of shades of every colour under the sun on offer. After changing my mind numerous times, the decision has been made... and there is no going back now! No need to panic too much though, I didn't choose anything outrageous and went for blue... surely you can't go too wrong with that?! 

On bank holiday Monday my Mum and I attended the KWPN College day at the Unicorn Centre. Having spent a lot of time over in Holland I have become increasingly interested in bloodlines and their system of breeding. The College day was a fantastic opportunity to learn about certain aspects of the studbook's system in detail, such as the linear scoring system used in the evaluation of mares and stallions. Frenk Jespers and Ine van Deurzen, both top judges for stallion and mare selection, were also present to give us their impressions of the horses and which qualities they give particular importance to. Emphasis was placed on the fact that certain traits were more desirable for show jumpers than dressage horses and vice versa, a concept that has only really been highlighted by the separation of the two categories for the purposes of grading  in recent years. One thing that really came across was how much investigation went into each of the bloodlines, by identifying the traits that were passed on by specific sires through detailed research. The KWPN seemed highly sophisticated in its approach to achieving the 'breeding goal' of breeding horses for top level competition. Perhaps this widespread and in depth level of interest and knowledge is the reason why such studbooks have gained the upper hand in sport horse breeding? One thing that I thought was a really good system in Holland was that at all affiliated competitions the horse's breeding is always included in the entry/results sheets of the class. This enables any bystander to look at the breeding and see if there were certain traits that they find for that particular bloodline. I believe that such education gives the breeder a better chance of success. As a very small scale breeder myself, I think that it is so important to look into the options that are available carefully and choose a match that will complement and improve on any traits in order to have the best outcome. This may mean that you have to be honest with yourself and be able make criticisms of your own horse to see where they are lacking, and also not be tempted to use a stallion just because it is in fashion at the moment but choose it for its appropriateness for the mare.   

 27/04/10

We have now moved into the summer season of competition qualifiers, and the weather has definitely changed over as well, with nice long sunny days! I have been back out competing and last week Flora completed her qualification for the medium championships by winning two classes with over 70 and 71 percent! She is finding this level much easier now and getting a lot more expression in her work, hence the higher marks. Having been out and about quite a lot recently she is now enjoying a week of hacking and sunbathing in the field. Rocco also came along to that competition and as it was his first time out this year I was more than satisfied with his second placing, beaten by just one mark (which is always annoying)!

This weekend we travelled over to the College Premier League with Linco and Rocco. It was really interesting to take Linco back there after his first year of competition experience. He has developed so much during this time (and grown EVEN taller!), but he knows what it is all about now, and staying away from home is not quite as shell shocking as it used to be. I was thrilled with his second place behind Vicky Thompson and Beltoni, especially as he scored over 78, and also secured his ticket to the International Young Horse Championships at Hickstead this summer. It was the first time he had to do shoulder in, half passes and flying changes in a competition arena, so although it was a little green and wobbly I was chuffed with his mature attitude. Maturity, however, was not a word that could be said for his little stable mate Rocco! Despite being the older more experienced one, he thought that it was rather exciting to be at a proper party again so I was a bit disappointed that the test was not as fluent as I would have liked. He has quite a few shows lined up, so I am sure he will then settle back into the competition routine again. 

 11/04/10

As expected, April has so far been a whirlwind of activity! Last week Fiona Price came over to the yard to do some filming for Horsehero, as I had agreed to be a guinea pig for a technique called Feldenkrais. I had never heard of this term before, nor did I know how to pronounce it, and after a little bit of research my understanding of this concept was not a whole lot clearer! Anyway, I thought it would definitely be interesting to 'have a go', as I always feel you should be open to new ideas, as training horses and riders can bring a whole range of situations to your door. 

 

On the day itself, I met Michele Morseth who had come from America to give a Feldenkrais clinic, organised by her pupil Katherine. We began with a group chair session, which involved sitting on a reasonably firm chair and Michele would then tell us to turn our bodies slowly to each side, and from upright to slouched positions and then recall how this movement effected other parts of our bodies, making them move,

stretch or tense etc. to enable the movement to happen. This process is known as ATM (awareness through movement). We also noted anything that restricted our movements, or any unevenness between each side of our bodies, seat bones and even our breathing.

 

Then it was on to the ridden part. Normally when I ride I try not to think about things too much, I do however take note of my hand and leg position, straightness, and relaxation of my body at various moments during training, so that I can be sure that I am being clear with my aids but also going with the horses movement as well. However, I do know how it feels to focus and be strict on your body, arms and legs, as I had to do this a lot when I first went to Holland to train, which can be very frustrating! With Feldenkrais, there seemed to be a lot of specific questions asked throughout the riding session in order to raise various points about the body's mechanics. We also tried altering our position to see how this affected our breathing, as we had done in the chair session. Again, as it was in the chair, being in a slouched or elongated back position, restricted one's breathing. Interestingly, the position that felt natural to me seemed to enable my breathing to be easy, plus when in this position I did not feel like I had to either elongate my spine or hold myself in any particular way, I just sat there. Michele asked me to describe how I felt in my preferred position and I recall saying that I felt like I could sit there all day. I suppose when you are riding for most of the day, the body will find out how to be efficient, otherwise you would be muscle sore and out of breath all day everyday!            

 

As a rider you must look at yourself in a judgemental way, and take responsibility for how you affect your horse. For me, you must always begin straightness for the rider and the horse. If you have a problem with this then my advice would be to use long straight lines first to help you align yourself correctly rather than trying to solve this on a circle. Riding technique is really such a personal thing, and I am sure there are thousands of theories and methods around the world being used to improve it. I suppose some might work very well for some people and not others, so the key is to be open and honest with yourself to find the way that works for you.

 

This week the Winter Championships were taking place at Hartpury, and I had Flora competing there yesterday. I was really proud of her as she once again rose to the occasion. She had not had the best of preparations due to her sinus problem but nevertheless just missed out in the prizes and came 11^th, in a class that had many older and more advanced horses in it. Another bonus was the fantastic weather we had, which made it rather ironic that we were at the 'winter' finals. 

 

Finally, today I took Bolly to his first outing. Having had his balls removed last time we took him somewhere in the truck he seemed a bit more reluctant to load this time! I was really impressed with his behaviour and after a little while he realised that there were no dragons in the judge's boxes. It is really important to make sure the younger horses have good experiences with no pressure, so today was mission accomplished for his first taste of competition!

 

27/03/10

Spring forward! I must not forget the clocks change tonight; I can't believe that we are already at this time of the year! Last week was rather hectic as it was Cheltenham Festival, which Mark and I attended each day. This meant early starts to get some things done before heading to the races, followed by late nights entertaining guests. I was knackered by the end of the week, getting older I guess! Although the sun was shinning the first three days, on the betting front things were gloomy as despite our group efforts in studying the form none of us managed to back a winner. Friday was a huge occasion, with the Gold Cup entries Denman and Kauto Star attracting a lot of media attention. However, I managed to have a winning ticket when Imperial Commander crossed the line first! 

 

Just before the Festival I took Flora out to compete again after her wins at Hunters. However, this time she felt a bit flat and although she still won her section I was quite confused by her loss of sparkle, but with no signs out of the ordinary I put it down to being just one of those days. However, after her day off, I took her for a little hack during which lots of gunk came out of one nostril. Although it was a shame that she had a mild sinus infection, it was on the other hand quite nice to have a likely cause for her uncharacteristically dull performance.

 

April is looking to be reasonably busy with the Winter Championships at Hartpury, a Premier League show, and the young horse classes will also get underway. I am just about getting my head around the new schedule format in the BD magazine in time to make the entries!

 13/03/10

The sun has been shinning, the temperature is a few degrees warmer, and the days are getting longer... is Spring finally here? I think so, and with it the compulsive desire to do some 'spring cleaning', which in my case is including some serious DIY around the yard! I think anyone who runs or owns their own yard can sympathise with this task, there are always things on the list to repaint, repair or replace! However, the extra daylight hours have motivated me to get these things started.

 

Last week I received a letter from British Dressage, awarding Flora with a ticket to the Winter Championships, which will be held at Hartpury in April. I also competed her again since her Regional Finals, and we enjoyed a double win at Hunters Equestrian! She was a good girl and felt much more secure with the movements, so now it is just a case of her gaining in her own strength. We also had an important spectator at the show, as my Mum was visiting us, so the wins were extra special! 

 

Back at home 'the girls' are now sharing their field with Spike (the hunter) and Jamiro (my retired Grand Prix horse). We thought it would be good for them to develop their social skills, but so far they have totally snubbed the two boys! It is really interesting to watch them organise themselves within the herd, and handle different situations, you can learn a lot about their individual personalities. It is a bit similar to a horse version of Big Brother!

 

 

26/02/10

Our season has officially kicked off! Although the weather still feels very wintery, the daffodils and the snowdrops have already showed signs of life, and last week Flora and I also emerged from our own hibernation to compete at our regional winter championships! I must admit that I was slightly concerned the day before, as we were experiencing snow blizzard conditions, but fortunately unlike earlier in the year it was just briefly passing through. Another concern in the run up to the competition was that Flora was coming into season again. Last year this happened quite often with her and always seemed to be just in time for her big competitions, she obviously thought that shows would be a good place to meet her potential lovers! Although she was always still very well behaved to ride I did find that she became quite tight in her back when she was in season, and also grumpy in the stable. So, along with advice from my repro vet, we decided to give Regumate a try. This did the trick and she was normal again for the competition, and to be honest I think that I will just keep her on it for now as she seems much more relaxed in her body. I think all of us ladies can sympathise with how she was feeling beforehand! 

Anyway, having got to addington without any weather disruption and minus the excessive hormone levels we competed in the Medium Freestyle Championships and finished 5^th. I was really pleased with her as she was one of the youngest horses in the class and it was also her first outing in a double bridle. She hadn't been out in a while, but that isn't a worry with her as she always gets on with the job, and in fact the bigger the atmosphere the better she goes!   

 

12th February

 

 

It has been absolutely freezing here the past few days. Even though the sun has been shinning, the wind is just bitter, my entire face felt like it had botox and I could barely move my mouth to speak after going out hacking! At least we have managed to avoid any more snow for the time being, although we did have a very random hail storm that lasted about five minutes yesterday. I am really pleased with how the horses are going at the moment, although I am sure they would appreciate a bit of sun on their backs too. One thing I would love to eventually have on the yard is a solarium, they are really great for the horses especially at this time of year. 

Since arriving back, I have also been catching up with some pupils who are building up to their competition program for this year. Last weekend I was asked to teach at the U21 UK training camp at the Unicorn Trust. It was very rewarding to help these young riders, and get them to work on the weak areas of their training in a positive way. The visit also really reminded me of how much I enjoyed going to Byrds training weekends when I was younger and just starting out in dressage. You also learn so much from watching others and get inspiration from the more experienced riders, but it's also fun and you get to meet other people who share the same interests. Young riders in this country are so lucky that there is organised training and events dedicated for them, and one day I hope to be able to help develop something similar for Hong Kong riders of the future.

Last week I also took Bolly to get castrated and he came home on Monday. I was expecting him to feel a bit sore and sorry for himself but he is not at all, bright as a button in fact! 

This Sunday is Chinese New Year, it will be the year of the Tiger, and so I'd like to wish you all Kung Hei Fat Choi, which means wishing you prosperity and wealth!

 

 

28th January

 

Bye Bye snow (for now anyway)! Having left all the snow behind in Canada, I was relieved to see green grass as our plane approached Heathrow. This past week I have been getting back into the swing of things at home, and finally the horse's daily routines are back to normal, and they are very content.

During our stay in Whistler we did quite a lot of ski touring, the scenery was amazing and you are able to escape the busy ski resort and find your own piece of tranquillity. It was well worth all the trekking, which certainly strengthened up some of the muscles in my legs that I never knew were there!  This along with visits to gym really made me realise the importance of strengthening lots of different muscles, and not just the ones we need for riding. Consequently, my New Year's resolution is to go to the gym regularly! 

It is now time to start planning the competition calendar, and I can't wait to start competing again! 

 

 

  14th January 2010

Happy New Year Everybody! We are now well into 2010, and so far one issue seems to have had an impact on everyone, the weather! Normal life has pretty much ground to a halt. So, I have actually snuck away to Canada for a little skiing holiday before the new season begins in earnest. It seems quite ironic that there has been more snow at home recently than at the ski resort of Whistler! Nevertheless, the snow conditions are still good at the top of the mountains, so we are getting plenty of skiing.   As Vancouver is hosting the Winter Olympics next month, many of the events are actually taking place in Whistler. The atmosphere in the village is really buzzing! Everywhere you look preparations are being made, and the locals are all, in true snowboarding lingo, 'stoked'.   The media is full of news on the pre Olympic progress of the athletes, the good final results and also the tragic injuries that have ended Olympic dreams prematurely. All these emotions are so reminiscent of my experiences prior to the Beijing Olympics, training and competing with those who realised their lifetime goals but also those who had to deal with bitter disappointment.

Whilst I am away, the horses are getting all their routine visits from the horse dentist, saddle fitter, physio, and vaccinations done. As for myself, I am working on my fitness levels, and Mark and I have signed up to do some backcountry ski touring over the next week. For those of you who are not familiar with this, it involves a lot of trekking up mountains and then skiing down. The idea is that by doing all the leg work you 'earn your turns', as opposed to getting a helicopter to drop you off (which I must admit is rather fun too!).  Anyway, it is also a great way to see at first hand nature at its best.   

31st December

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas despite the crazy weather, although all the snow we had did give it that winter wonderland feeling! In keeping with tradition, Mark and I stayed at home to look after the horses over the holidays. I must admit that I rather enjoy getting onto the yard early on Christmas morning, before heading into the kitchen in attempt of becoming a domestic goddess! Whilst I have not yet transformed into Nigella Lawson, my time keeping is becoming much better and everything now is ready for the dinner table at around the same time, which means that I can actually sit down and enjoy it now! Coordinating a timetable whilst at a competition is so much simpler.

The weather recently has interrupted the horses' routines, with the turnout fields and hacking lanes all out of bounds due to ice. Luckily, we were able to dig and grit a pathway to the walker, and sought refuge in the indoor arena, but even that was nearly frozen first thing the other morning as temperatures were running into double digits .... below zero! The chilly weather has really made this lot fresh, and it seems that the older horses are relishing the excuse for wild behaviour. I must admit that I was 'caught out' yesterday, and ended up flying through the air like something out of cirque du soleil after a few exuberant bucks...ughh! Luckily for me all the Christmas feasting must have been worth it as my fall seemed to be cushioned, by some extra padding in certain areas where I normally might not appreciate it! 

My attention is now turned towards the New Year, and would like to wish everyone a Happy and Successful 2010!       

 

 18th December

Countdown to Christmas! I cannot believe Christmas day is only a week away. It has been especially hectic as I only returned from training in Holland last week, so preparations for the festive season have been left till last minute. It was great to be training over at Anky's again, and the new stables are really nice. As usual a lot of attention is put onto to the basics, and the theme that I kept focused on was the horse's activity in all three paces. It is really important not to mistake collection as slowing down, instead think of collection as maintaining the same rhythm over a smaller distance. It was important to make sure the horse was travelling freely and actively forwards first before bringing them back as you need that energy. It all sounds very simple, but it is really useful to keep reminding and asking yourself honestly during a training session, whether you have managed to maintain the level of activity that you wanted throughout all your exercises. 

During my stay I also managed to go along with Anky to a 'practice competition' where she was riding Painted Black. It was really interesting to hear that in Holland they often have these practice shows, which are a bit different from normal shows. At these events the judges may give you extra feedback on what to work on and everyone is allocated a little bit of extra time so that if they want to ride a certain movement from the test again at the end they can. This seemed like a very good way of developing and improving combinations in the ring. These shows are really popular, with a lot of entries including many up and coming young riders as well as top names!

It is quite nice to be home now though, with everyone getting excited about Christmas. I managed to get all my present shopping done in one go, out of pure determination of not having to return to the manic shops again! 

 

 

  17^th November 2009

Things have been fairly quiet for the past week or so, but it has been nice to have a bit more time to concentrate on our training at home. The weather has also been really bad, so it is a big bonus to be able to tuck ourselves away from the elements in the indoor school! We are also very fortunate to have a covered horse walker, and although the horses all have windows facing outside the yard area is also inside, making life much easier when it is stormy outside! 

 

I have now started riding Flora more regularly in the double bridle. For me, introducing a horse to the double is a very important stage in their training, as the successful progression through to the higher levels depends on their confidence and acceptance of it. So, I find it worth taking a bit of extra time with this transition. To begin with I ride them with the double bridle on but only use the snaffle rein, as this allows them to get used to the new feeling in their mouths without changing the contact that they are used to. Eventually, once it becomes normal to have the double bridle on, you can then begin taking a loose contact with the second rein.

 

Whilst we are on the topic of stages in training, 'the girls' have gone to stay with a friend of mine who backs my youngsters for me. After a few loading practices at the start of the week they were good to go, for their first ever journey on wheels! All of the groundwork has paid off as he has already sat on them both. The idea at this stage is not to 'train' them but to found the relationship of horse and rider. Soon they will come home and get turned out to mature until later next year.

 

Finally, I have just made arrangements to go back to Holland at the end of the month for some training, very excited!  

 

21st October

 

The winter season is upon us, bringing some much needed rain, and days that are becoming noticeably shorter. However, this has not slowed down activity on the yard one bit, if anything it seems busier now than ever! Having had a quiet time on the competition front with the wedding and honeymoon, I am now looking forward to heading back down the centre line again. This week I have not one, but three competitions lined up, so no doubt by the end of the week I'll be back into the swing of things for sure! 

 

I am excited about taking Flora out again, to try and finish her qualification for the Winter Championships at the beginning of next year. At the moment she is competing at medium level, which she is established at, the only thing is that she is at the awkward stage of learning her flying changes. I am hoping that she will be able to resist adding them into the tests this week, yet on the other hand at least it would show that she is picking up what we have been working on at home, so we'll see!

 

The other project that has been keeping us busy has been 'The Girls'. Cha Cha and Betty, as they are affectionately known, are two year olds that I bred. Their dam is in fact Flora, but they were both embryo transferred into surrogate mothers so that their 'mum' could concentrate on her career! They are by Flemmingh (sire of Grand Prix horses Lingh and Krack C), and Painted Black (Anky's Grand Prix horse). Anyway, we decided to bring them in to start some basic education. So part of the afternoons has been spent introducing a little routine into their lives, getting used to the bit in their mouths, and starting some quiet lunging. The barn has also had two more new arrivals this week, who are in for some training. So, I'm hoping the days don't get too short for the time being as there is lots to fit in at the moment!

 

7th October 2009

Home sweet home! Since we returned from our Honeymoon it has just been a case of getting back into the swing of things, which seems really hectic compared to the 'island life'! However I must say, having missed the horses (and the dogs) so much, it is great to be back. 

 

As I mentioned in my last blog, the guys kept the horses and the yard in tip top shape while I was away. During this time the horses mainly went on nice long hacks, which meant that by the time I got back they were physically fit and mentally fresh! So, having not been on a horse for three and a half weeks, I choose my first mount carefully, and decided that Flora would be the best candidate as she is so honest. They all have been really good so I need not have worried.  Linco in particular has changed so much, and has clearly benefited from his break. I am sure he has grown another hand taller, and has also filled out loads as well. This combined with his enthusiasm about getting back to work has made him feel like he has had turbo powered engine fitted when I was away! It's a good feeling to start the winter season like this.

22nd September 2009 We are on our way home from our honeymoon, and what an adventure it has been! Having been tucked away on remote islands up until now, it seems vey strange being back in the 'real world'. We saw some stunning scenery as we travelled from Australia to French Polynesia, so beautiful that no words can really do it justice. Most of our activities were spent under water, as the diving at these locations is world famous. Where do I begin … the sea life was incredible, we patted a giant potato cod on the Barrier Reef (it was larger than me!), dived with massive lemon sharks and black tip sharks in Bora Bora (neither of which are man eaters, nevertheless I was yet to be convinced), and witnessed a giant manta ray gracefully heading out to sea… awesome! Thankfully yes, the visibility was way beyond that of the quarry where we did our nitrox course! I will definitely post some photos as soon as I get them on the computer! Meanwhile, everything has been ticking along at home. It is times like this that really emphasise the importance of having a good team behind you, not only just during competitions. Thanks guys! My last bit of news is that Buzz has been sold, so I wish him and his new owner much success! Having relaxed and recharged in the sun on honeymoon, I am now excited about getting back to training and competing, and ready for the winter ahead!

26th August 2009 AMAZING, is what comes to mind when summing up the competition at this years European Dressage Championships! What a result for the Dutch and British Teams! Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, today the World Record for the Grand Prix Special was broken twice by the eventual Gold and Sliver medal winners, and what a spectacular achievement at such a young age for Laura to win Bronze amongst such esteemed company!    As everyone is taking holiday days at the moment I was left to man the yard on my own, so unfortunately I was not able to be in Windsor for all the excitement. However, this did lead me to discover FEI TV! How great to be able to watch the entire competition live, and the picture quality was super, so in between doing everything on the yard, I was totally hooked on watching the action on the laptop screen! The standard of the competition was exceptional! The rest of the individual competition is sure to be thrilling, but unfortunately being on a plane at 35,000 feet I will be out of broadband range to watch the kur on Saturday!    On the upside though Mark and I will then be on Honeymoon and well on our way to a tropical paradise, finally!

10th August 2009  What a wonderful day we had! I must admit the weather leading up to the wedding day was a bit worrying, we had rain, lots of it, and even thunderstorms! Despite this the marquee construction was well underway, and the horses were most impressed by it!  Amazingly, it all cleared for the special day, and was glorious, which was a huge relief!    The morning seemed to fly by, and before I knew it my Dad and I were trotting up the hill to the church in the horse and carriage, by which point I was already starting to get quite emotional. The church service was lovely, and then Mark and I made our first journey as Mr and Mrs Tracey in the carriage to the reception. It was really special to have so many friends and family there to celebrate with us, which we did until the small hours of the following morning!    We decided postpone the honeymoon to give Mark's ankle more time to heal, before our action packed holiday. Nevertheless we managed to get away for a few days, just the two of us. Today feeling refreshed, it was back to work, with horses to do and lessons to teach. Rocco in particular was feeling incredibly fresh, having had a couple days off, and nearly bronked me off whilst I was getting on! All I could think to myself was, don't fall off, if I break something next it will nearly be Christmas by the time we get to go on our honeymoon!

1st August 2009 This time next week Mark and I will be having our first dance as man and wife! I cannot believe that the wedding is only seven days away, Mark's leg is getting better, and we are all getting more and more excited by the day! So far everything seems to be on track, although there have been a few times when I have felt like I'm in a call centre, with hundreds of questions being fired at me about the final details. Luckily, I am not the type of person who finds it difficult to make decisions, which is probably a saving grace! Already some friends and family are beginning to arrive in the country from abroad, and it will be wonderful to be able to see so many of them.    OK, back to the horses! Hickstead flew by last week, it is always so nice to compete there, such a good atmosphere. It was also fantastic to have so many top combinations come to compete at the international, great for the build up towards the Europeans later this month. I had both Linco and Rocco competing, more or less straight there from Hartpury. Once again Linco made me proud by becoming Reserve Champion, with over 83%. He has now earned a real holiday for himself. I really think it is important for all horses, the young ones particularly, to have time to unwind and recharge. So now he is in the field and then will have a period of hacking before commencing his training over the winter. Rocco was thrown a little in the deep end with his first Prix St George CDI. Whereas at Hartpury we managed to get through the test mistake free, here we made lots of small mistakes. However, they were all due to lack of experience and for the rest he handled himself really well. He received lots of encouraging complements, so now it is up to me to tidy up all the loose ends.    Finally, today was my last competition before I get married. I took Flora to do her first medium level tests. It rained and rained, I thought this was supposed to be the height of summer! Despite getting absolutely soaked we managed to squelch our way around the new movements, only for her to come first and second!

 

21st July 2009 I am over the moon! Hartpury Dressage Festival went really well, I am so pleased with how all my horses went. We began with the Young Horse Championships on Saturday, for which Linco and Flora were qualified. Linco was a star, I was so impressed with how he conducted himself in the competition arena, he was with me every step of the way.    This horse came to me last year so green, gangly, and unconfident, and now here we are, nine months down the line and 'Reserve Champion 2009'!!! It really is the best feeling as a rider to have a horse turn around like this and develop trust in you. Due to our high placing we were then invited to return for the Gala Evening to take part in the Supreme Championship. What a great atmosphere, and such a good opportunity for the horses to see this. Linco was gobsmacked, ok there were some moments of tension, but overall I had a very good feeling, he was forward thinking and when he settled wow I found a few extra gears!    Ok, I could easily go on and on, but we also had two other results that I was very happy with. Flora finished 9th in the six year old Shearwater Championships with 77%, despite being in season and was consequently slightly preoccupied with leaving her boyfriends in the warm up arena. She became focused in the test but felt more tight in her body than normal. It would have been interesting to see what the result would have been if hormones hadn't been on overdrive!    Finally, yesterday we took Rocco to compete in the Premier League Prix St Georges. At this stage my main concern is keeping him relaxed in the new movements and maintaining tempo control throughout the test. The canter pirouettes were much improved and although there is a lot of tidying up to do it is definitely going in the right direction!

17th July 2009 Just over three weeks left to go until our big day, and what a busy few weeks they are going to be! The final preparations are now well under way, and I have been to see the florist, caterers, wine merchants, you name it I have seen them. The other day I even went for a hair and make up trial which was great fun, although the saying 'all dressed up with nowhere to go' seemed appropriate as I don't normally wear very much makeup, especially before lunchtime!    With lots of competitions ahead it has been all go at the stables as well. We had a routine visit from the physio last week just to make sure everyone was all set for the coming weeks. Linco has qualified for three different young horse finals this season, and they all take place in the same week of this month! We kicked off with the Badminton Young Horse Championships yesterday. He warmed up really well out in the fields but became a little bit claustrophobic in the small indoor school, however he still managed to impress the judges with what they described as the big 'range' of his paces. It was also interesting to hear the judges comments on the horses following the end of each test. Unfortunately, he just creeped out of the top ten towards the end of the class, but I came away very satisfied with his performance.      Our next competition is this Saturday, when Flora and Linco both contest in the Shearwater Young Horse Championships, which are being held at Hartpury this year. We then return to Hartpury the following day for a Prix St Georges with Rocco. Monday we have a chance to reorganise and then we are off to Hickstead, where I have Linco and Rocco competing. Hickstead is probably my favourite competition venue in the UK and it sounds like some top combinations are heading there too, so it looks like an exciting week ahead!

28th June 2009 What weather we are having at the moment! The past few days have been incredibly hot and we have had an unusually huge amount of nasty horseflies around this summer. So, I have been getting up extra early to ride the horses before it gets too uncomfortable. Of course it is also a good idea to practice riding in the heat as well, particularly if you know that you are going to be faced with these conditions in an upcoming competition. However, for the rest of the time both the horses and I have appreciated training in more favourable temperatures, and before the flies wake up for breakfast (us)!    This schedule has also given me more time in the day for teaching, as well as the all important wedding plans! I had a great weekend last week, catching up with friends for my hen weekend. This included, amongst other things J, going to see the Killers live in Hyde Park which was amazing. Earlier this week I also went for my first wedding dress fitting, which actually ended up being my last, as the dress fit perfectly and no alterations were needed at all, I couldn't believe it!    In between these other activities, I managed to get Rocco out to do a Prix St Georges test. He is only just eight years old but has come on leaps and bounds in the last year, and is now ready for small tour. It was by far the hottest day so far, and putting on the tailcoat for the test was not pleasant at all. Despite this Rocco tried really hard and was not sluggish at all, and apart from a few green mistakes I was really pleased with him. I was especially happy with the sequence changes which he scored good marks for, even though I could feel him thinking to himself 'I hope I am doing the right thing because I have never been allowed to show off these tricks at a competition before'! Now it is just a case of getting him out for more experience in the ring, which I am really looking forward to so watch this space!

17th June 2009  What a week it has been! Having been inspired at the Dutch Championships, training went really well with my horses. I love watching top horses and riders and find it so beneficial to watch and learn. At Outdoor Gelderland I also was able to view the warm up arena, and it was so interesting to see what exercises and warm up routine the riders had before going in for the test. For those of you at home, many of the big competitions now have live streaming on the internet, which is well worth checking out.   In between competing Anky helped me a lot and the horses made great progress. I was particularly proud of Linco who is only five years old and new to all of this. He behaved impeccably, even with all the construction work going on right next to the arena. These distractions were actually very useful for getting horses used to difficult situations. One day we also had the entire workforce taking a lunch break at the side of the arena so we had a mini crowd to watch! However, despite being an angel in the training sessions, he did not stay completely out of trouble! One afternoon he managed to reach up and pull apart the water pipe supplying the water drinker (only he could be able to reach it as he is so tall!). Within minutes the stable yard was flooded with water spraying everywhere, and Linco standing perfectly still pretending it had nothing to do with him!    In training we began concentrating on the exercises more, and Anky emphasised the different aspects of riding the movements, such as controlling the positioning of the horse such as being able to make changes of the bend, and also controlling the tempo of the horse within the movement by riding forwards and collected. These are both fundamental basics that when used when riding the more advanced movements means that the horse learns to listen to the aids of the rider 100%.    Then, earlier this week my phone went off in the middle of the night, so I immediately knew something was wrong. Poor Mark had broken his leg whilst in Canada…. nightmare! Understandably, I was needed at home, so the following day I had final training with Anky and then headed home a couple days earlier than planned, and luckily not at the start of the trip! Back home in one piece, the horses have travelled well and I have started my new duties as a nurse!

6th June 2009 It is nearly the end of my first week in Holland, and it has been action packed! We had a really good journey over last Sunday, the roads were quiet and the ferry was smooth so all horses and people travelled well (I am not that keen on the ferry motion in rough waters)! We arrived late afternoon and were immediately shell shocked at the transformation of the yard. Building work is not finished yet but is going to look great once it is.     We began our training sessions with Anky the following day, focussing on good basics to settle them into their new surroundings. With all the horses, whatever their level of training we try to establish tempo control. This means changing the speed, to make it quicker or slower, so that the rider has the total ability to control each step. Not only is this essential for the higher level tests, but it also encourages the younger horses to develop more expression in their paces.    This week the Dutch National Dressage Championships are taking place. Many of Anky's students have been busy with their preparations for this event. It has been really good to watch them train in the days leading up to competing. It is really important to include test riding in your training so that you are confident that you have ironed out any mistakes or bad habits. I remember that when I have prepared for major competitions here in the past we have trained on all parts of the test so that when it comes to the competition you have no weaknesses, and you can ride to your maximum potential. Also, if you have a certain movement that you find particularly difficult, you have trained how to approach it in the best possible way.   Yesterday, after I worked my horses I had a spectating marathon at the championships, which are being held at De Steeg, a lovely estate only 45 minutes away from the yard. The format of these championships is a bit different to that in the UK, in that there are overall champions at small tour and big tour level, calculated by the results over three days. Apart from these two levels there are only another two major titles on offer, zz lichte and zz zwaar (the levels below PSG). The final for these levels is also a kur. This really makes the championships exciting for spectators as dressage to music attracts lots people, even those who do not know about dressage. This really promotes the sport of dressage and gives the competition a bigger atmosphere as the event is attended by horse people and non horse people, creating the feeling that it is a social night out as well. Last night the areas around the ringside almost felt like being on a busy promenade of outdoor bars and cafes!   Tonight is the Grand Prix Kur Final, which I cannot wait to see! Edward Gal's ride Totilas has definitely been awesome throughout the competition. A horse he describes to the Dutch media as 'from another planet' pretty much sums it up. Anky always is a master of riding to music, and Imke has the wonderful Sunrise back in competition. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to see this live later.