Area 18 Horse Trials Results
Meg Morgan
Team Second:
Megan Morgan and (Tennapenny) Henry + Individual 2nd
Lucy Verity and Cathal + Individual 4th
Lauren Creed and (USA K) Fred
Michelle Holder and Daisy
Team Sixth:
Anna Bates and Lucky Streich + individual 5th
Vicky Stinchcombe and (VW) Herbie
Donna Mallon and (Senna) Stanley
Sian Evans and Ruby Walsh
Individual Sixth
Anna Bates and (Realms of Glory) Arthur
A big thank you from the Team Manager
The lead up to the Horse Trials Qualifier at Broadway was not without event.. After a wonderful XC and show jumping practice, we had to postpone our dressage training due to torrential rain which led to flooding and waterlogged ground, both at Boddington and Church Farm – in June!!!
Then Bob’s super young horse He’s a Cracker (it’s true – he is!) was found to have an incorrect date on his Flu cert, so he was out, but Bob came forward to ably fill a novice slot on Heather’s horse, Sully. Anna (with her third ride) stepped back into the hotly contested intermediate team with her Dad’s horse Lucky and we were all set….
Fantastic weather on the day certainly helped things go with a swing, but the cracking performances from all concerned certainly put a lot of smiles on everyone’s faces.
A huge thanks to Sharon, team trainer, who gave up her entire day (and most of June!) to offer her expert support, advice and encouragement wherever she could, and another huge thanks to Di, my right hand woman for the day, who helped organise and support everyone (while I was busy being a nervous competitor!)
I have to say (and this is easier said when all the hard work is over!) that this year I have found it very rewarding to see so many of you improving so significantly at the training in the lead up to the event.
You should all be tremendously proud of yourselves (and come back next year!).
But finally, it has been a pleasure to spend time with old friends, make some new ones, and share the fun and excitement of a team event with some wonderful people – now where’s that fizz?
And of course I’m absolutely THRILLED that one of our teams has qualified – congratulations!!!
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Beth Franz - Demonstration
Sharon Eastwood
A fantastic day with Beth proving a popular demonstrator! I took copious notes, but not all of the discussions are repeatable - very stimulating but not for publication!
She managed to make each session fun yet consistently applied the scales of training, explaining them as we went along. Her aim was to show that flatwork can be exciting.
So, technical stuff ...
The first 3 (as you all know!) are Rhythm, Suppleness and Contact. The horse needs to be 'in front of the leg' to prevent constant kicking which gives varying rhythm.
It is important to use your corners to show off your horse’s bend. The horse needs to show overtrack - that is the hind foot falling in front of where the front foot has just left.
As the riders balance is through the 9th thoracic vertebra, this is why you get told to 'sit up'. Raise your ribcage and allow abdominal muscle to activate muscle between shoulder blades. To increase the horse’s activity behind, and create the overtrack, you need to have a relaxed front end - through jaw, poll and base of the neck. Your wrists affect jaw, lower arm the poll and back the base of the neck ... Tips included think forward in advance i.e. a turn at A should start level with FK and ride the outside of the turn not the inside. Use a canter pole to improve accuracy of transitions – the pole helps to give 'jump' into canter. Learn to count the walk rhythm starting with the inside hind leg - get someone on the ground to help you, as this will increase your feel for a good walk.
Phew!, got all that - it seemed more fun somehow watching the wonderful guinea pigs be put through their paces. Many thanks to Sian, Michelle, Lyn and Sue for their bravery in doing the exercises. If you were not there - make sure you get along to the clinics and experience for yourselves. Many thanks to Beth and hope to see you soon.
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