Dressage Festival on the Wettest Windiest Bank Holiday I Can Remember.
Jo Elliott
Kingsleaze RC hosted a festival of dressage at Burrows Court on bank holiday Monday, and had a team competition open to all riding clubs in the area. We sent 2 teams down for a trip out and a bit of fun. That was obviously before we saw the weather forecast!! The teams consisted of Heather Williams, Ron Medland and me, Sian Evans, Michelle Holder and Bob Fennell.
It was a bit touch and go as to whether we would have the full compliment as the wind was so strong in Cheltenham, Ron was worried about towing the trailer, but after a few manic phone calls, and reserves being sought, Ron phone again to say it had died down and he was going to give it a bash. Reserves were stood down. My joy at him coming was short lived as the gales and lashing rain he had mentioned descended on Burrows Court and the brave individuals who rode early did a sterling job just to get the horses in the arena’s, it was not a day for the faint hearted. Tests were being called, but even I couldn’t make myself heard. You had to get your horse through a lake at C to try and report to the judge, who was now using semaphore, as opening the shed door meant a 5 minute struggle against the wind to close it, the arenas had puddles down the long sides and centre line, it was far from ideal. At about the time we were all soaked to the skin the rain abated but the wind remained, but Ron, Michelle and I were lucky enough to ride in the dry.
In spite of the weather, the day went well, with Michelle, Bob and Sians team coming 3rd and Heather, Ron and I coming 6th. Thanks to all the riders, the brave supporters, the horses for behaving so well in desperate conditions and to the Kingsleaze RC for hosting the day. I’m sure its just bad luck, but they hosted the Cross Country at Leyland Court the year it poured down all day, a coincidence they were happy to point out!!
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Tack Farm Camp - 22nd - 25th May 2008
Liz Hayden
Due to last minute cancellations the camp was reduced to just 4, Clive and I, Jane Chivers and Sue Owen. This was great for us because we had such individual instruction – but what a shame that more people didn’t come, you missed a treat!
Tack Farm is a relatively new centre near Hereford with fantastic facilities - a lovely xc course with a range of interesting fences for everyone from 1’9 to 3’3”, a superb show jumping arena and a large arena for flatwork. The course included a Derby bank and a Hickstead bank which I found great fun to have a go at. Accommodation was basic but comfortable in a dormitory (poor Clive sharing with 3 females!) with plenty of food and refreshments provided at all times. The centre is very well run with great attention to detail and the owners were very accommodating to our needs.
Our instructors Don and Jenny were superb. They were enthusiastic, and managed to tailor the sessions so that each horse and rider, no matter what their ability, achieved at their own level. They also allowed us to plan our own agenda in terms of the balance of our training.
Don took all the jumping sessions. I was stretched to the limit of my comfort zone (and beyond at times!), but never felt overfaced. Don worked on basics of rider position, control of pace and rhythm, and for me the most difficult thing – of giving the reins to trust the horse (not easy on an adrenaline charged horse cantering/galloping down hill on the verge of being out of control!). The sessions were sometimes on the long side, but we achieved so much that it was well worth it.
Jenny was a brilliant flatwork trainer. The first session started with an unmounted chat about us and our horse, we all had to say what was good about our riding, and one thing that we wanted to work on. This was such a refreshing approach, and allowed her to then specifically help each rider work on something important to them – whether it was improving the ground manners of the horse, rider position, getting the horse sharper off the aids, or working on poll flexion. She had an amazing ability to get straight to the heart of what each rider wanted to achieve and make big changes in a very short space of time.
The third day was constructed as a mini one day event. A very basic dressage test was constructed, and we were all judged by the rest of the group primarily on the thing that we had been working on the previous day. This was a great learning experience for us both watching each other and having feedback from the group. We then did a xc course tailored to our individual abilities – which ranged from walking/trotting round a short 1’9 course, to tackling the full course. The last session was a show jumping round. Needless to say by the end of the day all horses and riders were exhausted!
Overall this was a wonderful few days and we all came away with renewed confidence and skills, and plenty to work on at home.
We are hoping to organise a riding club ODE training at Tack Farm in the future – I can highly recommend it, and shall certainly be the first on the list!
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