I saw a mouse.....

The mice in my feed room are becoming more and more tame! So much so that at feed times they sit in a row on top of a straw bale and watch me make up the feeds. One was so bold as to approach a bin while my back was turned the other day! The others just sit up and beg. They have conquered divide and rule so that when the dog gives chase they split up and move rapidly in all directions much to poor Gems frustration! As irritating as they are, chewing rugs and eating into bags of feed, I cannot bring myself to kill the little blighters! Occasionally one will commit suicide in the water bucket and I feel a little sad that he has swum around until exhausted and drowned. The only time they really get to me is when they find their way into a feed bin and I, not concentrating, reach in with the scoop fetching out mini mouse as well as feed. Mini then makes a jump for it and scares me half to death! I am not actually scared of mice, but their bigger cousins leave me cold. Any sign of a rat and I can be heard calling the dog in a high pitched voice. Last year I managed to bring home a mouse in my handbag of all things! I had set it down outside the stable whilst doing something at the last minute, which is when he must have hopped in. On arriving home the handbag was in the sitting room and I was on the phone in the hall when the mouse popped its head around the corner and we eye balled each other in disbelief. I live in a first floor flat and so wondered how the hell a mouse had got in? Anyway, he ran into the kitchen and under the washing machine. The dog was oblivious, even when at night I could hear tap dancing in the kitchen. Gem snored her head off despite me digging her in the ribs and whispering, 'mouse'. Having put down a bag of warfarin I waited each day to discover a dead creature, but no the tap dancing continued. After a whole bag of poison had been demolished as well as cheese, chocolate and apple, I decided the best thing to do was name him Roland and feed him anyway, since he was obviously a super mouse having survived warfarin. I bought a humane trap but he managed to elude it always managing to take the tasty bait. Then one morning I was getting something out from under the sink and I saw that the trap was closed. I opened the end never dreaming there would be anything, and there he was, Roland, staring at me with big brown eyes and inquisitive whiskers twitching. Quickly shutting the little door, I whisked him down stairs and out to the garden to set him free. Two workman were outside the front door looking at me as if I was bonkers as I squealed ,'I've caught a mouse!' It was only when I set him free that I realised I was still in my underwear! Quick exit one ecentric woman who lives alone with dog and mouse!!

Have you seen that there is a dressage show in Rio? HP Minderhoud, Edward Gal. Isobel Werth and Patrik Kittel have travelled horses over there to compete. Judging by the photos of sandy beaches and deep blue pools they are going to have a bit of a break too. The stables and surroundings look stunning! Had I known I would have concentrated harder at finding a rich husband years ago, then I could have gone to watch. Spare a thought for our own guru, gold medalist Carl Hester who is suffering man flu at present. Chicken soup and chocolate much appreciated if you feel like sending some. Whilst his horses take a 6 week break he and Charlotte are working on the next potential medal winners. Perhaps they should have gone to Rio to sunbathe on the golden sands and take a break?

Horses are hard work but life without them is unthinkable.

The trouble with lorries.

Today just got better and better! Set off this morning to get the lorry plated in Swindon. The directions had been sent out to me so I thought I might have a chance of finding the place! Maybe they were prehistoric or pre roundabouts because I got lost umpteen times!Asking directions was useless as everyone knew where it was but all sent me in different directions!Finally, at the end of my tether and with the fuel guage low, I asked another chap. He started with,'Turn right at the donut,' 'Whaaat???' 'Donut love, mini roundabout.' 'You see this is the problem,' says I, 'I don't speak Swindon!' Finally I got the directions in English and wrote them down and eventually arrive at the VOSA center. The dear old soul checking the lorry looked ancient and spoke with a thick Wiltshire accent, in fact when he disappeared into the pit I could hear his breathing rasping over the intercom and I feared the worst. The only thing not working was the fog lamp as the bulb had gone so the dear chap replaced it with the bulb from the reversing lights because apparantly they dont test these. Lorry passed, phew! So armed with directions I set off for home muttering,'get diesel, get straw.' to myself when the left indicator stopped working! Bugger, I thought. Arrived in Faringdon and filled up with diesel, gave the indicator a bang and it jumped back to life, then jumped back into lorry and turned the key.....nada, zilch, nothing! Ok have a look at the battery, thats logical, and sure enough the connection had sheared right off! An old farmer type just got out of his landrover, so looking my most helpless I asked him if he could help. Bless him, he risked electrocution by holding the connection to the terminal whilst I started the lorry. I thanked him profusely as he gave me instructions to make haste home and don't stop for anything! So no straw picked up today.
I do think this lorry has a jinx on it. When I first bought it the chassis was an old Iveco. I took it for plate, it passed and then blew up on the way home. I replaced the chassis with Mercedes, took it for plate last year and they slammed an order on it as brakes not 100 percent. Good job I had horsebox rescue!

I would like to thank the lady in the grey masda for cutting me up so badly whilst I was IN the inside lane going onto the M4, THAT I HAD TO DRIVE UP THE KIRB! Ladies, I am not feeling the sisterhood here! I hate to say it but women drivers are lethal! Had my horse been on board she would have been half a masda short! Mirrors are for looking in to see what other drivers are doing, not to check make-up, hair, and botox! And by the way, its give way to the right on roundabouts!! I know this is politically incorrect and I will get slated for it but honest some women just should not drive! Having said that some of the men shouldn't either! Approaching roundabouts at 80mph and flying in front of everyone else and then beeping your horn is not macho its just idiotic and dangerous! You can probably tell I have not had a great day!

Stress factor is a little high today but really I have to say this. I am not a bird, nor am I Glow or Glaw! I am Gloria or Glossy to my friends!

There are positives to today. The lorry passed, I have a fab new mechanic called Ali,(even if he does insist on calling me bird or Glaw!) the buisiness is busy and Bee went super today. She is so much fitter and more willing than ever.

It sure feels like winter and I have been sorting out the rugs and clipper blades. Judging by the amount of blackberries already it looks like being another long cold one! Speaking of long and cold, I think its G & T time!

This and that!

What a sad start to the day! Returning from filling up with diesel for my trip to Southampton, I saw a lorry hit a cat. Pulled over sharpish and saw her just sitting in the road looking around in a disorientated way. Scooped her up and wrapped her in my jacket and placed her on the passenger seat. Big dillema! Where to find an ememgency vet on bank holiday monday at 6.45am? So I drove to the yard where I checked her over. Apart from shock she had a little blood in the mouth which may have been internal injury but then all her ribs were intact so thought she may have fractured jaw. Then there was the fact she could'nt stand so another fracture possibly pelvis. Luckily she had a collar on with owners number so I rang her and explained what had happened. Of course the poor woman was beside her self and very emotional. Anyway she rang the emergency number before coming to pick up Daisy. Lots of tears but owner and cat reunited and I could be on my way with a clear conscience!

I had some lovely horses and riders doing test riding today. It is a really good way of finding out where the marks are lost and gained. I especially loved the cob with a lady called Vicky riding. Both were so responsive and receptive to help and really upped their percentage. I would be happy to do this with my horse and find out how other judges are thinking! During a conversation with another judge the other day I found that judges are thinking that 7 is a high mark! 7 is fairly good not good! If judges are only using 0 to 7 then something has gone very wrong! 8,9,10 are there to be used! Ok, not willy nilly, but some horses are capable of earning mostly 8s at medium and advanced medium and should get them! Riders that produce these elevated, cadenced and through tests are in a class of their own and should be defined from the rest of us by 10-15 percent. I find I want to compete less and less these days as the scores are so low, what has happened to positive judging? I know I'm no Isobel or should I say Charlotte, but I also know Im not that bad either and neither is my horse. Sigh....rant over...

So after the test riding I drove off to another yard and treated some horses. My job is so satisfying. Starting off with a tense tight horse that has had discomfort for a few weeks and watching him relax as the treatment progresses is so rewarding. If only humans would attend their own back needs as much as they do their horses. It is impossible to ride a horse straight if you are crooked! Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Does it matter? No, as long as both are straightened up, preferably at the same time, then progress will be made.Its a pity I can't treat myself as I am in desperate need at this moment in time. I will be ringing my mate Alan tomorrow morning first thing!
As I finished on the yard I received a text from Daisys mum. She had indeed fractured her jaw and pelvis but no internal damage, thank goodness. She was operated on in the afternoon and is now stable so fingers crossed for a good recovery.

Whoopi, my 2 year old,is still living out at night much to her disapproval! She really does like her stable and would happily stay in for all but a few hours. She makes it clear that she really does not appreciate being out in all weather by galloping a circle around me and pointedly kicking out! This is despite giving her haylage in the field and having a rug on. I nearly gave in tonight but the weather, although cool is quite clement. Instead I found a warmer rug, one that belonged to Pikeur,and lo and behold it fitted as if made for her! This is rather disconcerting as I really do not want a big horse to ride and shes not 3 yet! There is one concellation, she is not wide.
Roll on next year when she can be backed, I can't wait!

The lorry is due its plate tomorrow so I am praying it passes! Having given me a nervous break down on the way to the show. I had filled up with diesel,(another mortgage needed to do that!) and was on my way but there was no real pull or power. Usually she does 60 without a thought but she was sluggish and then looking at the oil gauge I saw that there was no pressure! Thats all you need when you are on your own with a horse on board. Flicking the gauge got a response and I realised that it was a connection problem ( a bit like horses!) and after a few miles the lorry picked up and was fine again! So if she passes tomorrow it will be great as I have to go and pick up straw on the way back! Oh the joys of owning horses. Every day a day older, is it time to start thinking about hanging up my boots?

Changing weather

The days are becoming more autumnal and winter is creeping up on us. I can feel the minus degrees burying themselves deep in my bones and I am not looking forward to it at all. Please pray for an Indian summer and a long one at that. I had so many things planned for this summer but due to the weather half of them never got done. Decorating the home, repainting my horsebox and rebuilding the living and many other laborious jobs just never materialised. Oh well, when the snow comes and I am house bound I will get the emulsion out and if anyone has a spare barn perhaps my lorry can be a lodger for a while!

Some very moving pictures of Totilas have appeared and some interesting videos and interviews. This very special horse causes such emotional response from all nationalities. I do hope Mathius finds the right course and like others I pray this is not the end of the line for this fabulous horse. I dream of winning the euro lottery so that I can buy him and return him to his rightful rider, I would also set up a trust so that none of our much loved horses need ever be sold.

Looking at the blue sky,(I can never say blue sky without thinking of the person who fits that pseudonom!)one would never think that a few moments ago the sky was black and we had torrential rain. Our weather changes so quickly and with it our moods. I was lucky teaching this morning for a few hours, cold and windy but no rain. Sometimes it is difficult to find the words to teach a new exercise or feel. Feel is something everyone struggles with until they have felt it! Also each persons feel is translated differently. Trying to desensitise horses to the leg aids can be fraught with difficulty. Not everyone is brave enough to chuck away the reins and gallop down the school! Teaching Lucys' horse some half steps really activated his hind legs and got him going today which caused great delight albeit a lot of squealing! I remember the first time someone did this with me. I had a smile on my face for a week! The trainer asked,'How does that feel?' I replied.'better than sex!' To which he laughed and said,'well I dont know what sort of sex you are having but I know which I prefer!' This was years ago when I owned a little black mare named Kiri, welsh section D cross TB and about 15.1hh. She was so talented but a bit bossy too. When she connected it really was like flying without wings! I remember the first year of competition we were last in everything, in fact at Rushall she escaped as I was putting her bridle on and galloped through all the arenas where PSG and Inter I were in progress! A kind lady brought her back with just the reins and the bit. The rest of the bridle is probably still there! By the second year she was unbeatable at novice and elementary and qualified for the Nationals twice which is when I sold her. Not for mega money, but for love. Misguided love at that. That was my last serious relationship and I have regretted selling Kiri ever since as she was never happy and was generally abused. These days I keep my horses and keep men at a healthy distance!

Sorry this is a bit short today but I have a strong feeling that I am going to find a bay mare in the field instead of a skewbald which will mean bathing her for tomorrows show. This is no small feat as she is nearly 16.3hh and hates water! By the time I finish she will be sparkling clean and I will look like I have had a mud bath! All this work for 6 mins per test I do hope it is worth it! We will see! Happy blogging everyone!

Judge not lest ye be judged!

Art 4.5 : Extended Trot

The Horse covers as much ground as possible without hurrying, the steps are lengthened to the utmost as a result of great impulsion from the Hindquaters. The Athlete allows the horse to lengthen the frame and to gain ground whilst controlling the poll. The fore feet should touch the ground on the spot towards which they are pointing. The movement of the fore and hind legs should reach equally forward in the moment of extension. The whole movement should be smoothly executed by taking more weight on the Hindquarters.

Having watched Uthopia earn 10s for this movement and having read the rubbish from BD forum members who would be hard pushed to produce a test worthy of more than 60% I have one piece of advice for them all. Spec savers now does two pairs for the price of one!

Should judges be required to ride at the level that they judge? Does being a rider make you a better judge? Certainly there may be more empathy but as judges are there to recognise good training and not there to give a riding lesson surely being a rider or not should not make an iota of difference. The only time I can see a problem is if the marks are not what the rider desired. This may lead to the comment,'what does she/he know?' However the same can be true of a rider that judges, he/she may have ridden at the level required but badly, or he/she may not have earned high marks through lack of horse power. I think a good judge is a good judge. I dont like it when I go past the box and glimpse the judge looking away from me or head down and chatting to writer, I expect what I give, 100% to the test being ridden. Honesty, integrity, sense of humour and knowledge as well as stamina and concentration are what is required at all levels. A lot of riders at the lower levels cannot afford trainers every week so some guidence really helps and many a time someone has thanked me for positive comments and pointing them in the right direction. Fit the comments to the combination in front of you ie raw amateur or semi pro or pro. Just pick out one or two of the scales of training needing more work and try not to write a book. Some sheets resemble war and peace! These are just my thoughts and the way I do it so please dont shoot me!! I also think the comments more suppleness etc all have a place. I mean to say, how many times have you heard a trainer shouting more bend, more bend! I want to shout, where, where? bend through the neck, through the ribs through the hips??? In training 'bend is your friend.' so I am told. Careful though, this does not mean riding on the inside rein!
Im hoping that tomorrow brings back my mojo and enthusiasm for riding. Its not that I don't want to ride, its just that I want to ride much better. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and can't get out. Why is it that one day you get a fab result and think you've cracked it and then you spend the next decade trying to repeat that feeling and the harder you try the more it eludes you! Admittedly I am trying to produce more cadence on a 16 year old (she doesn't look it and she has had a year off),but I sometimes wonder if I should just hang up my boots and take up breeding them instead. If Mr Hester is a secret blog reader,(I put nothing past him), please find that slot you promised me before Rotterdam! Meanwhile, tomorrow Im popping to my friend Ulrichs to work her as the surface is super and I get some good advice.

I read with interest today about Icelands quiet revolution.

Why Iceland Should Be in the News, But Is Not
sacsis.org.za
Icelanders have quietly carried out a revolution by toppling a weak government, drafting a new constitution and seeking to jail those responsible for the country's economic debacle.
Apparantly this revolution has not been reported by the media in Europe because they do not want us to know that this is possible. Just goes to show how this government controls its population but they better watch out, ideas are already forming! How I would love to be in charge for one week! My friend said she would order indoor schools in every village! Not a priority for most of the population Claire but great idea! I would make bankers resposible for their mistakes and stop all their bonuses, increase pensions and stop benefits, close borders and ban human rights and finally pull out of europe and become a free trading country again! Not that I am political at all!

I have found the recipe for Dutch pancakes! No wonder they took so long as they are cooked in the oven and take half an hour! Anyway I cooked one today and it was yummy! Maybe not as good as grandmas, but practice makes perfect! With all these calories its a good job I have joined a zumba class!

Well I have entered Bee for another show on Sunday so lets hope she has watched the videos in slow motion and read all the classical dressage books. I do hope her +DAP shows and I pray I can manufacture a big trot and canter. Lets hope the judge has the qualities I desire and finds some good marks and if she doesn't I will just write a blog!!!

What is Classical exactly?

Does anyone know what classical actually means? The theosaurus states
'classical 'pertaining to or characteristic of Greek or Roman antiquity or civilisation'. So going on this we must assume that Classical dressage pertains to Xenophon who started a training system eons ago in Greece. Does this mean that we should all be riding in that ancient way or merely that we abide by some of the principles? Then there is the German system, also known as classical, who gave us the scales of training, some of which is lost in translation. Whilst many like to talk about 'classical' and quote the old Masters and books, soooo many books, others are busy riding their horses and trying to discover the secrets of biomechanics that produce better movement and elasticity and suppleness. Quoted today, 'classical dressage was designed to keep horses sound.' Yet the very people who quote this cannot understand working a horse round, deep and over the back! What is it about success that causes a few small minded people to come out of their lairs and start spouting classical as if it is the holy grail? I suspect these are the very people who buy patent riding boots, bling brow bands and the latest designer breeches! Of course their horses never wear draw reins or side reins or elasticated reins as this would not be classical. Instead they meander around on the forehand for years and the penny never drops!

Never fear there is always a silver lining to every cloud! The Equestrian has I hear, been finished or wrapped as they say in the film business. I haven't heard yet when it is due to be released but a good source tells me it is very good with some of our own top riders making appearances.I do hope that they show LDR in the working in and maybe a few pairs of draw reins during training!

Back in Germany when I was still considered a child, we all rode in Thiedermans which are a bit like Market Harboroughs. This was so that the horse stayed in a relatively steady out line and we pupils concentrated on learning to sit with the horse and ride some movements without upsetting the contact or fiddling with the reins. The school horses were not plodders and would often leave the group bucking the rider off in the process! Now the custom in Germany is that the faller buys a round of schnapps and the whole group must toast the faller and drink the wretched stuff. I was unfortunate enough to be on a ride where three people fell off! My father was not amused to find a tipsy twelve year old waiting for a lift home nor was he happy when I threw up in the back of his Merc (his pride and joy)! Happy days and all the horses were on ze bit!
If you could go back in time where would you go? Which part of your life has the best memories? Mine would definitely be my time in Germany, both as a young child and as a young woman. Don't let anyone tell you the Germans have no sense of humour! That is what they would have you believe but trust me I had more fun there than most places bar one over here. For a start there was no health and safety! I remember going out with a young officer who had ambitions of becoming a show-jumper. He could walk trot and canter and jump a cross pole but he had set his heart on one of the show-jumpers that I had been riding at the school when I was visiting. The horse was a westphalian with a huge jump and only 6 years old. He was very brave and powerful to ride but had a sense of humour. Well, the boyfriend got on board and trotted around a bit, then he popped into canter which got more and more out of control. Why would you then present the horse at a treble? I mean it was a big treble with the last fence at 4'9" and an oxer. He jumped in big, boyfriend got left behind a bit, one stride and made a huge jump, boyfriend shot up neck, ballooned the third part, boyfriend catapaulted into orbit with a triple sulki and landed in a heap. By which time both trainer and me were on our knees hysterically laughing! Poor chap, he did badly sprain his ankle but his pride was hurt more! Needless to say that was the end of our short relationship! Now thats classical! I suspect that the Old Masters were trying to produce what our top riders do now but they just did'nt have the horse power. Breeding has changed so much over the years just look at some old photos and you will observe that the horses still looked like driving horses and most were long backed. Now the horse is categorised as an athlete, quite rightly so, and the training is about gymnastising and developing the musculature so that there is peak performance. Haven't we come a long way? I suspect in two hundred years or so if the world is still here, our generation will be called Masters and the training will be called classical or maybe it will be known as the LDR era, who knows! Whats in a name? What matters is that we develop happy athletes and happy riders!

The aftermath

So after all the excitement what do we do between now and the olympics? The nationals are coming up in September and many of you have qualified so good luck and enjoy it! I will be concentrating on trying to record evidence that I have a good knowledge of Grand Prix. This will entail recording my lessons and riding as many advanced horses as I can beg, borrow or steal. All of this is so that I can be accepted to take my exam for list 1. One of the questions on the upgrade form asks, 'why do you want to upgrade from your level?' Giving reasons is not easy so I have contemplated long and hard. I have always loved a challenge and the fact that the goal posts keep moving has made it even more of a challenge! Perhaps I should'nt write that! I am passionate about dressage. So are thousands of other people and judges, so not that one. Maybe the most honest answer is to declare that I haven't had the horse power to do it so now I'd like to be involved by judging it! I actually think I can do it otherwise I wouldn't apply however taking exams is not my forte! I get so nervous and inarticulate. I would much rather be riding a horse and showing my evidence of GP knowledge! Ah well if any of you have ideas please write them down in comments and give me some inspiration!

Talking to a friend today we got onto the subject of happiness and what really matters in life, (very philisophical for us!) Both of us feel that it is not what you own as in material assets but how you feel within yourself. A television that works but is not a huge flat screen shows exactly the same programmes and a car that gets you from A to B is as good as a porsche or ferrari. So basically having a roof over your head, food in the fridge, a car that runs, an older lorry and horses that are lovely but not world beaters should make for a contented life. So many people spend their days envying others or covetting bigger and better things that they miss out on actually enjoying each day and what it brings. Sharing a laugh with good friends, visiting family, seeing a face light up when you are spotted, teaching someone to half halt and seeing them get it, watching your team win or just standing at the field gate and watching your horses play and relax, these are the things that matter. Remember that not everyone who appears to have everything is happy. I recently witnessed a heart warming sight. A small child was put on a pony for the first time. Her face said it all and I remembered my first time in the saddle. The excitement and incredible ecstacy of being as close as one could be to an equine was really unforgettable. How then to repeat those feelings every day after many years of taking it for granted? Perhaps every day we should remember that first ride and cherish the memory and give thanks that we are still able to repeat the experience. With all the rushing about and stress of work and family we sometimes forget to stop and appreciate our four legged friends. Make time to give them the love they deserve and attend their needs with extra care. We have a livery on the yard who turns up at 10 30 am and throws her horses out without giving them a feed or a brush. Their stables have very little bedding and at night they get very little hay. To me this is neglect but as the yard manager says not cruelty so what can you do? Why have horses if you have no time, no empathy and cannot afford them. The fact that all have been given to her for free leads me to believe that they would have been far better off being put down.

I have just been on the forum and discovered that not all is as it should be. A topic titled, 'extended trot' turns out to be criticism of some of the top combinations at the europeans! Ignorance in BD is vast but this beggars belief! I have a feeling our old foe Blue Sky is back under cover of another name! My goodness they have just summed up the whole of my blog today!!! According to them 10s for a particular extended trot should not be given as the front and hind legs do not match! I think they will find that when a horse is as through as this one was that the whole front end lifts and the shoulders are then free to extend the forelegs. 7 judges and an audience of thousands cannot be wrong! As for the person saying that judges should have ridden to experience what throughness is, well really! Most of us my dear have, the question is have you? and at what level? How patronising ! Oh by the way please enlighten me to which country you ride for and how many medals you have won!

Emotions

What an emotional roller coaster! Carl has won yet another individual silver medal today!Love the new music and Uti looked as fresh as a daisy.You can not take a thing away from Carl, when the challenge is there he raises his anti another 100 percent!The harmony and psychi between him and Utopia was plain to see. The degree of difficulty was not enough this time to challenge Adelinde but it will be! Next year I predict an individual gold as Utopia will be much stronger by then and I am sure Charlotte will also be on the podium, in fact we could have a one two three! The standard in the Kur was outstanding! I loved Fuego and his floor plan and music are very artistic. Many ask why his marks were not higher? I think the judges that were not so high probably underlined elasticity but I do think that for a horse of his type he gave the best performance he was capable of and the crowd loved him. Laura kept the lid on Alf today and gave a strong performance to music from The Shadows that suits him so well, she was placed 4th. Scandic and Patrik Kittel showed the elasticity and suppleness required at this level and it was the most harmonious performance. So glad after all his troubles he got the bronze. The saddest moment was when I saw Hans Peter Minderhoud crying after his test. All became clear when he later led Nadine into the arena without a saddle, a sign of retirement. His test was lovely and he knew when he came out of the arena that that was his last competitve ride on her.You cant take a thing away from Adelinde. She rode a foot perfect test and never looked like making a mistake (damn)! Parzival is a power house and her horse of a life time. Horses huh! They are a mixture of euphoria and sadness, they take so much time and energy and love and dedication. No wonder we are drained after a big show! I have cried shed loads of tears this week! I have enjoyed great company, laughed loads and had many a nervous breakdown and that is just from watching! I am glad the Europeans are over because now I can sleep easy again, cut down on the smoking and not worry about how our team are doing!

FEI TV kept its word today and the coverage was fabulous with great but less commentary from Dane and friend! Perhaps they were hung over! The filming behind the scenes was interesting with several of the same people popping up time and time again! A word of warning if you are going to make facial expressions that tell the world what you are thinking try not to do it on camera!

Those on the forum asking how to get a horse going forward should go and watch the working in at the big shows! There is no kicking to be seen only the lightest leg and seat aids but you will see many,many transitions. No, not twenty metres in trot then walk and not after asking ten times! Transitions after two strides and transitions in and out of paces and within paces. These are the secret of having your horse in front of your leg!

Time ticks on in life and some of us may have missed the boat when it comes to greatness. This can lead to bitterness if you are not careful or bitchiness. Instead of these negative emotions that waste so much energy and only cause misery, lets enjoy the success of those that are truly great and talented. Raise a glass tonight to our teams successes and dream of owning or breeding a future olympic champion. I dream of reincarnation! Returning as a human, male or female, at least six foot tall and all leg and with all the knowledge I have gained in this life time! In fact I am sure Charlotte was Harry Boldt in her last life!

Media rubbish!

Having paid for FEI TV Live last night in preparation for today, I planned every minute to be in front of the laptop by 12.30pm. The pictures were great and Dane Rawlings commentating was an added bonus although he rarely draws breath and I dont always agree with him! Having said that his banter with the other chap was hilarious! So I wiled away a couple of hours enjoying the coverage and just when we got half way through Adelindes test my broadband failed! Quickly switching off the mains and turning it back on again I got back the signal but FEI TV had crashed! After trying and trying and knowing that Charlotte was riding her test I was about ready to throw laptop and modem out the window! Thank God for BD! (Never thought I'd say that!) The link to the Dutch TV station was brilliant! I caught Carls test although had a nervous breakdown as they went to commercial when Carl came into the arena!! This was such a nail biting test I thought he had clinched Gold and on above 86% then the one times had a glitch! I cannot be the only one to feel like my heart had been cut out. I now know what makes these top riders top! Carl resumed his test without a flinch even though he must have felt like the rest of us watching. I cried all the way to the stables! I know! I know! Silver is fantastic! but he's a friend and I wanted gold so badly for him! I bet he's philosophical and generous in his credit to Adelinde who also had a mistake when she went wrong! Just goes to show how luck comes into it and how difficult it is to ride a faultless test.
Its the kur tomorrow and we have to go through all that again! Can I bear it? Of course, massachist that I am, I will race home again and sit on the edge of my seat willing our Brits to kick ass! Dressage, the pursuit of perfection by the obsessively imperfect!! Anyway just wanted to say you did us proud team GB. Pancakes for breakfast for you all!

Poor Bee! very time I go away and watch fantastic dressage I return inspired and expect her to perform like an Olympian! If she could speak she would be saying things like,'Dear God! Where has she been this time!' and 'No mum, I cannot possibly collect like that!' 'Err have we learnt that bit yet?' Bless her she does try so hard to please me.

Still nothing in the media about our team gold! Beggars belief but I am on to it! Watch this space!

Gold Gold Gold Gold!

I am so glad I decided to go to Rotterdam! What a fantastic 2 days! I only wish I was still there and could see the individual medals too but alas work and judging back here called. FEI TV will have a new member tonight as I do not intend to miss a thing!
We arrived late Tuesday night and took a taxi to the Van der Valk hotel which was superb. Everyone was so friendly and helpful although I must remember next time to take the lap top and plugs as even though 3 pin plugs were on the desk station it was impossible to plug in hair straightners or phone chargers! The first person I bumped in to was David Holmes who is now Chef d'equipe for Italy. I have to admit to be so excited that I didn't sleep at all well the first night. We took the shuttle early to the show ground and were lucky enough to catch Carl just finishing working Utopia. He stopped to say hello and advised us to go to the pancake house!Obviously good food is always a priority when going for gold! Utopia walked around on a long rein as relaxed and calm as he is at home. Everyone looked so chilled and happy, the sun was shining and history was about to be made.
The stadium and arena were really good although having to show your ticket every 5 minutes was a bit of a pain, those bracelets we have are a much better system. We met up with Claire Hester, Isobel Barber, Glynnis Hemming and Tommy and became the official cheer leaders in our section of the stands. We had great support from the Dutch fraternity who were very keen for us to do well. Many had not seen Charlotte and Valegro but they sure knew who she was after her test. Cool dude our Charlotte! Her test was amazing, she rode her heart out and Valegro took everything in his great big stride! We watched as the 8s appeared in droves and held our breaths until the last salute, then we cheered and whistled and waved the Union flag. And Charlotte? Well she just walked around on a long rein smiling and waving to everyone while the commentator complimented her on her riding! Poor Mr Hester was hanging on to a telegraph pole throughout the test and admits to shedding a few tears to see his protegees do so well. 78+% went up on the score board and stayed in the lead all day! Emile rode a soft test and vindicated the choice to send him. There were a few mistakes but the horse never lost his cool and Emile rode classically well for 70+% we were on our way to a medal for sure! Only Isobel Werth got close on the first day and went into 2nd place with 75% on a horse few of us had seen before. His piaffe let him down a bit but her zig zag and changes were high scoring.
We were now in a celebratory mood so set off to the central bar which was situated behind the stand at A and was made up of decking with a central bar and shops and food stands around the perimeter. There was a huge stage with a big screen where we could watch the dressage from the main arena whilst sipping chablis. This would be great at Stoneleigh! Bruce and I slipped off to the pancake house in the woods and enjoyed Grandmas cooking. The pancakes were huge and came in savoury and sweet toppings. One pancake would keep you going all day! Der Big, as the shack was called, became the most popular place on site. Where else would you be able to sit with the likes of Kyra Kirkland, Richard White, Patrik Kittel and the British team at a CDIO? We really felt a part of it all. We all got a bit tipsy and when the DJ started up the music Im afraid we all partied by boogying on the decking while the rest of Europe looked on obviously bemused by the British!We took a taxi back to Claires Hotel to continue our celebrations and to let Tommy eat! Six ladies and one guy crammed into a cab and giggling hysterically with the radio blasting would not happen over here! The taxi driver was an elderly chap with a good sense of humour and refused to let us pay! Later we met up with the Brits at their hotel but they were so good and went to bed at 9 30pm. Quite rightly so! By midnight I was ready for bed and did sleep like a log all night!
For those who like bling...there was masses of it! They even had crystal brow bands with earrings to match! But, as I have said before, these will not get you submission or throughness!
Carl was on at 10 38 am so we got our seats early and watched some superb combinations. And then it was his turn. You could here a pin drop. We all held hands. From a good halt he came out in a fabulous trot and then extension for 8s and 9s. Please just watch the rest since it was so amazing I cannot do it justice. The last extension could not have been executed any better and I let slip the word TEN rather louder than I wanted! In the next moment the score board flashed up 10 and a murmur went around the stands. Carl said he heard it and thought there must be a bird in the arena so had a look around just in case! He then realised he must have got some tens and relaxed and finished the test in spectacular style. The crowds went crazy! Cheering and clapping a standing ovation from every nation! We were crying and laughing at the same time, we knew it was a good score! 82.8% went up and into the lead. Just to prove that the Hester horses really are relaxed Utopia walked out on a long rein with out turning a hair! Carl went out to masses of photographers and reporters but still had time to stop and thank his supporters or hug a friend. What a truly talented and grounded man he is and how lucky are we to have him! He even joined us for lunch at the pancake house!
All we needed now was a clear round and we had worked out that Laura would only need 72% to keep us in gold position. Alf got a bit tense and strong and Laura had to rescue him a few times but she kept the lid on for 77% Job done! We cheered her home! Totilas was as always extraordinary and the partnership is beginning to grow but there were some expensive mistakes and Carl had made history in earning more marks than Totilas. What a proud day for Britain! How sad to return home and find nothing in the papers and very little on the news. I am writing to the daily mail and offering my services as their equestrian reporter! At least I know the difference between show-jumping and eventing! Whilst I am singing praises, tributes to Fiona and Alan who looked after Valegro and Utopia impeccably and who I did not get to see due to the fact that they worked so hard!To owners, Roly Louard and Sasha Stewart who along with Carl own Valegro and Utopia. Also to Dicky Waygood a real gentleman and envoy for our country. By the way it was Dicky who informed me that the union jack is only called that when aboard a ship, otherwise it is known as the Union flag! You live and learn!
So congratulations to our wondrous team and very good luck for the individual medals!
Tomorrow is another day but enjoy this reflected glory and be inspired...be very inspired!!!

Dont ban fun!

Last blog for a few days as I am off to cheer on the British team in Rotterdam. This is a little gift to me from my recently departed horse Pikeur. I will celebrate his 7 years of life with me and silently thank him for all the education he gave me. I will also ask his forgiveness for going down the wrong path in trying to make him better. Still miss you every day handsome! One last ride is all I wish for but I will have to wait until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge.

I travelled to Worcester today to see my old friends Fiona Walker and Sam Twyman. Actually they are married but Fiona goes by her maiden name still as she is a famous writer. I mention this because if anyone likes a racy, exciting novel with an equestrian interest then her books will satisfy most people. Sam has set up a riding school with a difference using Spanish and Friesian horses to teach his clients on. Some are stallions and all are highly trained and even do the GP movements. They are heart breakingly beautiful and intelligent and any artist would be happy to sit and paint them all day long. It was while I was treating a few horses that I pondered on the future of dressage. With children as young as 6 learning to ride on the bit, an admireable feat, and more people from suburbia learning to ride as a sport, will the ponies of the past be abandoned? Health and safety spoils all the fun these days but does this mean that children will never play cowboys and indians bareback in the fields again? Reading a comment from a lady who rides in the city really brought home how ignorant some people are about the countryside. I do not mean this in anyway disrespectful. We were discussing riding around the stubble fields when she asked, 'whats' stubble?' I found this sad and wanted to invite her and her horse to come and experience the joys of ridng across vast plains of freshly cut wheat and barley. This reminds me of another incidence when I was working in Germany. My boss frequently popped his head around the door of the barn and announced that he was off for a few days. The first time a few days was 2 weeks and I was left in sole charge of 8 showjumpers whos' lives consisted of stable, horse walker, indoor school and little else. We had a large forest behind the yard so I decided that they should all hack whilst the boss was away. Amazingly they all hacked out on the bit and not one was naughty! None of them could gallop, collected canter yes, medium canter yes but gallop no. Now in those days I was braver and more adventurous so my aim was to teach them all to have fun! We jumped park benches and picnick tables, trotted and cantered in and out of the tannenbaums and went up and down dale. By the end of 2 weeks they were fitter than they had ever been and so was the forest ranger who frequently tried to catch me to tell me off! Anyway the boss returned and we set off for a show in Neu Stad Wied up in the mountains. Birgitte accompanied us as help for me and company. She was a lovely girl and a good friend. Birgitte loved dressage and could sit really deep and do some amazing dressage stuff, as I called it then. On the first day Dieter, (AKA Boss), sent us off hacking to warm up the horses. Little did he know that they had been do just that for 2 weeks. We took the trail up the side of the mountain and chatted away as friends do when Birgitte asked what time the first horse was on. I suddenly realised we had been gone ages and if we turned around it would take longer to get back. The quickest way was straight down through the pines which was steep but negotiable. 'Right,' I said.'follow me!' It was really steep, so much so that the horses sat down on their hocks and all I could hear was poor Birgitte sobbing that I was mad, she was going to die and should she turn the horse side on!! Well you know what its like when someone else is terrified, you get the giggles dont you! I have never laughed so much in my life! Here was a fantastic rider and yet she could not negotiate the side of a mountain on a carpet of pine needles! We arrived safely at the bottom and in plenty of time for the warm up. Mind I had to buy Birgitte a schnapps in the bar to help her recover! But thats what I mean when I ask about the children having fun with their ponies and the future generations, not only of dressage riders but all disciplines.
Health and safety and parents, please don't ban cowboys and indians, or chase me charlie or bareback jumping! Ponies should be a childs best friend and best friends have fun!

This and that and collection

I just have to mention bling one more time! If you are one of those who thinks that the more bling you have the better your marks will be please be assured this is not the case! Patent Konigs may look the part and you may feel because the world champion wears them that you should have a pair,but the world champion does not squeeze her horse to death with said patent Konigs and squeak her way around the arena! My teeth were so on edge today with every stride this horse took I was seriously near a walk out! Scraping nails on a blackboard has the same effect on me, its a killer! That said there were some lovely horses at Addington regionals today and hopefully some of you took the time to pop over and watch and support. The atmosphere was very friendly and the classes ran to time. The big boys were out in force and the medium open and advanced medium open look like a whos who in dressage! I was part of a panel judging the advanced medium restricted which was quite a mixed class but how satisfying that all 3 judges had the same order and only a difference of about 5 marks! Girls we done good! So there should be no complaints from competitors today. I will check the forum later...

Many times I have been asked what is the difference between this level and that level. The answer is collection. Yes even from novice to elementary collection plays a part. The levels require more and more as we approach the top. Now for some, that is what was missing in the tests today. Do not think of advanced medium being the same as medium but with a flying change. It is the collection that shows how much the horse can wait on the hind leg either to go forward or back and he must show these transitions in the medium and extended paces. Of course sometimes a horse will lose balance or for a moment lean on the hand when he is new to the level but this is a work in progress so little mistakes will occur. Better this than doing the whole test in flat out mode or medium trot and canter as judges cannot give the high marks for this. So maybe thinking of collection as more balance on the hindlegs will help. However, it does not ever require more curb! True collection prepares for an uphill medium/extension and it is this forward and back that develops cadence and eventually passage.

Hacking out yesterday across the stubble fields around Burford, I realised just how big a walk my mare has. It even felt powerful at times but also strong in the hand when madame decides. Half halting and making her wait was a bit of a struggle as her mind was on what was over the next hill and how fast could we get there, however eventually she relaxed into a lovely extended walk. This is always the difficulty in the arena, some go slow, some go quick, some lose rhythm and some do not take the contact. So hacking obviously helps but I also think that the rider must not try too hard. Watching some good walks today both horse and rider looked relaxed and the riders appeared in some cases to almost take the leg off and breathe. I will certainly be giving this a try in the arena when I am next out.

Rotterdam is not far off, it was the main topic of conversation today. If you think you are excited and nervous at a regional just try and envisage how it must feel to be on the British team! The horses all travel tomorrow so lets wish Carl, Laura, Charlotte and Emile the very best of luck!

The trouble with elementary

Here we go again! Should I use a double bridle? Time and time again this question comes up on the forum. If the horse is not accepting the snaffle then what makes the rider think he will accept a double bridle? The worst sight of all is the elementary horse in a double bridle hoiked down on the curb while the rider does rising trot! Shoulder in is a thing of the past at this level instead we have leg yield. If done well leg yield is an attractive movement but mostly we see neck bend, head tilting and riders contorting their bodies to get the horse to the marker. Frankly, Id rather see a poor shoulder in than a bad leg yield. Im not against double bridles, some horses do go better in them than a snaffle, but these days too many horses have them on just to move up a level and submission and contact issues are too obvious. Why has rising trot been allowed at elementary? Appeasing riders who cannot sit to the trot is not constructive. If they were taught to work the horse correctly over the back they would find the sitting trot much easier anyway. So, has elementary now merely become and extension of novice? Will medium go the same way when the majority moan that they have no points left and medium is too difficult? Should we be prepared to see mediums in rising trot with no half passes or shoulder in?
Lets go the whole hog and let riders use draw reins! Riding in a double bridle correctly is an art. Too much curb and the poll drops and the horse gets on his shoulders. Hanging on to both reins gives contradictory messages to the horse and this can lead to open mouths, tongue rolling or tongue over the bit. All these issues will lose marks in the test. Going soft on riders and lessening the degree of difficulty is as bad as a liberal government going soft on crime and look where that has got us!!

I spent a blissful few hours in the sun watching our top talents schooling their horses today. It is amazing what you can learn by watching and listening. How refreshing to hear riders asking each other, 'what does this look like?' no wonder these riders can improve their marks when so much attention to detail is taken. Even I was asked 'what would you give this trot?' 'A seven,' I replied. 'why not an eight?' 'because...etc etc' away the rider went until an eight could be presented. That, ladies and gents, is training!!! Oh and only one horse had a double bridle on and that was a visitor!
Feeling inspired I returned home and jumped on board my mare to perfect our movements. The wind was blowing and everything in the yard rattled. She spooked and got tight and the performance was not what I had envissaged! We went off for a walk on a long rein around the fields, came back nice and relaxed and did another fifteen minutes schooling with a soft back and a relaxed attitude. Horse and rider happy and content! Sometimes less is more.

Impulsion not speed

Judges take a lot of bashing on forums and at the score boards. It is a difficult job trying to be positive and not patronising when writing comments. Sometimes judges would really like to write as they think but then we would probably be hung drawn and quartered! Of course privately we all moan about judging, to our friends, trainers and long suffering family! Realistically and without rose coloured glasses on we can actually see where the judge is coming from. Yes some mark harder than others, no grey areas, just black and white and yes some are policemen taking off marks instead of looking for the quality or positives but in the main most are on the side of the rider and the horse. So as riders we have to make sure that we do not make any mistakes, stay focused on way of going and not compromise our training to please this judge and that judge. If you are pleased with the horse at the end of the test thats all that matters. The judge does not know that thats the best hes ever gone! She can only judge the test in front of her. So lets deal with one bug bear, impulsion!


Something that comes up time and time again is the difference between impulsion and speed. How often do we see horses going at nine to the dozen, hind legs going like sewing machines, out of balance and on the hand. Someone somewhere has said more forward and the rider has interpreted this as going faster. When I started showjumping I thought that the faster I went the higher the horse would jump! This led to some disastrous rounds and eliminations as well as falls! A very nice professional took me to one side and explained just how the horses body worked. He said, 'Imagine concord taking off. This is contained power, now imagine a volcano exploding, this is uncontrolled power. Which one would you rather have?' He procceded to prove to me how high my horse could jump if I kept a controlled rhythm and let the fence come to me. So long as I kept my leg quietly there and did not interfere the horse would meet the fence correctly every time and negotiate it really well. Speed flattens. Impulsion is contained power. As we advance further up the levels the impulsion increases so that the horse appears more and more uphill. During the training phases less is more. Slowing the rhythm and tempo down without taking on the rein allows the horse to find his own balance and take more weight on the hind leg. This can be done while stretching and loosening the horse, riding forward and back for a few strides, making transitions upwards and downwards,legyielding and shoulder in. These exercises develop elasticity and cadence and improve musculature and self carriage. Once the horse is brought up into competition outline and is truly over the back and taking the contact lightly and softly more power can be developed so that the paces gain more height and cadence.

Much has been written about roll kur and long deep and round. Personally I cannot see a difference except in how riders perceive how to ride this way. If riders concentrate on lightness and ease, looseness and softness this can only be beneficial. Force however, has no place in any equestrian discipline.

So the next time you receive your test sheet and it says 'needs to develop more self carriage' it means your horse is still dependent on the hand and is not supporting on his hind legs. If the judge says, 'on the forehand at present' she means he needs to be taking more wieght behind and lightening his shoulders etc etc. This cannot be achieved by just raising the hands and hoiking the head up as then the horse will be hollow and his hind legs will be out behind. Training is all consuming, fascinating and frustrating. Training takes time and each horse is a work in progress. Training takes a life time and then another life time is needed to enjoy it.

Submission

Can you believe this is our country on the news? What is wrong with these people? They are paid by benefits to sit on their arses all day, which they do as they have no skills, their parents have no control so they do as they like, so what is their beef? I think that they need black and white rules just like horses do. This gives security and respect. This is known as submission in our world. When I was a child we spent time with the family and had days out, picnics, family meals and went to local social events. We made our own entertainment, we had dens and clubs, we went on adventures and lived life through our imagination. Ok I wasn't brought up in Brixton but many of the families in our community were poor. This did not mean that they went on the rampage at night to steal from others that had more. Pride was a strong trait in those days. Dogged determination helped people to find work or better themselves. We have become too liberal and have a leader that has no idea! Time to vote with our feet at next election. Think about a party that is pro Britain and vote UKIP. These guys don't get much media coverage because the BBC is corrupt and knows that UKIP are becoming a danger to the other 3 parties. I will be voting for a party that will close its borders, removes us from the EU and the rule of Brussels,bans human rights and has a police force that is not afraid to enforce the law.
How awful to have these pictures flashed across the world when we are holding the Olympics next year! I fear for all our athletes and especially the horses.

Rant over and back to dressage! Many think that submission means obedience but a horse can be obedient with out submission. For me submission is a giving up of resistance throughout the body. The horse gives his back, is loose and supple and has an air of softness about his frame, he goes from the slightest aid and comes back in the same way.

This comes from the day to day training and improving the lightness of the aids and the receptiveness of the horse. Its no good going on a forum and asking for the magic potion for submissiveness. You can't buy it in the shops and no amount of bling is going to help it. Patent Konigs and Pikeur breeches will not add to it and neither will pink fluorescent bandages all though your horse may shrink away in embarassment. Buying a clicker and teaching your horse to fetch his bucket may be entertaining but will have little effect on way of going, the same goes for leading him around with a 6 foot lead rope and a carrot stick. Instead concentrate your efforts on using the inside of your ankle bone to ask for a give in the body and a lowering of the neck, squeezing rhythmically with the outside rein and when he gives give the inside rein. This is the start of submission but don't take my word for it, find a good trainer who understands that you are there to learn not to find a quick fix! Quick fixes lead to unrest, uncertainty and rebellion! Just look at London....

Part of the journey

Can anybody tell me the exact purpose of earwigs? We seem to be inundated with them at present. Apart from getting into the washing and the feed bins what purpose do they have? I detest them almost as much as cockroaches which as a child living in Malta I had to bear on a daily basis. Spiders at least keep the flies down and make pretty webs although my arachnaphobia is no less as I get older. Years ago when we came to live in Oxfordshire I was invited to a fancy dress barn dance on someones poultry farm. Embracing all that was countryside orientated my boy friend and I set off as Noddy and Big Ears. Yes you have guessed who I was portraying! Anyway, he went off to aquire alcohol and I was sitting on a straw bale taking in my surroundings. To my horror they had decorated the barn with huge grey hairy spiders, so I thought. Then one of them moved! Noddy has never exited so fast! I could have won a 500 meter sprint that day! Never will I or Noddy be attending a barn dance on a poultry farm again.

Bee is my lovely mare. She is now 16 and a treasure but she has never really stretched like the modern dressage rider likes to stretch their horses. I have always put this down to the fact that she is part Selle Francais and the nuchal ligament is slightly shorter. However, recently she has been valliantly having a go but now has to be deeper. I argue that she will fall over. My friend said, 'Does she fall over whilst grazing?' Deep thought on this, no of course not but then I have never seen her trot around the field like this either! My 2 year old does and canters like it too, so theres hope for that one. Today we had some lovely stretching and when she came up to work she was really nice and loose and supple suffice to say I have now almost mastered her left shoulder in canter. Bee likes to run off on the left rein if she can usually when I do a flying change from right to left across the diagonal. This is why I incurred my first error the other day because after the medium canter down the long side on the left rein I had to turn at A and perform a half pass. Unfortunately we zipped past A slightly out of control and missed it so had to do a circle. We will conquer this problem soon!

Have you ever thought about relaxation whilst riding and trying to achieve it? Thats what all this stretching malarky is about. Sometimes though trying to relax makes for more tension. Apparrantly you have to 'get in the zone' a place I have been trying to find. If anyone sees 'the zone' please could you point me in its direction. Thanks.

Heartache

Many women involved with horses are not interested in having children. In fact the only time they may think of them is when a cute pony comes up for sale. Its not a problem though because the horses and dogs, yes and even cats, become the family. Children can always be borrowed to ride the cute pony and one has the great satisfaction and relief of handing them back at the end of the day! Losing one of our family hurts as much as losing any human. I think the reason for this is because animals do not have a voice as such and not much choice about their owners. Some are very lucky and some are not but this is also true of the human variety of family members. Having lost a much loved member of my little family recently I can tell you it never comes easy and it was one of the most traumatic experiences I have had for a long time. I see his face before I go to sleep and still hear him sometimes at the yard. He wasn't an easy ride but taught me so much and I loved and respected him despite his foibles!
Gem, my Jack Russell, got ran over by my horse two days ago. She was rolled under the front feet while the horse was at full gallop. I swear my heart stopped! She got up and ran off but has been so quiet since. She has broken the top of her tail and is finding it hard to jump up on the bed now. Gem is nine years old and has always been as fast as a whippet but this has shaken her so much she is now quite slow and won't come down to the paddocks anymore. Last night I lifted her up on the bed and she was so happy and grateful, snuggling up close to show her appreciation.
Animals give so much back, we must treasure them and protect them as much as possible. There is so much cruelty in the world towards defenceless creatures and so little justice when it comes to sentencing the guilty parties. Don't ignore these incidents, petition against them!

Back to dressage....Is it the same in all sports? Are all competitors always whining 'its not fair'? It seems to me that the cream always rises to the top whether with or without money. Sure it is harder without the latter but talent will always be noticed and nurtured. Look at Nick Skelton all those years ago. He went for a lesson with Liz Edgar and afterwards she told her husband Ted that the pony was useless but the kid had talent. From this he became a student/ working pupil and then one of the greats of British Showjumping. It is lovely when there is a bit of a fairy story behind success. There are quite a few in dressage, theres Carl who learnt ro ride on a donkey in Sark and who worked his way through to where he is now. Peter Storr who did not come from a horsey background but rode at a dealing yard for many years before training his own horses. Henry Boswell was brought up on a farm that became the family riding school but has brought his own horses on through sheer hard work and dedication and there is Charlotte Dujardin who started out as a working pupil and is now on the British team. So you see its not about being fair its about talent and how much you want something. Now I know you will say 'but I do want it', yes we have all said that. But wanting it and making it happen are two completely different things and sometimes wanting is not enough as I found out when I 'wanted' to be a showjump rider. I thought I did, I really wanted to be, its just that at the end of the day the jumps were so big they scared the bejezus out of me! Hence sharp exit to dressage!

Enlightenment

The Brits are ruling the dressage world at the moment! What amazing coverage via the internet, of the Verden young horse championship. Michael Eilberg, yes I know its a German name his father is German by birth, has won the 5 year old championship and Gold medal with an amazing chestnut mare called Woodlander Farouche. I have judged her in the past and was very pleased to see that the international judges awarded as many marks as I did. Kind of reassures me that I am alright at my job.
After each horse the master judge commented on the performances,whilst the rider remained in the arena! Phew! I can't imagine what would happen if that became the norm over here! Reading the BD forum if Jemima doesn't get the score she wants she can rant and rave about poor judging. Imagine if the judge were to suddenly announce that the reason Jemima didn't get high scores was because the horse was not on ze bit. Goodness there would be so many slander cases, solicitors would have a field day! Interestingly the Jemimas of this world complain frequently not only about low scores but also terminology used by judges. For instance should the judge be using terms like uphill, engagement, self carriage and cadence? Well yes actually they should at all levels! The tests are designed to show the scales of training, rhythm, suppleness, contact,straightness,impulsion and collection. They are not designed for Jemima to win a rosette simply for entering!
You have to love the Germans though. The prize givings are relished by the public and the officials. Actually the same applies in Holland and other countries who have great numbers of equestrian followers. Over here darts, snooker and football take precidence and rarely a word about equestrian medals. Makes you wonder really about the population at large, after all, we are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers. What is really annoying is when journalists insist on calling everyone showjumpers! Really guys, do your homework! That is lazy investigation and not at all accurate reporting. News on facebook, there is an equestrian film being made. Now these guys seem to have done their homework! They are using Hartpury college in Gloucestershire home of the Para riders and dressage CDI. They have a dressage rider giving advice, several others doing the riding and a lovely dressage stallion playing the lead. Of course the handsome hero is played by male actor Layke Anderson, (unusual name), he plays Freddie in the film, watch out though Layke, Sandro Dancer is up for an Oscar and will fight dirty to get one! Watch out for the film. The title? Why The Equestrian of course! Im hoping it makes the world more aware of the talent and dedication that goes into these partnerships and that its not all about money. Who knows, maybe British TV will at last broadcast something other than brain dead men kicking a ball about!

On the bit!!

Having ridden showjumpers and worked in this industry for a few years in Germany I did actually learn to put a horse in a frame. Technically probably more so on the jumpers as they were and always had to be forward! After a few years of grooming I went off to a place in Harrow called Suzannes to train for a few BHS exams. After a few months a dazzling chap from the Netherlands arrived as a new Instructor (he was an I)and we waited with baited breath for our first lesson. On entering the school he shouted,'I want you all on ze bit, on ze bit now!' Poor Sophie who was sixteen at the time and riding a 20 year old pony, looked aghast at me, 'I have a bit in!' she cried. How I didn't fall off laughing I will never know! On ze bit was not, in those days, required by the BHS, in fact I had been berated in my first few days there for trying to get some sort of flexion at the poll on the horses I rode. However, our enthusiastic young trainer deemed that all must be on ze bit but never quite got across how this was done. He could do it. His horses were on ze bit and training at GP. He even rode a young school horse and got it on ze bit, but for us it was an elusive task.
Needless to say there were many variations of on ze bit. Hands wide and in the side rein position were very common whilst legs and whip went like windmills to keep the poor horse going. The wanging of head from side to side also played a big part to little avail. So why is on ze bit not taught from the start? I have never understood why the progression from learning to stay balanced and make a horse walk, trot and canter, gallop and stop could not encompass riding on ze bit. Many left with qualifications in teaching with no idea of it so what hope their pupils? Maybe that is why I thought teaching was not for me until now in my latter years where I find solace in being able to explain on ze bit. Its funny because we were taught inside bend, no doubt on the inside rein! All that had to be unlearned when a real trainer taught outside aids. What a waste of time, all those years spent looking for on ze bit when in reality all we had to do was ride forward to a contact that was acceptable to the horse and that he could take from us. What a great beginning those 16 year old students would have had in those days. Even now on ze bit is taught in so many different ways as so many have a different take on it. We see riders leaning back so far if you cut the reins they would fall off, or pulling back hands, or horses hoiked up in front but little going on behind. On ze bit is still as elusive as it ever was its just that people have got more clever at making the horse look like it is on ze bit. Nobody does this on purpose. Its the way they have been taught. There are some masters of training out there and we all need to appreciate them and glean as much knowledge from them as possible in this short life time so that on ze bit does not haunt us beyond the grave.

The concept of learning

Just back from teaching in the rain, we all survived. Pondering on the concept of teaching and learning. It has taken me a good 30 years to really understand the concept of over the back and through. Its easy to see when its right but harder to learn to feel especially when horse and rider are learning together. My pupil Lucie has come a long way in the few months I have been helping her. She has a lovely position in the saddle and a thirst for knowledge but does have a tendency to get frustrated! Why? I ask her frequently. As I said it has taken me a good 30 years and with all that experience of not being able to do it to being able to now ride a passable advanced test, she is gaining her knowledge much more quickly than I ever did. Is it the concept of building blocks that riders find so difficult? Teaching should start with the riders position and seat. Tick that box. Then its all about stretching in the walk and trot to teach the muscles to be more supple and loose. Tick that box. Now we have to bring the horse up by asking with the leg to a forward hand so that he takes the contact not the rider. No tick here yet. This is because for so long riders go along wiggling the horses mouth, neck and poll to get it round. So how can he come into self carriage while he is being manipulated from the front end? 'but it feels wrong!' she says. 'hes not round'. 'Hes pulling/too light not going. blah blah blah!' The thing is Lucie dearest...Rome was not built in a day! I have taken to beating her with a whip (kidding). Just do the exercises and be patient until he finds his balance. You cannot carry a horse around a test, he has to carry you and himself on those there back legs! Stop thinking about the front end. Be light and hand forward then the leg. The rein says stop or slow the leg says go......quote from the wonderful Mr Hester, and thats just for now Lucie. The goal posts keep moving and there is no point in doing any thing else until we have a quality way of going then your lateral work and mediums will be worth bigger marks! Its easy for me to say all this because I am on the floor and I can see what is happening, thats why you have me! When I am on board and not doing as I preach you can tell me!! All joking apart, the work in the middle and at the end was really good so both horse rider and teacher very happy! The satisfaction of the end result is worth all the sulks and frustration and thats why we teach! Just think, riders are learning so much quicker now from those of us who struggled to understand for years. We can be more clear and show the way so that they do not have to wait 30 years to get a horse over the back and truly engaged!!

This is for all my teachers past and present, thank you for all your time and energy teaching me to be patient, tolerant and have a sense of humour!
For Lucie who will be a great rider one day soon.....

Horsey people

Well big bird performed well today! Much more like she should and did let the throttle out despite the heat. Sadly mother, aka me, managed 2 errors so decided to retire! Now the judge who is not known for her generosity of marks was quite disappointed, turns out I would have won! Ah well Im just pleased that the comments from 2 ladies what lunch were really positive and flattering. That will be the diet and losing 8LBs as well as the heat causing complete melt down. One of our lovely British team members was at the show today. She and her entourage were charming and chatty and her lovely mum went off and bought everyone icecreams, she offered me one but I had to decline as I still need to lose at least another 5LBs so I can match the stick insects riding at the show today.There are some lovely people involved with horses, well you would expect that anyone who loved animals would be nice wouldnt you? Why some have to be down right nasty or hoity toity I will never know. Thank goodness 'they' weren't there today!

Back to explaining this dressage lark. Once you have mastered walk, trot and canter on a horse then you have to master developing your seat. Obviously this is the bit you sit on and one would think that was all there was to it. Not that easy I'm afraid! Those 2 bones you can feel in your buttocks (one in each) are all you are allowed to sit on! Balance is required to do this and there lies the problem! Too far back and you are in a chair seat, to far forward, sitting on fork so finding the balance is an art in its self! The idea is that you sit tall (difficult if you are 4' 3"), then by tightening your core (tummy muscles) and pushing your spine to the back of your breeches you are now in the correct position, well upper body anyway. So now you have to open your hips, yes I kid you not, and open your knees whilst keeping your lower leg 'underneath you hips' and the weight down in your heel. Hands must stay in front of you holding the reins as light as possible so that you ride the horse to the contact and he takes an elastic feel at the end of the rein. Hmmm. Pity nobody told the horses this! Very difficult to keep this position when said horse has elastic contact between his knees!
However I have been assured by many trainers that when you manage this you can make the horse dance. Its true, I have seen these riders make them dance and its beautiful! A true union of two bodies and minds performing effortlessly. Unfortunately some horse are doing the Rumba while the rider is trying the Tango. This is when the rhythm becomes a problem, I did mention rhythm didn't I? Well its the beat of the pace and it has to stay even, oh yeah the pace? Walk, trot and canter. If you havent died of boredom by now well done! You are on your way to becoming a serious dressage student! Well on paper at least!
Must away and soak my aching muscles in a luxurious bubble bath and prepare for another day tomorrow. By the way, any wealthy males looking in I am available!

Letters

It crossed my mind whilst bathing the big bird, that I hadn't mentioned the letters in the arena. Yes, we have parts of the alphabet on the outside so that the rider knows where the movement starts and finishes. The letters comprise of: AKVERHCMSBPF plus DLXIG on the centre line. Now you are going to ask who thought this up and what it all means, well I am as clueless as the next man/woman, still it does mean the organisers can dress the arena with pretty flowers and trees which will add to the excitement as horses see monsters and demons lurking behind them! 

Horses are strange creatures. For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed by them. I cannot remember why I became fascinated but I do remember I was about 3 years old when these creatures kept appearing at the bottom of our garden and nibbling the tops off my fathers tomatoe plants. There were three ponies and I named them Bill, Ben and Weed after the flowerpot men. Dad used to sit me on the wall so I could stroke them and feel the warm air from their nostrils on my skin. The smell of horse is better than anything, well unless I'm going out, then its Armani Diamond. Anyway from there it was riding lessons and 'I want a pony' at christmas and birthdays, this was duly ignored until I was eighteen and working and bought my own horse. What is it about girls and horses?

Dressage riders come in two forms, male and female. For the female version think Claudia Schiffer/ Elle. These days the younger version touch on nearly six foot and most of that is legs, headed up by blonde long hair that they keep pushing back with an elegant hand when its loose, otherwise its wound in a tight bun dressed with pearls. The men are much the same only with shorter hair. While the girls enjoy socialising at night clubs and gigs the men enjoy...well much the same, although the older ones can be found most evenings drinking copious amounts of wine and chain smoking Silk Cuts whilst discussing the horses, their love life and the latest gossip, who said men cant' multi task?
I said dressage riders come in two forms, this is true but there are different levels or rungs on the ladder too. There are the riders that are doing it for fun (amateurs), those that want to be professional, professionals,oh and theres' wannabes.
Wannabes are usually well off ladies what lunch, havent ridden since they were kids but now the children have flown the coup decide to take up dressage. As money is no object, horses are bought in Germany at Verden or Holland and sent to a trainer of high repute. He then trains the horse whilst lady what lunches pops in every now and again between shopping trips in her Pikeur or Anky matching outfit and has a lesson. Eventually she will venture out to a show with a team of fifty to groom him, tack him up and anchor down the horse before she gets on.After an hour of warming up and clearing the practice area as her horse leaps and bounds dangerously out of control, she will do her test. Having spent zillions she will be expecting high scores, but alas this is not always to be. Still,her trainer says shes improved and in another five hundred lessons she will be ready to leave intro and ride a prelim.
Now please do not think for one moment that I am bitter or jealous, no not so. I am also a wannabe though lacking in the loaded department and started much earlier.I just want to make it clear who makes up the club so to speak.We all have dreams. Without dreams there is no tomorrow.

First things first!

I have always admired bloggers so have decided to join in although my day to day life may not be as exciting as some! We have exciting news in the dressage world! For those of you who have never heard of dressage, it is an equestrian sport and yes an Olympic one too! Riders train their horses to perform set movements in a 20m x 60m arena and the one with the highest score wins! First though they have to find the right horse which must have extraordianry movement, think giselle x swan, and also a brain that allows a mere human to steer and manouver 620K of horsepower with only a saddle and a bridle to contain it! The ultimate test is the Grand Prix, unlike the car one speed is not overly involved. SO the exciting news is that our team for the Europeans taking place in Rotterdam this August has been announced. We, that is Great Britain, are in contention for a Gold medal. Carl Hester, Charlotte Du Jardin, Laura Bechtolscheimer and Emile Faurie will be representing us so please support by watching either on clipmyhorseTV via internet or Eurosport. We get so little coverage by the media and yet our teams have been bringing home medals! Its much more interesting than darts!
Of course, dressage has to be scored by someone so the powers that be promote judges to spot the mistakes and award a mark for each movement out of 10. Hmmm I hear you say, isn't this subjective? Well yes it is and a very political topic with disagreements between judges over who whould and should not win. Lets hope they are all singing from the same hymn sheet later this month!

Of course riders do not just become team members over night. The journey is a long one, and I have many stories to tell along the way, not least my own which is a tale of frustration and limitation!
Wel thats the start of my blog. I hope you are a little interested.. I have to go now to bath 16.3hh of skewbald mare before we set off to compete tomorrow. No not Grand Prix, merely an advanced medium and Im hoping she lets the brakes off tomorrow and earns some good marks!