A judges lot

Oh Lord who would be a judge? Complaints about judges who know competitors (know them not train them) and should they be allowed to judge them? Well I don't think there will be many competitions if this becomes the case. The horse world is incredibly small and our social lives inevitably become embroiled within it. I have been judging for a good many years now and I know a lot of competitors and judges and yes, some of them are my friends but this does not mean that I give them high marks because of our relationship. Indeed, sometimes I think I am a little harder! Being a competitor as well, one would think. if this idea were true, that I would have qualified numerous times by now. Actually I should have won a national title with all the people I know! These topics are always written by people who had no chance of winning and does smack of sour grapes but it is the poor old judges who get the flack time and time again. Then there are the competitors who would like a rosette for just turning up, those who want to know which boots,jacket,gloves to wear and which saddle to buy. Recession? What recession! Mind, ask them to pay for training and they are not prepared to fork out more than £30. Ah well it takes all sorts! There is no doubt that our sport is an expensive one. I have been riding in the same saddle now for eleven years. It fits my horse, though not me as it was made for a well known GP rider and I bought it second hand from him, however I have adjusted to it and it feels like home, so although I would like a new saddle I prefer to use that money to train my horse. I sometimes compare dressage with Goks high street challenge, where he puts together high street clothes against designer. The point is, his clothes look just as good if not better!

I was out treating today at a riding school. A very old fashioned establishment with real old fashioned cobs and plods that are worth their weight in gold. The stable management standards are of the highest and all the horses get their backs done, saddles checked and dentistry twice a year. The owners buy the right types for the cleintele to learn safely on and have fun. All clients learn to tack up, lead,and groom the horses and generally handle them. Trips are organised to local shows, demonstrations and this week the Spanish Riding School. Whilst I was treating I could see the group lesson in progress. The riders had crossed stirrups and each had to trot a circle and then canter to the rear of the ride. Not once did anyone say,'I can't'. There was much laughter and verbal support. This was a group of adults learning in later life the joys of riding. The school organises picnic rides and internal competitions when both adults and children gain experience. Every now and again, mother and daughter who run the school, buy or get given an RSPCA case. He/she is nurtured back to health and given the chance of a loving environment. Some have blossomed into beautiful swans and were not suitable for the school but have been found homes for life and given much joy to their owners, many who have learned to ride at the school.
There are such good people in the horse world, it does the heart good to see it. I learnt to ride in one such school many moons ago and can still remember every pony I sat on. Sometimes we have to look inside ourselves a long way back to see why we set out on this journey and how we arrived here.

Musings

Well I survived the girls night out in Cheltenham...just. Goodness young men are bold these days and I was a little offended that the doorman did not want to check my ID at the door! For the last time...wine does not agree with me! Never drinking the wicked stuff again ever! To be honest I would really have preferred the Indian restuarant and then a good dvd at home! Still it was different.Young people are so much more sophisticated and fun than older generations. This was made obvious when we were in the company of a rather egotistical 40 something male who thought rather a lot of himself and as Claire said, thought all his christmasses had come at once! Not so the youngsters out clubbing, great fun but polite with it and happy to boost our egos not theirs!

I am suffering with my back at present, I think it is one of the discs and it jolly well hurts! I have been to see my back man but think another visit is in order. The diary is full of horses to be treated and I get out of the car like quasimodo! Not a good advertisement for my business! Mind you it does therapists good to be reminded what back pain feels like and gives you more empathy with your clients, both human and animal. I think I've been reminded enough now though, so please go away.It probably didn't help teetering around Cheltenham in stilletoe heels but when one is petite (midget like) and ones friends are so tall, needs must!

Every now and then I make a comment on BD forum that causes great furore! Honestly, all I said was that they should ban hanging cheek snaffles, you'd think I'd said I was cooking horse steaks for dinner the way they reacted! We were reminiscing about the old days on the forum before it was opened up to the general public and I was Josie and there were many great characters and good debates. The banter was free flowing and the threads were so interesting not least because of a certain Bluesky who could wind up Lazarus! Today we have threads like, 'Bandages or boots?' 'every day gloves' and 'sitting trot at medium', scintillating stuff! Back then we had 'Bonfire night' courtesy Carl Hester. 'Cinderella' courtesy Gingers and 'Can I tell you a story?' Josie. Ah yes, those were the days. To be fair Yoyo does try but there is always someone who cannot see the funny side. Where has our sense of humour gone? I fear it has gone the same way as our hats!

Demonstrators against capitalism are being supported by Vivienne Westwood. Anyone else see this as ironic? Now the Germans want our pound,proof of reincarnation is that Frau Merkel does speak and have the mannerisms of a certain dictator that we squashed into submission. Hands off love, our pound is here to stay and you are not having it! If only politicians were honest the world would be a much better place. Personally I think meercats should rule the world, Simples!

Discovery is enlightenment.

Whilst teaching ths week I started to touch on the biomechanics of the horse and rider. Not everyone is born with innate feel, although I believe that everyone has the ability to develop that feel if directed correctly. Starting with the way the horse moves in the walk and trot and what it feels like under the seat, really opens the riders eyes. Watch most riders rock back and forth in walk or swing through their backs with a collapsed stomach, now watch the horse from the back and observe his pelvis. It moves by dropping oneside and then the other. Once a rider feels this they can follow with the seat and a loose hip and thigh, the upper body then becomes still and only the pelvis absorbs the movement. This happens in the trot too. If the legs are relaxed in the walk the rider will feel the rib cage move away from the riders leg as the hind leg swings through. This will be the moment when the rider can influence the hind leg when asking for more engagement in the trot. Having studied the top riders for years, wondering and wishing, no yearning to do things the way they do, I now realise that this is what they feel albeit without having to think about it! If only I had discovered this at 16! More and more riders are questioning and asking to understand the biomechanics of riding. Good for them! and good for those teaching and explaining why if you use gripper muscles your knee and heel will draw up, but if you use your flexors your thigh will remain relaxed while allowing the lower leg to turn 30 degrees which allows the leg to cuddle the horse and become more effective. So many for so long have been trying so hard with tight muscles and ineffective leg aids because of wrong timing and lack of understanding. The forum is full of those who cannot sit to the trot. Small wonder if the buttocks and thighs are in spasm! Anyway, all this paid off when Lucie and her horse Arnie qualified for the regionals. I am a very proud surrogate mum!The icing on the cake was when Horse & Hound called Lucie and interviewed her about her wins over the last two weeks. Considering she bought this horse for a pound she has done brilliantly. We know we have loads of work to do before the regionals and we are not resting on those laurels! Pride comes before a fall so although we are excited (please forgive us!) we know it is not all plain sailing!

Its a long time since I went out on a girls night and this thursday Cheltenham had better be ready when Claire, Dawn and myself hit the town! What to wear? How do Cougars behave on a night out? Come on girls send me some tips please! And how much should one take out to spend? Its years since I went to a club or bar, I have to admit I'm a bit nervous. The other two are gorgeous and articulate, witty and bright. I think I am going to look like the dippy blonde with little to say!Apart from that they are both a foot taller than me although they have promised to wear flat shoes if I wear very high stilletoes! I can already feel the twisted ankles!

Busy week ahead which includes a lesson with Carl on wednesday and lots of lovely horses to treat and teach. I love my life and my work its just a shame it goes by so fast! Christmas is but a few weeks away! and then another year will dawn.

Straight talking.

What a fabulous day! Lucy and Helen surpassed themselves at Hunters and I was like a proud mum watching the school play! We had two super judges who were fair and absolutely spot on with their comments (no guide dogs in sight this week!). Lucy bought her horse for £1 so those out there wanting big moving horses but unable to afford them do look out for a bargain that may need time and patience to regain confidence. She was first in the qualifier and second over all with 69.9% and second in the non qualifier with 66.9% and there is more to come. Helens instructions for today were not to hurry and to keep her hands still. What an achievment 63.75% fabulous! But girls, really, I have to say this... punctuality,clean tack and boots!!Presentation is everything! and Lucy, no you are not trying to be a posh dressage queen but hay down your jacket is not required! Complacency serves to remind us that we have to be on the ball as Lucy found out when Arnie decided to suddenly hooley! Nearly lost the jockey, but well recovered!


Straightness is such a big issue and yet comes way down the list on the scales of training. From day one straightness must be addressed otherwise many marks are lost and training cannot progress. Even when the horse is trained and at the highest level the rider has to keep riding the horse straight. Now this is a problem when the rider is a little skewhiff! or the saddle does not sit straight or the horse needs his back doing. There are so many things to check and it can be a hard task but one that surely is worthy of great determination, time and patience. Attention to detail will always pay off!
Mr and Mrs Pincus were at the show today and I was reminded how knowledgeable they are! Flossy has such a way with words, albeit not the right ones at times! His humour is second to none and his dressage jokes are outrageous!I think he should take up judging as his comments would brighten up the day even if you were last!

This week has been busy. Not only fixing the backs of other people and their horses but also doing hours of physio on Bee. She has an old injury to the sacro iliac ligaments which through mis-diagnosis has been overlooked. However, new eyes from Hook Norton have backed me up when I said it was higher up. Now, at least, we have half a chance of getting things right and that and the Cartrophen have made Bee feel like a new horse. To fit all this physio in I have to get up earlier or finish later! Im not good on dark winter mornings, I would rather hybernate under the duvet than get up in the dark! Having left the girls reflecting their glory, I raced off in the lorry to pick up straw and then raced back to clip Bee. My new clippers were fantastic the first time I used them three weeks ago, however today they were awful! They kept switching off in the middle of a sweep across the coat, consequently Bee now looks as if she has been done with a knife and fork! Returning clippers tout suite tomorrow!

Heartfelt sympathy goes out to all those families who lost loved ones yesterday in the M5 incident. It turns out that the smoke from bonfires made driving conditions impossible. Isnt it time we stopped celebrating a terrorist on November 5th? Burning money in this recession is reprehensible and the poor animals affected by the fireworks is reason enough to stop.

Has anyone else given up watching X factor? Or are you watching through some morose enjoyment to see how bad they can be? I cannot help feeling that a lot of talent was dismissed early on in the programme leaving the final few as second rate. The judges can't agree (nothing new there!) the song choices are hideous and singing in tune appears not to be so important these days, cue Kelly to Frankie, its just the vocals that need working on!!!! I turn over and watch Casualty, totally believable of course!