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Monday, 4 May 2009

Happy Campers AND Team Selection


I enjoyed BD Central Region training camp and am almost lost for words to describe what a positive experience it has been. I said ALMOST!!



Sebastian was a pleasure to take to Central Training and settled in the moment he was unloaded and shown to his new home at Bury Farm in stable number 24. Good start I am not especially superstitious but I do feel happy if I have a number 4 or 9- 49 would be my lucky number and I am also happy if the number will add up to 4 or 9 or virtually any tenuous connection in fact....

My bridle number was 40 so far so good.


The reception on Friday evening set the scene for the weekend- the atmosphere was positive, friendly and rather special. I met up with many people I had met before through freestyle and it was fun to find out how they were getting on with their horse and to reassure myself that they were still happy with their freestyle ...


Saturday morning I had my first ridden session with Nick Turner and WOW it helped create a learning platform for the whole weekend. Nick understood what I needed help with and the areas of my partnership with Sebastian that needed attention. Nick helped me out of my comfort zone and reinforced the work I had begun with Sabrina earlier in the week to make sure I didn't restrict Sebastian and allowed him to work through to the contact whilst actively encouraging him forward. Hmmm some of the corners were a little scary but it was tough love and the work afterwards was worth a few uncertain moments!


























Session Two- James Burtwell


Rachel, Hayley and I were firm friends by the afternoon and made our way to arena 2. Sebastian was by now completely in love with Hayley's mare Spotty and I don't think I could have gone to a different arena if I had tried.


We worked in with the focus on establishing correct positioning of the horse in walk trot and canter and then moved onto some suppling exercises: leg yield to canter on both reins and then the more taxing shoulder fore, travers on 1/2 20m circle to medium trot strides. The Travers really helped Sebastian to work through and accept the contact. We cooled off thinking about the walk halt transition and mine did improve and so did the walk. Clever boy Sebastian.


Party Time


The arena at Bury Farm was transformed for an evening dinner with Kim's very own Central Bafta awards. I was really pleased that Joyce Head received an award because I find her a very fair and helpful judge and her comments reflect the test in a positive way.


Sunday Nicola McGivern.


Rachel came to watch Sebastian who figured plaits and white bandages meant he was now a serious dressage prospect and he excelled himself. Nicola set the scene for the training session and made it possible for the group to be bold and ask for exercises that would challenge the horse and make the rider aware of the training goals ahead. Notably for Sebastian this was the introduction of half pass. Rachel and I were thrilled because Sebastian was more than willing to give it a go!


Test Time.


I felt that my work in time went well and that Sebastian was on my side and this came through in the test itself. I felt that my accuracy let me down and I am going to cringe when I watch the video as I know I threw marks away and during the test I was mentally kicking myself as well as worry a little that I might not remember where I was going. Note to self learn the inter regionals tests inside out and backwards!!

Sebastian and I posted a respectable 65% and were not far behind the winner on 66.2%. I will improve my test riding on Sebastian! After this weekend I feel we have a much stronger partnership and I trust him to work with me and he is even starting to repay that trust by working with me. The contact issues are still there but we have our homework.


SELECTION- Sebastian and I have made the Central Region Senior Squad and next stop is the Senior Inter Regionals Competition at Keysoe. Its getting serious now.



























2 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Congratulations! I will keep my fingers crossed for you and Sebastian :)
The Camp sounds great!
All the best,
W.