Since the New Year I have been forced to have a major sort out of a ton of paperwork and accumulated “things” from the past 10 or more years of para competitions. Forced, due to the fact of having new carpets fitted and needing to clear my room completely out. Hard to believe how I had managed to cram so much into the wardrobe and every other available corner of the room! It was fun to look back over old test sheets… and the result reports in the Horse & Hound.. remember they used to do that? I think I had every sheet from every dressage test – and every mention in the H&H of Brodie’s going back before 2006. And then there were all the internationals, starting with the World Para Championships at Hartpury in 2007. It was a great trip down memory lane and of course I haven’t chucked it all out but it’s now time to make some new memories!
Rhapsody is in good shape thanks to Gill Maybury Chiropractor coming out after he got cast to treat him....and is travelling to Kent to train with Andrew J Murphy at the beginning of March. Really looking forward to that and then also to attending the Charles de Knuffy lecture demo at the TTT on the 12th March. If I can manage it will also try to get to the Dovecot Stables to see Charles and Andrew’s clinic…”Through the Trainer's Eye”. There is nothing better to get you motivated than these clinics!!
Another motivational – and informative – tool was a session on the mechanical dressage horse with Sarah Sjoholm-Patience – a prize I won via Facebook! I have been trying to concentrate of my positioning this past year and with this sophisticated piece of kit you can really map your progress. Surprising how you think that you are sitting on both seat bones – but the computer says NO!
I have all the para and other local BD competitions in my calendar ready to start sending my entries in - I do need to buy a new dressage legal hat first though!! My short term aim will be to get Rhaps to Hartpury CPEDI3* in July and maybe Bishop Burton too. Ultimately though we are thinking to WEG next year in North Carolina. Rhapsody will be 20 and I would be reluctant to put him to the strain of flying for the first time at that age. It means that I am starting to look for a suitable horse to loan or lease till WEG next September.
I am under no illusions it will be easy.. ideally would like to find a horse in England that I can have in the yard so we can work and train together consistently. But are owners going to want their horse to travel to the states? alternatively try and source a suitable horse in the USA... don't need to spell out the limitations in that option! I have nevertheless put some initial feelers out with friends there.
I think I have my work cut out... watch this space!!
Rhapsody is in good shape thanks to Gill Maybury Chiropractor coming out after he got cast to treat him....and is travelling to Kent to train with Andrew J Murphy at the beginning of March. Really looking forward to that and then also to attending the Charles de Knuffy lecture demo at the TTT on the 12th March. If I can manage it will also try to get to the Dovecot Stables to see Charles and Andrew’s clinic…”Through the Trainer's Eye”. There is nothing better to get you motivated than these clinics!!
Another motivational – and informative – tool was a session on the mechanical dressage horse with Sarah Sjoholm-Patience – a prize I won via Facebook! I have been trying to concentrate of my positioning this past year and with this sophisticated piece of kit you can really map your progress. Surprising how you think that you are sitting on both seat bones – but the computer says NO!
I have all the para and other local BD competitions in my calendar ready to start sending my entries in - I do need to buy a new dressage legal hat first though!! My short term aim will be to get Rhaps to Hartpury CPEDI3* in July and maybe Bishop Burton too. Ultimately though we are thinking to WEG next year in North Carolina. Rhapsody will be 20 and I would be reluctant to put him to the strain of flying for the first time at that age. It means that I am starting to look for a suitable horse to loan or lease till WEG next September.
I am under no illusions it will be easy.. ideally would like to find a horse in England that I can have in the yard so we can work and train together consistently. But are owners going to want their horse to travel to the states? alternatively try and source a suitable horse in the USA... don't need to spell out the limitations in that option! I have nevertheless put some initial feelers out with friends there.
I think I have my work cut out... watch this space!!
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