News / diary :

PAX EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

Spring news letter

Winter seems to be never ending which has made the schooling of the young horses difficult and the work on the competition horses to improve over the winter for the new season’s competitions very difficult.

One of the highlights of the new- year was the two day course I ran as chairman of the BHS Instructors and Fellows (FBHS and BHSI) at Addington. I was very fortunate to invite Carl Hester for the flat and Di Lampard for the jumping.

I rode Len with Di and was in the top ride with Grade A and Advanced event horses. He came up trumps and jumped like a stag. I really concentrated in riding forward in a rhythm with a much more relaxed shoulder and forearm. I tried to ride the back end of the horse, stay more upright and really use my core balance to balance him. This was the second year we had had Di and she was a real inspiration.

Carl was as usual a real dream to watch. His eye for detail was great. He really focused on the horse keeping the relaxation and swing in all of their work so as to always improve their natural way of going.

The course really brought home the importance of continued training to improve your horse or yourself at any level or standard.

Since this course Iso and I have been working at trying to get a much softer yet controlled canter over fences and on the flat spending much more time working in and cooling down in a softer rounder outline really concentrating on getting the basic scales of training established first and always going back to them if a resistance occurs.

On the competition front Len, Blue and Whistfull have all been placed and won at Bromyard E.C. and Summerhouse in British novice and Newcomers and also unaffiliated dressage. We are just waiting for an improvement in the weather to go cross country schooling!

Two horses have come back in to be got going again after backing last year, Charlie the horse long reined on the web site and a lovely mare Daisy belonging to Liz Langford to show under saddle and start competing at prelim dressage.

On an exciting front we have started jumping Nightly, a 5yr old by Olympic stallion Lux z out of a King of Diamonds mare. He shows a naturally balanced canter with a very trainable mind and great aptitude to jumping and although he will be for sale it is very rewarding to bring on a horse with his obvious talent.

I am delighted with the progress of Michael (one of our liveries owners) towards point to pointing this year. Having never ridden before, he can now hold his balance and approach over a course of fences without running out or falling off. His determination and hard work is really being rewarded and is a real inspiration to any- one wanting to have a go and progress in their riding. Our short term goals are to get round some hunter trials and novice team chasing.

Over the winter I have been involved with delivering the new UKCC coaching syllabus. This is going to probably become compulsory to all equine coaches and instructors. The UKCC (U.K. Coaching Certificate) is a sports coaching certificate that is generic through all sports. I was a bit dubious at the start of the introduction of the UKCC, but being in at the start with Sports Coach UK and having delivered a couple of courses, I really now believe that is going to be a real a real asset not only to equine instructors and coaches but through coaches in all sports.

Here at home new goals are being planned with our clients for the coming year from achieving a prelim dressage test on a young horse, to working out aiming at and qualifying for three and four star events.

Although mot yet finalized, I am working in conjunction with Hereford Academy to introduce an Edexcel Level 2 BTEC First Certificate in Horse Care.

This will work alongside the school working as a sports academy and its new sixth form offering related sport BTEC courses and works.

The diary for the year is getting is getting busy with courses and clinics being taken through the country. Please keep an eye on this page for all courses organised here and just email or ring to book a lesson!

FUTURE COURSES

21st or 22 nd March.

A cross- country clinic at Sapey BE event course. All standards of horses.

Small groups coached round this excellent course. Details will be posted later but ring or email to book.

28 th - 29 th March

Either a one or two consecutive day clinic aiming to improve your dressage and jumping.

This is focusing on young horses or nervous or first time competitors wanting to aim and compete at British Eventing.

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