F & I North West Region Training day at Myerscough College, 28th March 2017. As an F & I member based in Lancashire, and the Stable Yard Manager at Myerscough College, I was delighted to be able to provide the facilities for the North West Region, spring training day. The day started with a couple of hours of flatwork sessions, then the majority of the day focussed on jumping. However, throughout the day there was…

Birdcage Walk, London, 2nd March 2017. With great excitement – a day out in London – WHOOPEE! and above all the company of Sue Ricketts…such fun. Car washed and polished, nobody would see it but it is a special occasion going to London.  Suit cleaned, shirt ironed, shoes polished…too much information I know! I met up with Sue on a beautiful sunny day and we were to be stuck inside but heyho. We checked in and were met…

Focus on lateral work I’d like to start by saying that I first joined the F&I Association in 2001, but let my membership lapse after just 1 year. I am so pleased that after all this time I have re-joined, and can take advantage of the fantastic opportunities the association offers. We had a really good day with Tim Downes at Ingestre on the 22nd February, kindly organised by Sue Ricketts. Thankfully we were blessed…

A big thank you to David Sheerin and all his Team at Wellington for organising another fabulous training day under the watchful eye of Richard. The indoor school was a godsend as the snow was falling and temperatures freezing! Richards philosophy throughout his training session was “you might have to crack a few eggs to make your omelette”. This analogy was to encourage riders to go a few steps back to correct bad habits and…

The BHS F&I Association’s Annual Course Addington Manor EC 2017 By Kirsty Fontaine-Henley BHSSC and BHSISM The F&I Annual Course has always been a date to look forward to in our calendar at Millfield, and particularly this year, as we were also able to bring one of our project horses along for Danny Anholt to ride with Chris Bartle. Christoph Hess and Christopher Bartle were perfectly matched, having worked together before with their similar training…

Written by Alison Craig BHSI What an outstanding Annual Course we were all treated to. It is our flagship event of the year, held at Addington Equestrian Centre, Bucks, in January, and organised with incredible efficiency by Ann Bostock. The detailed training activity in each of the two arenas, Dressage and Jumping, is described separately, but the shared facilities are worth describing for those who couldn’t be there – we have the complete run of…

Over the last few days we have all been privileged spending time gleaning the experience of world class coach, Christoph Hess at our F&I Association annual course. Christoph’s charismatic and friendly personality instantly put riders at ease on the first day. He asked to watch the riders work their horses alone as though they would do at home or just before they were to do a competition. Whilst the riders worked their horses Christoph engaged with…

There are few things in which it is a definite pleasure to do; taking a talented horse to a training session at Addington with Christopher Bartle amongst good friends and a knowledgeable and understanding audience, is certainly one. Chris himself needs no introduction but as an event rider who has never trained with him I was anxious to hear his pearls of wisdom and there were many. It is very apparent that Chris has a…

  You are greeted coming through the gate by a shimmering full size silver mesh horse – a taste of the magic to come! Guinea fowl and chickens wander around the outdoor school and grounds, a parrot raucously chats to you at the entrance to the school, and a variety of dogs wander in and out of the school throughout the morning, vying for Carl’s attention, or yours, and weighing up whether yours is a…