As BHSII’s with our E and C exams looming, it was with great interest and excitement that we attended the training day at Judy Harvey’s yard. First was Amanda Holloway who was riding a welsh X. Judy’s emphasis was to work on rhythm, keeping the tempo slow enough to improve the quality of the trot and response to the leg. The session ended with an interesting exercise on improving the flying changes. Amanda started them…

Walking the course with Nick Turner (previous Badminton competitor, now Brazilian Eventing Team Coach and Snr Selector for British Eventing) was a fantastic way to learn all about the challenges of this true four-star course. The big message of the day from Nick was how critical it is that the rider has absolute understanding and control of the speed, power and straightness of the horse. If you misjudge or get to a fence at the…

As always, Kenneth Clawson delivered an informative series of coaching sessions, encouraging all participants, riders and audience alike, to think and to participate. Emphasis was on awareness of the horses’ regular stride patterns, together with control and accuracy. The Counting of Strides, and in particular the riders being challenged to be consistent in being able to ride defined numbers of strides on circles on each rein, caused some amusement!* Although the same basic floor pattern…

Adam Kemp FBHS gave us two days of clear, systematic training at our annual two-day course. With 12 sessions each day he certainly had plenty to do – and we had plenty to watch and discuss. Horses ranged from Novice to Small Tour and highlights for me included watching Adam work with Sue Pimbley on the start of passage and half-steps (Sue was thrilled with the two days and progress made). Becky Monk’s new young…

Around 25 of us lucky souls managed to congregate at Hickstead on Saturday 31st July 2010, for what is fast becoming our social highlight of the summer – the RIHS. There were even a few BHSIs who, despite distinguished careers in the horse world, had never done the Hickstead pilgrimage – so it was quite an occasion! For those who came early enough, there was a chance to pick up a running order for the dressage…

For many years I have admired Judy’s riding, training and judging but thought she probably only had time to help the top flight riders such as Ruth Edge. Then I discovered that Ann Bostock is a regular customer at Great Horwood and with the training day presenting itself in the F&I news together with an unusual ‘window’ in my diary there was a perfect opportunity to be seized with both hands. I feared the day…

The Annual National Equine Forum was held on Thursday 4th March 2010 in central London. As part of the Forum, and as a result of the interest shown at last year’s forum in Tim Hadaway’s presentation on Greenwich and the proposed site for the equestrian events of the 2012 London Olympics, a tour of that site was arranged for Wednesday afternoon with Tim as tour guide. Alison Craig and I participated and, interesting and informative…

Presenters: Kathryn Nankervis MSc, CVPM, Elizabeth Launder BSc, MSc and Joanne Winfield FBHS, BSc. Tuesday 23rd February, 2010. This study day focused on the rider for a change, and started with a lecture from Physiotherapist Liz Launder on the importance of spinal health and good posture. It was very interesting to know that the intervertebral discs will decompress if the subject lies flat i.e. over night and therefore allows the discs to become fuller – filling…

As a BHSII SM, aspiring to complete the BHSI Certificate, it was with interest and anticipation that I, as a guest observer, attended the training day at Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire. The day provided a privileged opportunity to watch 7 training sessions, which introduced the audience to a variety of horses including; an ex  racehorse now enjoying a career change to dressage, eventers and pure dressage horses competing up to Grand Prix level. Their respective riders,…

Firstly a big thank you to Nick for spending his time with the 7 of us who attended this day. For us it was brilliant that more people were not there but a huge shame not to see more faces to take advantage of Nick’s knowledge and ideas. It was a very cold start to the day but an ongoing supply of tea and coffee made it easier. Before the horses and riders got going…