Show Jumping training with Ernest Dillon FBHS

This clinic was aimed at all standards of horse and rider. It was open to Fellows and I’s and those training for the E and T. Held on Monday 16th July, starting at 9am at Wellington Equestrian Centre and costing £40.00 per horse. Spectators were welcome. This event was kindly organised by Annette Christey and facilities provided by David Sheerin and Wellington Equestrian Centre.

I am sure those of us who planned to attend Wellington on 19th July were thinking a nice informative summers day would help inspire and lift the spirits.

In reality it rained fairly steadily all day and much hiding in the very useful shelter in the school hedge was required. Ah well, so 2012 continues!

However we still had an interesting and useful day in the lovely and vast outdoor school kindly provided by Wellington riding – oh to be able to work in a school like that every day!

Ernest had a good variety of riders and horses and their associated problems and habits to work with. In front of the spare riders and small, but enthusiastic group of onlookers and sticking to his principles of keeping it simple and mostly concentrating on the quality of the canter work relative to jumping, (‘I want a canter good enough to jump 1.40, regardless of what’s in front of you’ sticks in the mind), he gained improvement and confidence in the rider, so achieving the objective of making the horses life easier, allowing him to do his job.

He provided a variety of flatwork exercises for the canter and some different jumping problems from related distances, to the dreaded lone fence on the long side of the school, to keep us entertained and informed all day.

So having achieved inspiration, It leaves me to say Thank you to Ernest for his input and keeping enthusiastic through the rain and David Sheerin of Wellington Riding for providing the lovely facilities.

These are great days, just to get the chance to bounce ideas off like-minded people, it’s so nice to spend a whole day listening to someone else’s voice and be able to concentrate on the horse and rider with no distractions.

Thank you to Annette for organising it.

Report written by Jayne Smart.