All the latest equestrian news and views from Sussex this January
Tip from the top with international event rider Gemma Tattersall
There are three common mistakes that riders make when showjumping…
1 Whether they’re working on the flat or over jumps, not having the horse forward in front of their legs. That’s a real cornerstone of training–not having the horse in front of you. Don’t be afraid of the horse taking the bit. A lot of riders get confused about being light, and get intimidated by the amount of horse they have. A lot of riders, especially younger riders, don’t teach a horse to wait.
2 The horse is over-bent and over-flexed. This goes back to the advice in my first point of riding with the legs more. It’s a tell-tale sign that the horse isn’t being ridden properly. Not enough leg is being substituted with too much hand.
3 People lack confidence. They let the horse make them think they’re doing something wrong, and blame themselves. Horses are clever, and you’re the boss. Have confidence in your own ability and be assertive and quick to respond to whatever your horse throws at you. This is one of the key reasons why regular training is so good for a rider – you need a trainer on the ground to be a cheerleader, and say, “you’re doing the right things – keep going!”
Gemma gives lessons from her base near Handcross, for more information or to book yourself in, call 07785 773565, or go to www.gemmatattersall.comIf you have any questions for Gemma that you would like covered in a future column, please send them to alice.cooke@archant.co.uk----------------------------------------------------
Sussex Star
Hannah Borrisow has had Miss D Mena, known as Flick at home, on loan for just over a year. Flick is ten years old, by Catherston Liberator, and was originally bred for dressage. Before being ridden by Hannah, Flick had never jumped in any affiliated competitions, and the mare is now successfully jumping around 1.10 BSJA classes. At home, Hannah says that Flick is “really grumpy and fresh every day, but when we’re out competing she’s always as good as gold and so easy to do.” This photo was taken at Hickstead International Showground this summer. Flick is owned by Charlotte Campbell.
----------------------------------------------------
Horses for courses
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. CLA member Anette Haug, the owner of Sussex-based Equinox Coaching, knows only too well the truth of this proverb, as she sees it regularly during her equine-assisted management courses. Anette uses the intuitive power of horses to help individuals discover their leadership potential. Anette explains: “The horses give you a chance to act out what you are learning in the classroom with a living, breathing being. You’re not there to train the horses; they are there to train you.”Horses are often called the masters of intuition, which makes them powerful teachers. Anette uses the power of the horse to produce results. To find out more about the courses, go to www.equinoxcoaching.co.uk
