Kicking Off The Show Season

Warming up at Myerscough Equestrian

Bundling up on what felt like a family vacation and heading off to the the U.K. was the most fitting way to kick off the spring competition season. Oodles of team spirit were packed up alongside one very keen Irish sport horse and his companion travel buddy to Myerscough Para Championships. 

I've mentioned Chloe here before, a fiery dedicated young rider who's been working with me. Over the past year watching Chloe get deeper into the detail of dressage been really rewarding. Her determination to push through boundaries is awe inspiring and now she's moving up the grades it's interesting to see her asking more questions of herself and her riding. Taking that ambition and drive, turning it into a more steady thoughtful approach to the training.

Travel Buddy and team Mascot

This trip away was the perfect way to see this evolution of mindset in action. Championships mean taking the training and delivering on the product. We had a horse full of beans when we arrived and it's so tempting to tense up when a horse doesn't react in the usual way whether its because of freshness or exuberance. It's always telling for a trainer to see what happens next. I was reassured to see Chloe take a breath and allow Flipper to be bouncy without losing her connection nor being tempted to over ride him in defense. This is both the joy and torment of dressage, finding a system and plan and then realizing it has to be adapted at any or every moment. 

Team Support

At shows I like to be onside for support and guidance but I always remember the advice of my first dressage trainer, "the work is done at home, it's too late to fix things at shows." Being able to step back and let a rider take the lead is nerve wracking for me being a control freak but standing at the warm up with Chloe's family I was comforted by how she handled her horse. She sought quiet words and prompts from time to time but essentially she prepared herself.

This difficult journey into precise training requires self reflection, self awareness, work, sweat and tears at home by a rider. It's so often why we struggle as dressage riders, getting comfortable being uncomfortable. My goal as a trainer is to leave something behind for a rider. Something they can take away and use in their tool kit for training. With any luck this takeaway allows us unlock skills within ourselves. On this trip whatever was going through Chloe's head, I can as her trainer say I was contented to sit back and watch a young person find her moment to shine. She won her class, which is confidence building and rewarding for the hard work but good scores and placing are just a bonus. More fundamental for me, she coped. She was calm, grounded and mindful enough to not fall apart at the excitement of the event but to blossom into the work. 

Legs of Mann

It's exactly the starting point necessary to motivate through the tough moments at home. For me it was the reminder that there's strength and truth in dressage. Chloe's step into that truth does as much for me as I hope the training does for her. Certainly it's a partnership that I'm proud to be part of. 

Winner Winner