Dressage Training Clinic Dates July to October

JULY

Fri 1 and 22 Fortune Centre, Bransgore, Hants, BH23 8EE

Sat 2 and 23 Manor Farm, Teffont Magna, SP3 5QY

Sun 3 Stourport Riding Centre, Worcs, DY13 9JD

Mon 4, 11, 18 Wokingham EC, Berks, RG40 3ER

Sun 17 Southey Farm, Wellington, Devon, TA21 9QG

AUG

Mon 1,8,22 Wokingham EC, Berks, RG40 3ER

Wed 24 Fortune Centre, Bransgore, Hants, BH23 8EE

Sat 27 Manor Farm, Teffont Magna, SP3 5QY

SEPT

Thurs 1, Mon 12 Wokingham EC, Berks, RG40 3ER

Fri 2, 16 Fortune Centre, Bransgore, Hants, BH23 8EE

Sun 4 Southey Farm, Wellington, Devon TA21 9QG

Sat 24 Manor Farm, Teffont Magna, SP3 5QY

Sun 25 Stourport Riding Centre, Worcs, DY13 9JD

OCT

Tues 4 Wokingham, EC, Berks, RG40 3ER

Fri 7 Fortune centre, Bransgore, Hants, BH23 8EE

Sun 9 Southey Farm, Wellington, Devon, TA21 9QG

All enquiries to fionafoy@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone 07968 059434. All sessions are individual and last 45 minutes.

Addington Premier League

I took Toro to Addington Premier League, it was a first for both of us. It was quite an experience! First of all the opportunity to watch all the top riders in action and to learn from them, but also to see how they work in their horses. I made one big discovery, and that is that I tend to warm my horses up before a test, not work them in. So often they are just not in front of my leg enough in the test. So my homework is to make sure that I really have full control of the horse's body and his full cooperation before I go down that centre line.

The other interesting discovery is that a big competition is quite a fashion show! Everyone seemed to be in the latest must-have items, a camel coloured Pikeur jacket is most definitely "in" this season.

We did not disgrace ourselves, and I did agree with all the judges' comments, so am now looking forward to the next one at Wellington, my entries have gone off already!

We did this show to gain experience and we certainly did that, the judges are tough and the competition fierce, but the standard is so high that it really makes you think about your riding.

The facilities at Addington are superb, the surfaces divine to ride on, there is acres of space in the warmup, and they even have showers and loos in the stable blocks so only a short hop from the lorry. But if you go there, avoid stable 47, its right by the taps and it leaks!

Beautiful Spanish Stallion for sale

Sadly, a very good friend of mine has to sell her lovely black Spanish stallion, he is 10 years old and working at PSG. I have ridden him, he is divine, does fantastic piaffe and passage, changes etc, is an easy ride and an absolute gentleman. Light and responsive to ride, easy to handle, he hacks out, turns out and is in every way perfect. If he is your dream horse, call me for more details. I have a video of him working if you wish to see him in action.

Latest Competiton Results

Both Anthony and Toro have been doing very well in competition recently. Anthony went to Crofton Manor in February, won both Advanced Mediums on good scores, so his qualification to the Summer Regionals is secure. He has done a second PSG, gaining just under 64%, so as it was a qualifier, he now has 2 qualifying points! Toro has also qualified for the Summer regionals at Advanced Medium, we had a rather hairy time at Sparsholt when he was spooked by some ponies, it is the nearest I have felt to coming off for a long time! In PSG he is also consistent and now has 4 qualifying points, only 2 more to go! Both went to Kingston Maurward to try their freestyles at Advanced Medium and PSG. Each beat the other, Toro was ahead in the Advanced Medium and Anthony just beat him in the PSG, so each has qualified at those levels. So next time they go out to do music, it will only be one test each - phew! remembering four individual freestyles and not getting the music mixed up was a tall order! I am delighted with them both, after such a long layoff last year, they have both come out and done well every outing. Just as well with the price of diesel. Also, congratulations on competition success to Jade Rose, Hannah Shepherd, Lucy Wareham, Millie Tonks, Laura Sage and anyone else I have left out!

Well Done Anthony!!

Anthony went to West Wilts on Thursday and in the Advanced Medium qualifier he got 66.9% and won it, so I think that means that he has qualified for the Summer Regionals in just 2 outings. He then went on to do his first ever PSG, and won that too! It was a PYO class and I was thrilled that he managed everything in the test. Judged by Trish Gardiner, she said he looked very enthusiastic!

So a very successful return to competition, and much more to come.

Boys are Back In Town!

After a long gap, both Anthony and Toro are very much back in business!! Toro went out for the first time in over a year, to Hartpury where he was placed 2nd and 3rd in 2 Advanced Mediums. He then followed this up with a trip to Burrows Court where he had a very convincing win in the Advanced Medium qualifier on 69% and then he was placed 2nd in the PYO Prix St Georges on 66.5%. He felt really soft and willing throughout, I was delighted with him and he was not as tense as expected.

Anthony went to Abbey and won one Advanced Medium on 66.5%, then was placed 4th in the qualifier on 63%. Again I was delighted, the weather conditions were dreadful, he was listening and trying all the time. Tomorrow (Thurs 17th Feb) he goes to West wilts to try his very first PSG. Having had him since he was 4 years old, this is a BIG DAY!!

Anthony can be seen at two stallion shows this year : at the South west Equine and Game Fair at the Royal Bath and West Showground on Sat 12 March and again at West Wilts EC on Sat 19 March at the Willesley Equine Stallion Parade.

Hickstead, here we come again!

Last weekend, we travelled to Kingston Maurward to contest the semi finals of the Hickstead Dressage Masters League. Fulminante-Cen qualified for the finals in both the Medium and the Advanced Medium, so we will be off to Hickstead again this year. The dates are Mon 26 and Tues 27 July, at the start of the International meeting. With the Dutch using Hickstead as their final selection trials before the World Equestrian Games, it will be very exciting to be there at the same time.
Come along and support us!