Maybe I've learnt over the years that you need socks telling your legs they are about to do dressage!
It’s funny how after all these years of riding, teaching and training, horses still continue to teach you lessons. I guess that’s one of the things I like about our sport, you never stop learning.
2013 was an amazing year for me. After eight years I am finally back riding at 4* level, having finished the Australian International in Adelaide in 14th place on my mare Hillgrove Enviable or Enny for short. It was an emotional journey to climb to top level competition, as the last time I competed 4* was on Oakley Groover or Groover, my Athens Olympic mount. On his return from the Games in 2004 he hurt himself in the paddock and never fully recovered.
Enny at Adelaide
Like most Australian riders I don’t have the capital behind me to just purchase another horse that was going at that top level, and the only way back up was to first find another horse I thought could go the distance, and second train her to 4* level. Eight years later, here I am. Now the challenge is to keep Enny sound and competitive in the lead up to the World Equestrian Games WEG, (which I’d love to be selected for), and ultimately – The Olympic Games in Rio.
So back to the lesson and what I learnt from Enny last year. Well …. number one is patience. She’s a totally different horse from Groover. Like his name suggests, he was a cruisy fellow. He took a lot more things in his stride, where as Enny….well that’s just not her. She’s a passionate fiery red head. The younger version of me wouldn’t have coped with Enny. She’s not a horse you can ride the socks off. You need to recognise when she’s taken away what you wanted to teach her or achieve for the day, and know when to end a session. But she’s a horse with a V8 engine, and would do the cross country course twice for me if I asked her and that’s what I love about her.
Enjoying a course walk at Adelaide
After Adelaide I knew she needed a break. A 4* event takes a lot out of a horse. At the same time I didn’t want her to loose much of her shape or her fitness, so I decided 3 weeks off would work. Which brings me to lesson number two – listening to your horse.
When I brought her in after three weeks off, it was as if I’d just taken her off the truck from Adelaide. She was like a cat on a hot tin roof. Her whole demeanour told me she wasn’t ready to come back to work, and she needed more time. So I listened to her, and applied my learning’s from lesson number one (patience), and when I finally brought her back into work she repayed me five-fold. So that’s my sermon for today.
And what about me this year? Well I’m hoping it’ll bring big things. I’m qualified for WEG and that’s what I’m aiming for. I’ve appointed Zebrmez Media team to manage my clinics, sponsorship and media so I can focus on doing what I do best – riding. I’ve finally joined the digital age. The 100 year old Nokia has been sacked and replaced with an iphone! I’ve got a new webpage and am on social media – facebook, instagram and twitter.
Get in touch if you want me to stand in your field and coach
Being a country girl myself I’m passionate about the need to develop eventing in regional and remote areas – so I’m planning a regional teaching tour this year. Inbox me to sign up.
I’m excited about the inaugural QSEC Horse show where I’ll be giving a demonstration - and hopes it goes from strength to strength. Oh and I’m on the Queensland International Three Day Committee - another event we hope will grow over the coming years.
And thanks to a lot of hard work from people like Fiona Hughes, Equestrian Australia has given us the nod for inclusion in the Sydney Mardi Gras in March. We’re getting a QLD contingent together for an equestrian themed parade.
So till next month – happy riding!
Rebs
