So I’m back home in Queensland and the blast of rain we’ve had has allowed me a rare day to catch up on my book work, paper work and give me time to do this blog. It’s been really dry, so the rain has been welcome.
I’m currently preparing for the upcoming Queensland International 3DE in Warwick later this month. I’d encourage everyone to get their entries in because, in the words of the QI3DE President Cameron Osborne, events like this are important because they “provide Queensland riders with the opportunity to perform at the highest level in their own State.” Basically if we don’t support them, they won’t exist in future.
I’ll be running Enny (Hillgrove Enviable) in the 3 star, Adam (Adam Bomb) in the Pre-Novice, and a client’s horse Moo (Little Miss Wonder), in the Prelim. And wouldn’t you know it, they’re all chestnuts. I must be fluent in ‘chestnut horse speak’ because I seem to gravitate to them. I even bred two cute chestnut mares (Eve and Zipper) that are just coming up the ranks now and of course my Olympic horse Groover (Oakley Groover) was a chestnut too.
Not having loads of cash growing up, I was always taught to ride the horse you’ve got to the best of your ability. To find that working partnership and work out what makes the horse want to do well for you. I didn’t have the option of purchasing a ready-made horse that was already going well. Having said that, I’m not complaining. I think there’s definitely a sense of accomplishment to be felt from taking a horse up the grades, and there’s the partnership you get from doing that, which can not be bought.
Enny’s your typical chestnut mare in that she can be hot in the dressage, but I always feel she gives me 170 per cent, especially in the cross country. I’m glad I have Enny now; the Rebel of ten years ago couldn’t have handled her. And I feel blessed that I was found a horse with Groover’s temperament when I did. When you have a horse with a temperament like Enny’s you need to have the knowledge and guidance to deal with it. Horses are a never ending learning curve.
Anyway, enough about me. I’ve had an intern, Sarah Kann (above) helping me out around the farm… and here’s her story.
Hi readers! My name is Sarah Kann and I have had the privilege of doing some industry placement with Rebel. This has been to count towards requirements for my Equine Science degree at UQ – best Uni work ever, right? Anyway, I will be writing this blog to give my insight into the life of Rebel (well since I’ve been there at least).
Rebel and Nell have done a great job setting up their property thus far – I think they said they have only been there for just over a year now; you wouldn’t pick it! The house looks like something out of a magazine and the horses’ set up was done with practicality in mind. You won’t find architecture designed stables with solariums and ceiling fans but you will find happy and healthy horses that are left to be just that - horses! The atmosphere is quite laidback and you seem to be relaxed as soon as you arrive – even the horses seem to settle in quickly. In saying that, sometimes you have to be pretty quick to spot Rebel as she speeds past to try to get everything done before dark; most times to her dismay as she seems to still work into the night (she was even mowing in the dark one week there)!
I have done a little bit of everything while there including all the general stable hand/groom type tasks, some arena maintenance, even the show jump poles have had a lick of paint and will be looking pretty spiffy for Rebel’s students when they come next (and those unsuspecting spooky horses!).
As some of you may already know, Hillgrove Enviable and Adam Bomb are back in from their spell and are working well. Adam has been training nicely and has had his first pre-novice start. Warwick was a successful event for Rebel with her win on Ivy Bank Casper in the 2** star and some good placings on her other rides including the newcomer Eve in the pre-intro, who has been a little gem in training at home and out and about. Rebel has been doing a few clinics around the place and lessons at home as per usual (including the odd lesson for ME too! Wahoo!).
I have been bringing a horse down each week and receiving some tuition off Rebel which has been extremely helpful. Rebel has an eye like a hawk when it comes to her ability to spot areas of your riding or your horses way of going that needs improvements (yes, even that straightness issue you think is subtle but seems to rear its ugly head in canter or the not so attractive head tilt your horse throws in on occasion). She’s is always onto helping you correct it.
I attended a cross-country clinic that Rebel held at Burpengary Equestrian Centre last month that all attendees thoroughly enjoyed. Her main focus seems to be on ensuring safe riding out cross-country. In doing so, she is usually helping you correct things such as a drift in your horses jump (which can get you unstuck in a sticky situation) or advising you on the best way to ride your horse into certain fences or through certain lines to get a nice, comfortable and controlled ride.
There’s such a range of different riders and horses at her clinics and lessons, which just shows any ability or level of horse or rider can gain something from her guidance. So long as you are there to learn and give everything your best effort then Rebel will be more than obliging to share her knowledge with you.
She is all for teaching correct basics to the more beginner riders and/or green horses and can help the more seasoned riders and horses get truly correct work by focusing on the training scale. It can seem as though you are going 10 steps backward but what I have learnt most is the importance of revisiting and ensuring the basics are there and done correctly no matter the level of horse and rider. After all, you must have rhythm, looseness and acceptance of contact before you can get truly correct work with impulsion, straightness and collection. As Rebel has said to me; only then can you start to get consistent 8’s and 9’s in your tests.
One thing that stands out for me from both flat and jump lessons is being able to ride your horse ‘straight’. Yes, it seems such a simple concept but it can be something as little as holding slightly too much flexion in your turns or having your weight a little too much in one seat bone to have your horse slightly falling out through a shoulder or carrying their hindquarters a little outside or inside of the track. This is when transitions and the paces become a little sloppy or you can’t quite hold a perfect line in between fences which in turn can lead to those poor distances to fences, drifting, rails down, refusals....the list goes on! I have definitely learnt the importance of ensuring your horse is trained through the training scale from the start and the importance of placing emphasis on perfecting the ‘basics’ before moving on to higher movements because if the horse is not working truly correct then you will only have to go backward later on down the track anyway (who wants to do that? Not me!).
Hopefully I haven’t bored you all too much and your all still with me?? Anyway, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rebel’s and value the knowledge I’ve gained. Those of you who ever get an opportunity for a lesson or to do some work with Rebel, I would definitely suggest you do.
Happy reading everyone!
Sarah Kann.
Rebel here again
Sarah forgot to mention the fence painting while drinking red wine (or was that just me?), and the loads of sawdust shovelling I had her do.
I’ve also got two more rides for the Queensland International Three Day event at Warwick - Jackie Tait’s thoroughbred mare in the Prelim and Richard King’s young horse in the Intro. So that’s five horses I’ll be riding. It’s going to be a busy weekend!
Till then –
Happy Riding
Rebs
