Horse&Rider – October 14

Horse

world

It takes

two

Photo: CĂŠleste Wilkins

A horse-buying trip to Ireland turned into a lasting partnership for Lucy Wiegersma and Padraig McCarthy

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op British event rider Lucy Wiegersma met Irish showjumper-turned-eventer Padraig McCarthy through horses. “She came over to Ireland in 2011 to look at one of the horses I was selling to fund my PhD, and that was it. We still have the horse and now she has the rider!” says Padraig. He subsequently moved over from Ireland and is now based in Devon at Lucy’s yard, where the couple produce and breed competition horses. “We produce horses that are all of a quality that top riders are looking for, but that are perhaps not always available because when horses are that nice, people don’t often want to sell them.”

Top ambition

Lucy has been very close to achieving her ultimate goal of going to the Olympics. She was selected for the team in 2008 with Shaabrak but he developed a foot infection just before the Games. She was also first reserve in 2012 with Simon Porloe, and excruciatingly had to drive all the way from Devon to sit outside the gates of Greenwich Park – the venue for the equestrian events – while the team trotted up, just in case any of the British team horses failed the vet check. They didn’t, and Lucy’s next major team appearance was at the European Championships in 2013 with Simon Porloe where she had an unlucky cross-country fall.

She’s determined, though. “I’m going to get there by hook or crook! Right now I have the best horse I’ve ever had in Mr Chunky. He’s still quite young but I have my sights very much set on Rio,” Lucy says. With the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle next year, Lucy is hoping the stars will align for Mr Chunky’s first senior team debut.

Lucy’s ambition and passion for eventing has rubbed off on Padraig. He started eventing two years ago after a very successful career as a showjumper and finishing his PhD in Business Insolvency in Ireland. He says: “Lucy’s been very kind to let me ride Simon Porloe. We did the CIC** at Barbury International, finishing within the top 20.” They also finished in second place at Camphire International CCI** in Ireland recently.

Climbing the ranks

While Padraig is still climbing the ranks and attaining qualification to compete at the highest level, the couple admit that it would be nice to ride at the European Championships together, but in different teams. Ambition aside, Padraig is instrumental in breaking in their own and clients’ youngsters and retraining those who are a little sharp. He’s even had the likes of William

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s g n i ’ K y r a M

Our trainer Mary King is

one of Britain’s most prolific equestrians. She has won two World Championship gold medals as well as silver and bronze Olympic medals.

Mary was on the silver medalwinning team at London 2012.

keys

to success Patience and calmness Be methodical in your teaching. Repetition makes for true understanding. You must be black and white in your training principles as to what is right and what is wrong.

Consistently correct mistakes and reward the right response with your voice and/or a pat when your horse produces good work.

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Understanding and coping with tension Tension can be caused by a variety of things – excitement on the part of the horse, anticipation of the work ahead, nervousness or not trusting the rider.

Therefore, find ways of easing the pressure for your horse and helping him to relax – perhaps through lots of steady work, hacks and plenty of turnout. A tense horse will be much happier to be out 24/7 and ideally with a calm companion.

Extract from Mary King – My Way by Mary King.

2

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In the saddle Thoroughness Horses like to have a routine so make sure your horse has his – for example, feeding on time and exercise. Make sure that you’re organised in your day-to-day running of the yard, that you’re on top of paperwork and competition entries, fitness work for you and your horse, and preparation for events.

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Effective riding Try not to let the nerves take over as that can affect your riding, turning you from a positive partner to a passive passenger.

Your horse needs your support and guidance, so effectiveness of the rider is all-important.

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Sensitivity Remember, horses are all very different, so be sensitive to their individual needs. Some require a much more gentle approach, others you can be firmer with – it all depends on their character.

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Coping with the lows Difficult though it may be at the time, try to take a positive out of a negative situation. In eventing, you have to be able to cope with the lows if you want to continue eventing and compete for a long time. And don’t let yourself get too low in the lows. Simply work out what went wrong, why it went wrong, how you can make it right and how it could have been prevented. Then enjoy the good times!

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Remember, horses are all very different, so be sensitive to their individual needs Dedication Are you prepared to get out there and work, whatever the weather and how ever you feel?

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Be open to criticism As a rider, find a trainer you click with and always be aiming to improve. Even at my age, I realise that I can always learn more.

I personally love it when people tell me that I’m not sitting up straight or my reins are too long.

I don’t take offence, I’m happy for people – especially my trainer Ferdi Eilberg – to point things out that might make a difference.

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Choosing the right horse Don’t be too proud and persist with a horse who’s not living up to your dreams. If a horse you’ve bought – who you thought would be top class – is not enjoying the work and not performing consistently well for the level of training he’s at, be prepared to bite the bullet and sell him on to someone who’s less competitive and happy to compete at the lower levels.

Keep looking for that right horse – there will be one out there for you.

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Positive attitude Each day work at being positive in everything you do, especially at events. Try to keep on top of your nerves, don’t dwell on the bad points – and smile!

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The best bits

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In this feature... ➤ What to expect at a sponsored ride Our experts

Fiona Cardrick, pictured in the cross-country phase at Bramham on Gracious Me, has competed at International level in showjumping and eventing and is available for group or individual training. ☎ 0788 1834642

Photos: mudsports.co.uk, Windsor Lions sponsored cross-country ride, Blenheim Fun Ride

Mark Smith is BHS qualified and a former international eventer dedicated to a modern and holistic approach to the care, training and use of horses, including breaking, schooling and competition preparation for horse and rider. msjump.co.uk

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➤ How to tackle

Good cause, great times Sponsored rides can be fantastic fun if you and your horse are prepared, says H&R’s Alison Bridge

R

iding across beautiful countryside with friends, jumping rustic fences and having a good gallop from time to time – sponsored rides sound like horsey heaven. But add other groups charging past your nervous novice, getting carted and feeling scared and rattled for 10 miles, and it’s not such a brilliant day.

The key to enjoying sponsored rides, as with any other horse sport, is to be prepared – you, your horse, your kit and your companions.

What is a sponsored ride?

It’s a marked course, usually of about 10-12 miles, across country with optional rustic jumps of various sizes from tiny (50cm/1ft 6in) to a few quite large (1m/3ft 3in or so).

Some fences may be wide enough to jump as a pair, sometimes fences are built as a small fence next to a bigger one.

You can do a sponsored ride singly, in pairs or groups. You’re sent off from the start at intervals of about two minutes and can ride at whatever pace you like. There are rosettes for everyone who finishes, whether or not you jump or go fast.

Sponsored rides are usually run on behalf of a charity by a Pony Club, Riding Club, a hunt or group of horsey volunteers.

You’re asked to raise a certain amount of sponsorship (usually about £25) and also pay an entry fee (about £20) for the ride.

Some people pay the whole amount themselves, while others take it as an opportunity to raise money for a good cause. Sponsored rides are remarkably effective at fund-raising – riders at the Windsor cross-country sponsored ride have raised more than £2million for local, national and international charities.

Fun rides are similar to sponsored rides, but usually make a single entry charge and give profits to charity.

In the saddle

your first event ➤ Riding in groups ➤ Fitness, tack and safety pointers Venues for sponsored rides vary from the fabulous turf of Windsor Great Park and the hallowed ground of the Balmoral Estate to the unspoilt terrain of the New Forest and Dartmoor. They may be in areas not usually accessible to riders, opened up for the ride.

The route should be clearly marked and may include bridlepaths, farmland, common, heath, moorland and woodland, and sometimes gallops and parts of existing cross-country courses.

Jumps are mostly purpose-built and similar to hunter trials fences – logs and log piles, rustic uprights, tiger traps, straw bales and sleepers. There may be a few in fences or hedgelines, but you’ll be able to get past them through a nearby gate or opening. Fences, or groups of fences in view together, should be stewarded.

Roadwork should be minimal. There may be small distances to ride on quiet country roads and/or road crossings – these should be marshalled.

Parking is usually near the start of the course – the earlier you are, the closer you’ll be!

Facilities are similar to a small show – a secretary’s tent where you drop off your money and pick up a number and a photographer. There should be medical facilities such as St John’s Ambulance.

out of view,” she says. “Don’t be pressurised into jumping something you don’t want to – it’s a fun day out and only do what you and your horse are confident to take on.”

A great tip Fiona gave us was to start a sponsored ride in walk, move into trot when you’re comfortable and get the freshness out of the horses, then canter and only jump when you want to. Pass the first few fences if you’re feeling a bit tense and keep them small to start with. This totally takes the pressure off and you’ll probably find you want to press on and jump pretty soon into the ride. If you don’t, and simply have a beautiful hack, that’s great, too!

One question many people ask is, should you start a sponsored ride early in the day or later on?

The first riders have the best going but be aware they are often speed merchants or riders getting fit for hunting or eventing, so they’ll be going at a brisk pace. If you have a less fit, young or novice horse or rider in your group, Fiona advises: “Late would be best as hopefully nobody will catch you up and go past at speed!”

Good companions

It’s a good idea to pair a novice horse with a calm, experienced friend he’s used to riding out with for his first experience of sponsored rides. Go on plenty of hacks together at various paces beforehand and even pop a few logs if they’re safe to see how he reacts.

Getting started

I love sponsored rides and have done dozens of them. When I started out, trainer Fiona Cardrick gave me some excellent advice that got me and my novice but sensible cob going, and also helped my sponsored ride-buddy Jane and her young and excitable TB-cross.

What does she advise if you’re going to a sponsored ride for the first time? “Go with people and horses you know, be ready for other riders to ask if they can pass you, and ask them politely if they don’t mind keeping it steady until they are

If you’re experienced riding in groups, by all means go with more horses. As Fiona says: “You can go in a group if your horse is used to that, or less if they are an excitable sort. Two’s company, three’s a crowd!”

Again, it’s good to prepare for riding in a group.

“Hack in company, and make sure you and your horse are happy in walk, trot, canter and gallop,” says Fiona. “If you want to jump, be jumping confidently at home first.”

If your horse has problems with anything you might encounter on the ride – for example, he may be scared of cattle or other farm animals, be barefoot and possibly not comfortable on very stony ground, or he may never have experienced Valegro’s expressive a motorway bridge before – check with the flying change organisers. You don’t want to encounter a scary hazard for the first time on a sponsored ride.

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In this feature... ➤ Develop a secure lower leg

➤ Test your accuracy

Transform Words: Kelly McCarthy-Maine. Photos: Bob Atkins

your riding with trot poles

Improve your riding and your horse’s way of going with brilliant exercises from Wellington Riding’s Chief Instructor, David Sheerin 60 HORSE &RIDER

In the saddle

➤ Improve your balance ➤ Build a more active trot Our instuctor David Sheerin began his career at Wellington Riding as a working pupil in 1995. After gaining his British Horse Society qualifications, David worked in racing and eventing yards, returning to Wellington as Chief Instructor in 2007. David is training for his BHS Fellowship and is still keenly involved in eventing, organising British Eventing’s Wellington Horse Trials and securing his place on the British Riding Club CIC** team for 2015.

Our riders

S

omething as simple as trotting through three poles on the floor can transform your riding and your horse’s way of going. Trot poles are great as a diagnostic tool – they reveal whether you are actively influencing your horse’s way of going or simply pottering about.

I teach riders of all capabilities and like to use safe, low-impact exercises to quickly assess a combination’s strengths and weaknesses – trot poles are great for this.

They are also safe to use as ‘self-teaching’ exercises on your own or with a friend.

Used at the end of a 15-minute warm-up session, a few trips through the trot poles will illustrate what needs attention and help bring focus to the rest of your schooling session.

Over the page are three progressive trot pole exercises. They can transform your riding – whether you want more engaged dressage work, better jumping or to feel safer and more secure out hacking.

Catie Greener came to Wellington to train for her British Horse Society examinations. She hopes to take her skills on the road and teach riding around the world.

Our equine models Seven-year-old Finbar is a real charmer and an oftenrequested ride in the school.

At 22 years old, Fella is a distinguished gentleman whose character and enthusiasm have taught hundreds of people to enjoy riding.

Recently qualified as a Riding for the Disabled Group Instructor, Laura Entwistle holds a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science from Hartpury and is working towards her Masters in Professional Practice in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

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Horsey shopping

g n i d d e AW with a difference?

Words: Louise Kittle. Horse&Rider recommends you wear an up-to-standard helmet when riding

From horsey honeymoons to saying ‘I do’ in the saddle, Horse&Rider considers the best way to include your love of horses in The Big Day, even if it’s going to be overseas

The wedding

You’re a horse-lover, so it’s only natural that, if you’re lucky enough to be planning a wedding or civil partnership, you’d like your horse to feature in the day.

Combine that with the increasing popularity of getting married abroad, and you might think you’ve reached an impasse. But think again!

More and more overseas wedding venues are realising the popularity of horses in the proceedings. From a snowy horse-drawn carriage ride through the Austrian Alps to your ceremony to riding to your wedding along a tropical beach, your dreams really can come true!

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