News
Posted on January 15th, 2015
Biomechanics Clinic at Pine Lodge School of classical Equitation – Thur Jan 29th
A Rider Biomechanics Clinic will be held on Thursday January 29th at Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation, Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich. The Clinic will be based on RWYM (Ride With Your Mind) and ‘Centred Riding’ techniques. The day will start at 10am and will be finished by 2.45pm.
“So come and learn new skills, new insights, new feelings. Re-educate your mind and body in order to achieve greater balance, harmony and communication with your horse,” said Katherine Walker, Equestrian Performance Coach.
The RWYM method, devised by Internationally renowned biomechanics coach and author Mary Wanless, is a tremendous advance in teaching and learning which helps the rider to organize their mind and body in exactly the same way as so called ‘talented’ riders. It encourages straight forward, streamlined techniques, increasing the rider’s body awareness and uses images to help one understand both what to do and how to do it. RWYM coaching is an extremely popular form of tuition in Europe and the USA and is proving to be increasingly in demand in the UK with incredible rider improvements obtained in a very short time, defying traditional expectations.
Lessons will be 45 mins. The cost: £55 on your own horse or £65 on a school horse. (The horses at Pine Lodge School are mainly Lusitanos.) If you pair up the cost is £35 on own horse and £45 on school horse.
Call Katherine Walker on 01508 521800 or Sue Barber on 07765 000869.
Posted on January 15th, 2015
Supplements offer!
T.E.N. Supplements has announced an impressive 25% seasonal discount offer on two equine calming supplements: Positive Calm Behaviour and Positive Calm Behaviour Plus between January 12th and 18th 2015.
At this time of the year, many horse owners struggle to find the time or suitable weather in which to ride. For some horses, high calorie feeds may be required to maintain a healthy body condition score and to provide a balanced diet. Whilst hard feed may help to keep horses in peak health, the additional energy provided can have a dramatic effect on equine behaviour.
Owning an excitable horse can take the fun out of riding, and this situation may call for a calmer of some sort. However, with so much written about the subject, and many myths surrounding the use of calcium and magnesium, owners are under pressure to find a suitable and safe alternative.
Because every horse is an individual, T.E.N. Supplements offers two calmers in its range: Positive Calm Behaviour and Positive Calm Behaviour Plus. Buy either one of these two products between January 12th and January 18th and you can take advantage of the 25% seasonal discount offer.
Take advantage of this offer before it ends by visiting the T.E.N. Supplements website www.tensupplements.co.uk
Posted on January 12th, 2015
Hertfordshire’s Young Showjumper Katie Waldock-Smith Becomes a NAF Shining Star
Fourteen year-old showjumper, Katie Waldock-Smith from Ware in Hertfordshire has been awarded the NAF Shining Star Award for December 2014 following an impressive display of commitment and talent during her time as a member of the British Showjumping Central Junior Academy.
Mandy McGlynn, Lead Coach for the Junior Academy, nominated Katie for the award following a successful year for the teenager “Katie is a very talented young lady who has worked hard to bring on both of her ponies, Ross Cottage (Summer) and Clailu Saffron (Saffy). Both ponies qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show and with Saffy, Katie jumped a double clear to finish fifth in the Pony Newcomers Championship.
“Katie was recently awarded the most improved rider in her age category at the Junior Academy awards evening and her pony Summer was presented with the Winston Bridgette trophy for the pony after achieving the highest winnings for the year.”
Katie has been a member of British Showjumping since September 2008 and she joined her local Junior Academy shortly afterwards. Since joining she has been working her way through the NAF Pony 5* Performance Awards Programme and has gained her 1* and 2*. She is currently working towards her 3* and is pleased to be have announced as a NAF Shining Star.
Katie said “I was really pleased and shocked to hear that I had won this award as I did not know that I had been nominated. The Junior Academy has opened up so many competition and training opportunities alongside giving me lots of support and encouragement.
“My 2015 plans include trying to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show again and Summer has just been upgraded to a JA pony, so I am looking forward to competing in the bigger classes with her.”
Griselda Handy, Brand Manager for NAF, commented “Katie has achieved some wonderful results and thoroughly deserves the recognition of this award. She clearly has a great future ahead of her and is one to be watched!”
Katie will receive some NAF products as part of her prize to add the supplements that she already uses, which include Hoof Moist for her ponies feet and In the Pink Powder for their digestion.
The NAF Shining Star Award was introduced when NAF became a British Showjumping Business Partner. The award is for members of a Junior Academy who have shown a great deal of commitment, progression and outstanding behaviour along with their riding ability and much more. Riders are nominated by their lead coach, and then judged and awarded by NAF to one person each month.
Posted on January 5th, 2015
Saffron Walden’s Seven Dwarfs steal the show!
Saffron Walden RC based in Essex became the 2014 British Riding Clubs SEIB Quadrille Champions at Olympia, the London International Horse Show, on Sunday (21 December).
It is not the first time that Saffron Walden RC has lifted the coveted trophy, having enjoyed several previous successes in this unique Championship. The club has become well-known for producing an extremely accurate, innovative and exciting routine, which is packed full of energy. Their use of memorable music and a carefully choreographed floor plan in this year’s ‘The Seven Dwarfs’ themed routine delighted the audience, with many singing and whistling along as the ponies left the arena.
This year’s judges, Richard Baldwin, Alan Hiscox and Natasha Baker MBE, were incredibly impressed with the overall high standard and attention to detail shown by the riders. All four teams produced spectacular performances, with West Oxfordshire RC challenging the winners all the way with their exciting ‘Red Arrows Equine Display Team’.
“All four teams have really stepped up to the mark and prepared thoroughly for the challenge of Olympia this year,” said Alan Hiscox, BHS National Development Director.
“The teams must be congratulated on their overall standard and the quality of both their turnout presentations and the performances that we have seen today. The marks were so close between the top two teams, with less than two percent separating them.”
The Quadrille competition is judged in three sections. Marks are awarded firstly for Turnout (maximum 20 marks), Content and Performance (maximum 40 marks) and General Artistic Impression (maximum 40 marks).
Nicolina MacKenzie from South Essex Insurance Brokers was on hand once again, in front of a packed Olympia crowd, to present the prizes to Saffron Walden RC. The team was then given the nod for their lap of honour around the famous festively decked arena.
