F and I Coaching and Discussion Day

On Wednesday 3rd July 2013 10am – 4pm at Shorthampton Farm, Chipping Norton, OX7 3HW, 9 delegates enjoyed a fabulous day coaching, discussing and sharing schooling exercises, guided by Jeremy Michaels FBHS.  The day was hosted by Mandy Holloway who provided us with a great venue for the day, fantastic horses and riders and a most excellent lunch.

The well planned, friendly format of the day enabled all of the delegates to participate and share ideas.  It is, i am sure you will agree, good to be able to bounce ideas around and discuss different ways of getting to the end goal.

One of the key messages of the day was that horses must, in all circumstances, be in front of the leg, and also that we should keep it simple.  The ‘guinea pig’ horses ranged from 6 yrs to 19 yrs and the riders also spanned the generations!,   so presented a variety of challenges for the coaches present.  Jeremy coached through an array of useful exercises, both on the flat and over fences, to overcome the issues presented.  Delegates were encouraged to add their own ideas to address the issues that arose.

A couple of statements summed up succinctly some of the problems we face on a day to day basis:

“What’s in the brain goes down the rein”

“One aid one answer”

I am sure everyone who attended will have gone home with some great new ideas and feel supported and revitalised.

Report by: Liz Madeley BHSAI, SM, Int.T (reg’d) ukcc level 3.