The training begins ...

A quiet weekend training at home for Picnic and she is looking and feeling great at the moment, the extra time meant we could spend time on some gymnastic work which is invaluable to keep her supple. Socks also was put through her paces down the grid and seems to be getting stronger behind starting to really sit and push but gets tired very quickly so keeping sessions short so she stays keen!

Picnic feeling well and looking good

Earlier this week I visited the TTT in Surrey to watch Herwig Radnetter teach who is one of the most senior riders at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.  There was a good selection of horses and riders of all standards and Herwig makes the training sessions very informative and progressive.  I now have lots of inspiration to try out some of his methods on my clients so watch out!  My horses have already been subjected to being guinea pigs and I have to say Picnic was almost enjoying her flatwork and turning into a dressage shire showing off half pass and changes.  Including this work in my training sessions is really helping loosen her back and the canter is benefitting becoming much more powerful and connected - we will be out jumping Puissance classes at this rate!  (But we'll settle for consistent double clears).

Socks posing!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)

As promised here are some pictures from Socks' weekend away training at Stockland Lovell earlier in October.  She slept for two days afterwards - being a well behaved model 4 year old takes a lot apparently!


Thats the way to do it!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)