Scent laying for the Cambridge University Drag Hounds

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've has such a busy December and start to the New Year, plus I spent most of it ill with this chesty cough that has been doing the rounds!
Erik and I have enjoyed me being off work as he's been being ridden loads and loads and we've been doing different rides or our normal rides backwards to liven things up and he's loved it!

He got dressed up for Christmas when Georgie, Frankie and I went out for a lovely hack Christmas even and obviously, any excuse to dress up your horse!
We've also has some jumping schooling at home which he's enjoyed. We carried on from our last lesson  and have been doing some 'gymnastics' in the school at home, namely in the form of raised trotting poles, a square grid at the end which you can use to come at in all different directions, doing jumps with no ground line with flower pots underneath and stacking cavaletti's.. It's all been going on! When i've been doing these are home Erik has been a little fresh and unfocused with him wanting to stare through the fence to see what Beanie is up to but some trotting pole grids and lot's of circles and turning soon got his mind focused and paying attention. Jumping has been going well and I am pleased.

Georgie and I having a quieter December meant we were keen to get out and do something, so when I had the idea of being the scent layers/draggers for the Cambridge University Drag Hounds we were keen to ask and were excited to be accepted. Trumpington Hall is somewhere where Georgie and I have been going for a long time, since Pony Club even, and with it being so close to home it's always a fun one to go to.

We plaited up that morning and spruced up the horses the night before we were all ready to go, so with my whizzing off in my car to the meet to walk the lines Georgie and Mum very kindly bought the horses along a little later. As we've not had rain in a good few days the ground was absolutely perfect! A nice combination of give in the ground but not too heavy at all, absolutely spot on. 
We obviously left the meet about 10 minutes early to make sure we weren't caught up by the hounds, huntsman Duncan or the field! Lucky we did because we got started and jumped a few fences when Erik thought this was all very exciting and tried to zoom off with me and after a brief wobble in confidence and a bracing pep talk from Georgie we were off again and going. I hadn't quite got the new to keep jumping as it's then that Erik get's really excited and tended to want to just go off as fast as possible! 

Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

Luckily I had Georgie and Beanie with me to drag the first line while I got myself in control and faught off my demons. Beanie really is amazing he just jumped anything Georgie put him at, while dragging the scent! 

 Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

 Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

 Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

Thank you Kamikaze photography for the photo 

We however steadily dragged the scent for the entire first line and it was nice to let our horses stand and have a breather while we watched the hounds and field make their way towards us! 
It was a rather surreal experience being the other side of the field and seeing everyone coming towards you rather than being in the field itself with everyone! 

 Waiting for the field 

Caught up by the field at the end of line 1

After a brief breather Georgie and I set off for line 2, along the bank of the River Cam and along the cross country course! Over the years we've cantered along here on various horses so it was nice to add another to that count and Georgie had fun popping over fences and waving to onlookers in Granchester Meadows! Erik was behaving himself well here and I was able to take the scent line from Georgie while she jumped along! He was very good considering he had never dragged before and he's got a line of bailer twine with a very smelly rag on the end dragging along behind him! 

 Photo courteous of Timelight Equestrian Photography, used with permission on social media

 Thank you Steph for snapping this pic! 

We then made our way to the final part of line 2 which was in to the woods where the cross country course usually winds through! The last time I went through that woods was during a cross country trial when I was a child/teenager so that was a lovely blast from the past! 

We ended the line in the field we began in and again it was really fun to see everyone canter back in to the field with lot's of smiley faces. It looked like everyone had a lovely time and really enjoy themselves, as did the horses! 

With a lot of steam coming off the horses a breather was needed before line 3, which was lines 1 and 2 backwards and without hounds so a good half returned to do line 3 while the rest made their way back to the boxes to wash of their horses and have some refreshments. 

It was a good few miles and quick pace so they were well earned by horse and rider. Georgie and I decided for the later and to call the day the end there and finish on a good note. Both horses adrenalines were certainly still up while we untacked and we quickly dried them off and got them home to settle before having a thorough wash off and clean up! 

Back home Bean was dried off under the heat lamps and Erik snuggled up back in his bed, both of them with a big pile of hay and a hearty feed!

We had such a lovely day together Sunday and we wanted to say thank you to the Cambridge University Drag Hounds for having us and providing such a lovely day out. 

If you'd like to go out with them yourself, their meet card can be found on their Facebook along with corresponding events pages. 

PS we'd highly recommend Burghley! 

Snuggled up! 

Riding Helmets - Why Do We Value Style Over Safety?

Earlier this week I posted on my Facebook this very interesting article where a final year Industrial Design and Technology student at Loughborough Uni has designed a new polo helmet prototype with new and improved safety ideas. You can read more about what he's up to in the article or his blog. But it got me thinking about a variety of safety problems in equestrianism and thought i'd write my thoughts.

Photo by Robin Spicer

 From what I understand the HPA don't require polo helmets to abide by any British safety standards (Kite marks etc) but see it as the riders responsibility to wear a hat that they want and be responsible for their own head.

Also from what I understand (kindly explained by my friend Becx) that UKPA at Polocrosse tournaments check that your hat meets current safety standards and fits properly otherwise you're not allowed to compete. They sticker your hat with a sticker so that you don't have to have it checked each time, great idea!

I am under the impression that British Eventing and British Showjumping associations do 

similar (by all means correct me if i'm wrong as we don't compete under either) in that they check your hat meets current kitemarks and regulations and if you don't then you cannot compete.

I am absolutely all for these regulations. I've heard time and time again people say "but it's my head and I should decide" but have they really thought it through, who's going to look after them and take on that huge responsibility if they were to be paralyzed or suffer brain damage!?

Another thing that came to my attention of safety was back protectors. Recently I read this article from Horse & Hound  after the death of Canadian eventer Jordan McDonalds. The inquest into his deathfound he was not wearing a body protector that would not meet British Eventings standards. 

When this article was posted on the Horse & Hounds facebook I read some comments saying that some riders who are competing at CCI 1-3 levels have been personally adjusting and removing parts of the back protector to make it more stylish and comfortable!

Yup, you read that right, they're adjusting the back protector and in doing so are compromising its effectiveness in doing so. 

Showing is another realm that safety comes into play. Don't get me wrong, I love traditional dress in showing. To me top hats and beaglers looks absolutely awesome, but I would never ever wear one while riding a horse as the risk is just too great and unpredictable to risk my life for the sake of looking cool. 

Same with polo, I think i'd much rather wear a Charles Owen polo hat which is safety regulation compliant than risk a brain injury. Here Horse & Hound published an article in which a study found that nearly 50% of polo players valued look over their safety when buying a new helmet. Yes, we get it, you wanna look hot playing polo but you can still do that safely!

So how does change in values regarding safety happen? Myself and others while discussing it have said that in order to get these things changed it comes down to the manufacturers and the high profile people wearing them to make that transition and lobby for better standards.

Would it take top polo hat manufacturer Casablanca to make a hat that was safety regulation compliant and that reduced the severity of the impact injury? I'd say probably so. And if they did, it would no doubt take the high profile professional high goal players to wear them just to get the amateurs and low to medium goal players following suit. Again, I think it probably would.

Polito Pieres, polo's showman. Would it taking him or another higher goaler wearing a safer helmet to make you change?

Photo by Images of Polo 

But why is that? Well I think it comes down to everyone looking up to and having someone they aspire to be like. At any age we all have someone we'd like to ride like, whether that be a high goaler, an eventer, a dressage rider, or even a top show rider and what they wear does shape (whether consciously or unconsciously) what we want to buy and use. Why do you think manufacturers have sponsored riders and ambassadors? For just that reason..

It took Charlotte Dujardin in dressage to stop wearing a top hat for other professionals and amateurs stop wearing them to. I read that Mary King said she stopped wearing a top hat when performing the dressage stage at three day eventing because she was following in Charlottes example. If both those high profile rider choose to compete at the very highest level of dressage and eventing and not wear the traditional hat then amateurs thought why can't I? and opted for a safe reg hat with a harness.

With all that said, with showing still being so traditional in it's dress, as little has changed in the turn out of a horse and rider for the ring, it's very hard to go against the masses. 

Riders are reluctant to go against that traditional turn out in fear of being penalised and miss out on winning their class. I've known people purposely use a double bridle or pelham on their show horse, knowing their horse goes better in a snaffle for fear that the judge would mark them down for it. So they're compromising on way of going all to suit that tradition. That is how stuck these things can be and that's just one example.

Photo by Nico Morgan

Riders in ladies side saddle hunter are still wearing top hats to compete because they want to keep to that very traditional style of turn out of top hat, veil, habit and tails. Yes, a smaller amount of people are hunting and showing in proper hats as they don't want to compromise on their safety, but should the professional producers stop wearing them, and will that help the masses be persuaded to look after their safety more?

I hope so, but sadly I do not have these answers.

All that associations and governing bodies can do is to put rules into place and enforce them, we cannot physically make someone wear a safety reg hat. But by putting rules into place and making sure people abide by them is one way in making sure that events are as safe as they can be.

I applaud these high profile riders for going against these traditions and choosing to be vocal in their change, as that is how change happens. By someone feeling passionate about that cause and helping to change people's mindsets to ensure better safety.

Photo by Dressage News

I hope I haven't offended anyone reading this post. All the views expressed are mine and if you disagree with them that is fine

Look after your body, bones break and some heal and fix themselves but some things cannot be fixed like a spinal cord or brain stem so I urge you to always wear a proper hat and if jumping, then a back protector too

Sophie x

Life Outside The Show Ring - Reasons To Vary Your Show Horses Work and Exercise

Saturday last week I was preparing to babysit Francesca and I thought, while I was stocking up on supplies for the night, that i'd purchase the showing special of Horse & Hound  to read up on judges opinions and guest editors notes and to learn things that I didn't already know; and I'm glad i did!
There was something that got me thinking that I wanted to write a post about so here it is -

Jenny Banks who is a Sports Horse Breeding (GB) ridden hunter panel judge mentioned the importance of a show horse also having experiences outside the show ring and that so many horses when showing demonstrate clear signs of only ever being ridden in a school and that they haven't got a lot of experience outside of that setting. She goes on to say how important learning new experiences are for horses -

B flying over a fence at Burghley Park CUDH Meet. Photo by Sam Pawley Photography 

We often get surprised remarks from people who we're meeting for the first time, that we're "taking a show horse hunting?! Aren't you worried about injury?!" and such like. Well the honest answer to that is yes, we do worry about injury, but we also make every possible precaution to protect Beanie against an injury he could do to himself or that could happen by others, even things outside of our control like a rock or stone etc. As you can see he is booted with brushing boots and over reach boots.

We drag hunt, as those who have read this blog before will know. We do so to help Beanie gain confidence in his jumping ability and teach him that jumping isn't just cross country or show jumping in a school. 
It's helped him gain confidence over ditches, which after a really bad training experience which I won't go into, really shook his confidence. And that jumping cross country fences and hedges aren't just at speed but need to be done so in control and that it's not just 'do a course of fences, finish and go home for the day'. He now understands that he can go more slowly into a fence and not get so excited that he bucks afterwards. Hunting involves stopping for a breather and to let the hounds find the scent and that he has to wait while they do that. He is now much more chilled out at events which is a real plus (especially for me who has to handle him, as well as tack up, groom etc)
It's also taught him to relax and not get overly excited by loud noises and things that could make him jump. Not to mention hounds around his legs.

 

Saying that, all to Beanie's credit he is actually a pretty laid back chap. We happen to live right near Duxford Air Museum which regularly see's airplanes flying over our house, quite a lot lower than we'd like, but due to this Beanie has really coped with learning that planes might be loud and scary, but they're not going to hurt him, so he doesn't gallop around when they do fly over and ends up hurting himself.
This really helped when the TARRA classes over ran at Great Gransden Show in 2013 and a kamikaze plane display happened directly over the car park and ring while judging was occurring.  See photo for evidence 

Photo by Frances Kay Photography

As you can see His Gingerness couldn't give two hoots. We went on to win that class, then the Championship to be Great Gransden TARRA Champion 2013. Beanie had only been showing a few months at this point and it just confirmed for us what a good lad he really is.

Something else mentioned in the article was hacking - Unfortunately at home we don't have our own school. Rather than keeping B at a livery yard, he's kept at my parents home which has 2 stables and a couple of grazing fields. The nearest mènege is at a riding school the other end of the village, that Georgie hacks to. This means that he hasn't gotten used to just going round and round an arena. He's flexible and supple in both reins due to this, which is another plus.

Talking of hacking, we do a lot of it! To get to the off the road riding we have to hack through a busy large village high street where we regularly encounter buses, vans, lorries and cars. Some better at passing than others! (But we've all experienced this i'm sure!) Due to these circumstances he is a very unspooky horse who isn't phased by air brakes, scary road works or a rattly trailer or car coming past.

Another benefit with the road work, Beanie has nice strong legs and tendons which really helps too (but not so much he's gotten splints mind you!)

But with all this exposure to lots of new loud and scary sounds and sights he's become desensitised to them. Which really helps when you're in a large county show ring and there's banners, flapping flags, loads hustle and bustle of spectators etc.

Luckily we did a lot of showing in your childhood so we're very aware of what you should and shouldn't do, so we haven't had to learn all that many new things. 

Last season when we went to Burghley. It was a situation Beanie had never been in, as there were over the tannoy commentary the whole time, people ushering competitors to different parts of the park to get to the ring, and obviously a lot of spectators. He didn't mind one bit and for all that Beanie has learnt in his short time I am incredibly proud of him, and of Georgie for all that she has taught him!

So with all of that said i'd really encourage others who want to show to a high level to take their horses out to experience different surroundings and sights. It helps adjust them to a life after racing (in the case of retraining racehorses) or just get a horse more safe by exposure to different and sometimes frightening situations. Plus it's a better quality of life for your horse to do varied activities. It keeps their mind fresh and active and helps to avoid monotony which can lead to naughty behaviour from boredom.

If we reach our goal of competing at Horse of The Year Show we're going to have to get Beanie used to lot's of clapping and an electric atmosphere of indoor arena. Not if, not when that occurs, we'll be ready to face it!

I am really looking forward to this season and going to events we've not competed at before, namely Hickstead! Very exciting, but also to help Georgie continue with B's education and seeing where all the hard work we do will take us.

They both work extremely hard and for that they deserve it!

Good luck everyone with the year and season ahead!

Sophie x

Cambridge University Drag Hounds - Burghley Meet, March 8th 2015

After a busy weekend of leading Francesca out on a ride Saturday morning, then going out with Jo on the Polo ponies in the afternoon, and then a wedding in the evening I was pretty blurry eyed yesterday morning getting ready for Burghley.

I tried tirelessly for over a month to get a hireling for this meet but sadly everyone had booked them out for the Saturday and completely understandable that they couldn't do two days on the trot (pun sort of intended). So alas I didn't ride, but the upside to this is I got loads of photos and footage!

Here is the video edit I made of the footage I made on the ground, and here are the photos, hope you like them!!

Plus coming soon - Headcam footage from Georgie