Lyndsey - Petplan Equine Ambassador

My last blog finished with qualifying for the Petplan Equine Area Festivals Finals, and you may recall the problems we had with tension in the warm up; well it was very clear to me, if we were going to have half a chance of pulling off a solid performance at the Finals then a) We seriously needed to up our game! b) We need to crack the warm up tension. We always knew the standard in the Finals was going to be high, so we needed to work harder.

Festival of Dressage at Hartpury

Just when I needed some inspiration, I groomed for Tahley Reeve Smith at the ‘Festival of Dressage’ at Hartpury. It holds a range of classes from Young Horse to International! I spent the weekend watching world class riding. Looking at our country’s best, seeing how they never look panicked, sitting so elegantly, the riders hardly moving as the horses dance underneath them. This is the vision that every rider aspires to .It got me thinking about my own test riding; I need Max in front of my leg, I need to ride with confidence and I need to make it look effortless (even when it's actually hard work). We were treated to an evening demonstration by Charlie and Abi Hutton followed by a guest appearance by Valegro! Charlotte and Valegro dancing for the crowd was truly magical to watch. I went home totally inspired and looking forward to competing Max a week later.

Harolds Park Farm

I decided to take Max to Harolds Park Farm to compete in two novice tests. I had already qualified for the British Dressage Native Breed Championships at elementary, but I thought if we are making the three hour trip to Vale View, we may as well make the most of it. To qualify you need three scores over 60%. Well it turns out dressage isn't as easy as Charlotte and Valegro make it look! The weather was horrible; sideways rain and super windy. I am not going to lie, I thought about withdrawing! Who wants to dance is heavy rain? But I decided to plug on, after all what if the Area Festival Finals are in heavy rain? They weren’t our best tests but we got what we came for; two sheets towards the Native Championships.

Preparing for the Finals

Like I said, I knew we were going to have to up our efforts. We needed to put some mileage in and the best way to get Max relaxed away from home is to keep working him away from home. So I looked for a local show to attend and found one on at Oaklands. I had originally purchased Max for showing but due to health issues which resulted in him needing to be kept a little leaner, I decided to retire him from showing years ago. But as this was about mileage not rosettes, I decided to give it a go. We were rusty and my tweed jacket was tight but we had a fabulous time. Max really enjoyed being back in the ring and working on grass, showing off to the spectators. We finished second in our class ‘style and performance’.

Having fun in the showing classes at Oaklands

I was asked by Keysoe if I would write for the judge at their Petplan Equine Area Festival. I jumped at the chance to sit in with the judge, listen to what they are looking for and learn what I can apply to my own riding; I would have been mad not too! I watch 35 combinations ride novice 23 and honestly the standard was amazing. I learnt loads on straightness, rhythm, stretching forward and down, quickened rather than lengthened, size and shape of circle. So with that in mind, I started working on these elements in my own schooling. I then headed back to Oaklands for another novice test and a novice freestyle. My aim was to finish qualifying for the Native Championships and finish our regional qualification for the novice freestyle. Max was full of confidence and on fire. He gave me two amazing rides and we won both classes with 72%. So both qualifications complete; yippee!

I decided to book some extra lessons alongside our normal training as I want different eyes to help us prepare for the Finals. First up was a lesson with Charlie Hutton. I loved my lesson with Charlie as he is firm but fair. He was complimentary about Max and I but also gave us a much needed kick up the bottom. I'm looking forward to our next session with Charlie in October as he gave us lots of homework and we have been working hard, so hopefully he can see the difference. I also have a session with listed judge Kim Ratcliffe, who helped me work on stretching Max before picking him up as well as focusing on movements required in the elementary 53 test. I left her feeling confident that our training is going in the right direction.

Lyndsey and Max preparing for their Area Festival Finals

Keysoe contacted me again to ask if I would write for the judge at the Pony Club Grassroots Championships. They needed help on the Saturday and Sunday, so I asked Vanessa at Keysoe if I could bring Max along and stable him there for the weekend and ride in the arena after the show had finished each day. It was an awesome weekend; I love grassroot riders, nobody starts as an expert, and the standard of some of the riders was amazing! I rode Max in the evening and he was ‘the pony with the mane of fire’ honestly he was super-hot. Once I could channel his fire breathing Welsh dragon mode he felt great; in fact one mother offered me an open cheque for him, I was obviously flattered but sorry Max is not for sale. The weekend before the Finals we headed back again to Oaklands for white board arena hire and the final run through of elementary 53 plus we ran through our new elementary music as we had entered this class at the Native Breed Championships so we needed to familiarise ourselves with the test.

In between lessons, shows, training and arena hire, we spent lots of time out hacking, jumping and doing pole work. It's important to mix things up so although I want to practice, practice, practice, it's hard work mentally and physically for the horses. So it is important to maintain a varied work schedule. This helps keep their brain fresh and their attitude willing. Max also receives regular bodywork sessions; he loves having a massage. It also helps keep his muscle soft, it helps with blood circulation, and helps eliminate tight muscles and sore spots. We had done as much preparation as possible leading into the Finals. I knew the competition would be a tough one but whatever was going to happen, there is no other horse I would rather be entering the arena with. So, with that in mind we were just going to go and try our best!

Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals and beyond

Our time was 4:31pm which was a great time. It meant I could turn Max out with his friends in the morning and then get him in, washed and plaited before hitting the road at 1:30pm. The morning ran like clockwork, we were on the road on time and arrived at Codham Park at 3:00pm which allowed plenty of time to offer Max a drink and a light snack. I always travel Max with haylage but I like to offer Max a handful of wet pony nuts with a few carrots as he can be fussy drinking at shows which help keep him hydrated.

He was as calm as a cucumber to tack up; to be honest after the mileage we have put in leading up to the Area Festival Finals I didn't expect to have a problem. I rode him over to the warm up and he still felt calm and relaxed. The tack check went fine and then we had 40 minutes to warm up as that is normally how long we need. I like to walk him around in the warm up for 10 -15 minutes as with Max having him relaxed is the key. Once he gets tense, it's hard to settle him down. He is a typical Welsh dragon! If you stroke the dragon the right way, then he will happily play along. If you upset the dragon; forget it! That is the reason I fell in love with Welsh ponies. They are tricky but there is never a dull moment having a Welsh pony as your dancing partner!

In the warm up we then progress to trot and then to canter and by this time, the warm up was getting really busy. Max felt fine but it was tricky trying to negotiate the other riders in the warm up. Ten minutes before our time, a girl on a big horse lost control for a few strides which resulted in Max and I forced into the fence. It was an accident but unfortunately Max’s confidence took a dive and from then on every horse that came past he had his ears back and rushed past them. I knew we were in trouble, I knew he was upset but I prayed he would relax once in the arena away from the warm up hustle and bustle. Sadly this wasn't the case and midway through the test I thought about putting my hand up and retiring. But then I thought no stick with it, and treat it as training. I was heartbroken. Now I knew we were never going to be front runners but I just wanted us to do our best, we had given it everything we had leading up to the Finals. I was happy knowing that the top places were out of reach for us but I hoped we would go out fighting and I was disappointed that wasn't the case.

After the Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals

Obviously I was gutted but Max and I are a team and I never blamed Max as it wasn't his fault it was just an unfortunate accident. I lay awake most of that night thinking to myself, ‘how do we move forward and how are we going to cope at the British Dressage Native Breed Championships that we are due to leave for it three days?’ I needed to restore Max’s confidence. Sadly things went from bad to worse and I came down with a stomach bug. My mind kept thinking about the native championships creeping up on us. All I could think was that we had spent the year qualifying and now I'm fighting to even get on board.

A couple of days later we were heading to the Championships but I hadn’t been able to ride since the Area Festival Finals. Sometimes you just have to put everything to the side and focus on what's important. First things first, I needed to rebuild Max’s confidence, so that was my focus.

British Dressage Native Breed Championships

We were entered in four classes over the five day show at Vale View. The venue is about three hours from home so we needed to stay over as commuting each day wasn't an option. Stabling at the venue has its advantages but also its disadvantages. I have a friend who stables at a livery yard near Vale View so I contacted the yard about a month beforehand and booked Max a stable there which was great as I was able to use their facilities.

Max ready for his journey to the British Dressage Native Breed Championships

Day one

We left home about 8:30am and headed straight to Vale View as our time for the elementary freestyle was early afternoon. The elementary music is a new class for us as we haven't had our music long and have only ran through it as a practice once. So I didn't really know what to expect. I allowed Max and I an hour in the warm up, which is longer then I would normally do but I knew we had some work to do before going down the centre line. I walked Max for 20 minutes before asking for trot. The warm up at Vale View is huge so plenty of space for everyone. I could feel Max was nervous but I kept to the plan. Max needed me to step up and be strong and not ride like a cardboard cut-out!

The arena was beautifully dressed with flowers and drapes so it definitely had the Championship feel. I could sense Max backing off so I patted him and then wrapped my legs around him and trotted down the centre line. The test went ok, just a few little mistakes such as our leg yield left could have been better but we made it round without any major problems. I cried the final centre line as I was overcome with emotion. I was proud of my little pony; he was nervous but he trusted me to guide him round. Yes we could have pushed for more but building his confidence was more important. We finished in 5th place.

Day two

We were due on in the elementary at 12:31pm so I picked up Max in the morning to travel five miles up the road to the show. I entered the warm up an hour before our time to give Max time to build on our confidence from the day before. The steward told me on arrival that the times had been changed and my new time was 11:35am! We were due into the arena in five minutes. My first reaction was tears and my second reaction was there is no way we are going down the centreline in five minutes. I won't risk injury due to a lack of warm up and I won't risk Max’s confidence boost from the day before. I was ready to withdraw but luckily the steward was able to offer us a slot at 12:50pm so I agreed to give it a go. Sadly by the time we were due in Max was tired as he was fabulous in the warm up but he did give me everything he had left and we managed a clear round but it lack sparkle. I was pleased with Max and our test under the circumstances and we finished just outside the top ten.

Day three

It was fair to say neither Max nor I were thrilled at the sight of white board but we needed to dig deep and find our mojo as we were due in the novice at 11:28am. I knew Max would be mentally tired so I had planned for 40 minutes in the warm up arena. We entered the test arena both struggling to focus a little and then we had a pilot error. I managed to ride a circle at the wrong letter which was a costly mistake! My brain just got confused having learn and ridden four Championship tests in less than a week. We held on to a respectable 8th place right until then end where we were pushed down to 11th. It was frustrating that without error deduction we would have finished in 8th place. But at this level you can't afford mistakes.

Day four

It was our day off so I thought Max would prefer to be turned out so I let him loose in the round pen and he rolled, bucked, leaped and pranced around. He really enjoyed himself. He also had a hand graze so it was lovely to give him much needed time to be a horse! The day finished with a wash and plaiting.

Max and Lyndsey were crowned the British Dressage Novice Freestyle Native Breed Champion

Day five

It was the last day of the Championships and my aim was ‘let's dance’. Max warmed up the best he has ever warmed up as we rode lots of transitions. Max was really listening, he felt like we were at home just me and him. He was totally focused on me. I touched him and he responded. This is the feeling we had worked so hard for. That magical moment when you are totally at one with your horse. Our time came to enter the centre line for our novice freestyle. We danced to our music and I left the arena pleased with my pony as finally we managed to bring the quality of work I know we are capable of to the arena! The results were in and Max and I became champions with 71%. I was shocked! We had to dig deep that last week, we had to fight, we had to work together and we had a lot to overcome. But we did it; we actually did it! What an emotional week; we learned so much. As my nan would say ‘a calm sea never makes a sailor’. I have been totally overwhelmed with people's messages and well wishes and friends and supporters checking in everyday over the Championships to offer words of support. It honestly meant so much to me. When I became an Ambassador my aim was to share my view that ‘hard work pays off and don't be afraid to chase your dreams’. Hopefully I’ve helped inspire others to do just that.