March/April 2013

                     


Claire Cowley and her chestnut welsh Max are getting a super partnership together now, this month winning Intro A at East Soley with 72% and and an 8 for the free walk.


Happy Happy Happy! Eilean Appleton and Shakira won their first Affiliated Novice Restricted at Merrist today WITH 70% WOOPETY WOOP WOOP WOOP. Yes that says 70%!!!

 

January/February 2013

In January clever Delboy went to his first show since his tooth root op last November and won both classes at East Soley!
70.38% in Novice 35 and 65.71% in Elementary 57. My fault that % is low for Del. I had been practising some sitting trot and had 'reduced' the trot so as to allow for my core to cope! I then hadn't ridden as big and forward as i normally would in the ring, so a comment of 'needs more ground cover' from judge Lindsay Jenkins, although a comment never normally applied to Mr Del, but quite right on this occasion.

It started snowing whilst at a show the next day with Alfie. Very apt as we were at Snowball Farm! Alf was determined not to be outdone by his brother so he won both his classes too! Four red rossers in two days!68.4% in Elementary 44 and Alfs first 70% in Elementary 49! Would have been more if i hadnt forgotten the 20m circle canter stretch at the end. To be honest I was just so grateful by that point that he hadn't fallen over with the amount of snow that had balled up in his feet that i was just looking forward to getting to the final halt safely.

AT LAST! Alf got his photo in Horse and Hound!

I also took my client Sara Malpass with me to ride Logan at his first Affiliated Dressage. He went HC so as to not yet gain any points but Sara would have won both of the Novices. What a day!
It looks beautiful in the picture and on the videos but oh boy were we cold!



I am so proud of Gillian Hammond and her event horse Cuddles for coming 2nd in their Prelim at Wellington.

Gill has been working so hard over the winter on her dressage and jumping to prepare herself for the rapidly approaching BE season.

This rosette in a dressage competition is just what she needed to give her the boost that all her hard work is paying off.

I love this picture because Gills position is good with her weight down into her inside leg and it shows how she is training Cuddles to be able to work in an uphill frame,but with his back up as well as his poll up.
Look at that amazingly white tail! How does she do that?!

Karen Grafton Brown and the lovely Friesian Spartacus have made wonderful improvements in their work and the dressage rosettes are about to really start flowing!

Lauren Holloway and Chance are improving their scores every time they go out and we are having great fun at home playing with some baby piaffe steps and half pass. 

In February the boys did it again! Four red rossers in two days!

Alfie went to East Soley and won Novice 38 with 72.9% and won Elementary 53 with 70.88%. Yes! Alfies second 70% at Elementary!

Del went to Snowball and won Elementary 45 with 67.24% (not bad as only had 5 minutes to warm up as I couldn't get him tacked him up because there was a loose horse galloping around the lorry park in the snow!) and won Elementary 59 with 70.63% (that's more like my Delboy, back in the 70%'s where he belongs!)

Another write up for Alf in Horse & Hound!

Del can NOT believe it. He says he has won his last four classes too, why does his brother get all the luck. Don't worry my big boy. Your time will come again.



November/December 2012

Oo what a busy time its been. Firstly with an amazing holiday and then moving the boys to a yard where they can go out in the field all day and where its safe for me to take them out hacking on the byways by myself when we need a bit of escapism! This has made so much difference to Alf and his strength of body, but also more calmness of mind is clear. Calm power is a must for a dressage horse. Mr Del is such a good boy, he just gets on with his job no matter what his field arrangements.

 

Both boys are going really well at the mo and we had a fantastic two day course with my trainer Ali Cookson at the TTT. With Alf we were working on suppleness behind the saddle leading to a straighter horse and with Del we were working on my (not so adhesive!) seat! Then a fabulous two days with Stephen Clarke. Alf was the best he has ever been and started to show super talent for collection in the canter. Del was brilliant as always and impressed Stephen with his medium trots and canters and his lateral work.

 

 

September/October 2012

Well done to Hannah Bown and Fin for winning the Prelim Area Festival at Patchetts. This qualifies her to take part at the Area Festival Final which is held at the National Winter Championships at Hartpury next year.

Clever Georgia Sayles has been working hard on her position and influence of her legs and seat and her reward is a lovely round engaged pony!

 

Sarah Harington is starting to really enjoy competing her Andalusian Red at Affiliated British Dressage . They had a fab day at Pachesham dressage today. 65% and 4th out of a strong field of 15.

 

Alf went to Patchetts for the first time and was second in Novice 35 with 71.92%

Delboy went the next day and won Novice 38 with 70.77% and Elementary 45 with 66.90%

Alf went to Pachesham for the first time and was third in both Novices with 69.61% and 68.62%

We also went back to one of our favourite venues East Soley and Alf was second in Novice 38 with 69.03% and he won Elementary 53 with his best % at this level so far 69.71% 

 

 

July/August 2012

Alf went to East Soley and certainly snorted lots! He won both the Novices but not with his normal high % due to a little spooky today as this was his first time at this venue and something had gone wrong at the yard and he hadn't been given his Calm Cool and Collected brain food for a couple of weeks.

Very pleased with himself two weeks later to win his first Elementary with 69.2% and second in Elementary 50!

Delboy went to the Addington pre Regional Championships warm up and broke his own record by winning Novice 39 with 76.55%! What a horse.

He was such a cool dude a week later at the Addington Central Regional Championships. Faultless from start to finish, but perhaps not quite as relaxed and through the body as last week, due to the excitement of  his first regionals atmosphere. The three judges combined scores gave 68.26%. So so proud of him as he really gave me everything he has. 16th out of 40. I was hoping for top ten so must admit was a bit disappointed as it was a mistake free test but i will take the comments on board from the one judge who marked us lower. The standard was quite mind blowing with horses of international calibre in the top 20, so have to be pleased that my Delboy was amongst that bag!

May / June 2012

Tracey Lawson riding 'A New Day' (Delboy!)

I took Delboy to his first competition at East Soley and Team Catherston were also competing there. What a lovely huge union jack all over the lorry! I watched one of their beautifully suspended elastic horses float round its mistake free test.......The wonderful Jennie Lorriston Clarke helping them warm up and read for them. And then somehow Mr Del wins both classes and beats them?! What?! How the bloody hell did we do that? I am in shock! But very very grateful to Mr Del for being so amazing today. Love you Big Boy! Bless his little/huge cotton clod hoppers. What a clever boy winning another two tests outright with 69.62% and 70%. He has earnt his keep this week!

Happy Happy! Alf  went to Fairoak Grange and got his first affiliated 9! I have always thought his free walk should get a 9. Thank you Judge Angela Cardiff. Alf then went on to win Novice 27 with 73.21%...... Yes! James has brought home Cava!

Two ladies who have really impressed me with their dressage improvements are Jenny Richards and Teri Gray (also know as Team Awesome!) Always an absolute pleasure to teach, they work their butts off doing their homework, and they love their horses to bits. What more could a trainer ask for?
Sandra Clark Bernstein has also really upped her game! Now getting 8's for her centre lines and 7's for the free walks! I would say that means Seamus was straight between both legs and 'through'! Sorry Seamus, your not retiring yet, we've only just started!!!

Anni Denton and Mercury floated around the arena to win N24 with 70% and E43 with 68% at Elstead Riding Club! Cathy Howard showed her versatility as a rider by taking Helen Scourfields Dusty to their first competition at Rycroft Dressage and came 2nd in the Prelim. Samantha Amor and Archie also attended Rycroft and won the Novice 22 with over 68%!

I had the most super ride on Delboy at the Stephen Clarke clinic at the TTT today. This amazing horse seems to know when its an important day for me, and he pulls out all the stops to be the best he can. Full of power, energy and enthusiasm as always, but a new softness, swing and elasticity is now coming through into his movement. Alf went on the second day and had his first outing in a double bridle. He goes beautifully in a snaffle but he offers just a little more lift in the shoulder in the double and i would like to establish this feeling for both of us in the double, then check we can copy it in the snaffle. He behaved and danced just beautifully and gave me everything i could ask for. What a star.

Gillian Hammond has made a major breakthrough in her dressage riding and can now connect Cuddles hind legs from behind through the back to the bit! Without having to put her hands down! Because she is riding from back to front! Yippee! This is not easy on Cuddles as he has a very high head carriage so its very tempting to want to just put his head down, instead of getting his hind legs under and his back up. Beverly Wright has gone through this exact same journey with her horse Felix. Once Bev and Gill have found the hind legs and the back, the neck becomes their present and they can have it up with poll as the highest point, or stretch it down easily (because the horse is no longer needing to use the neck to balance itself having found its hind legs to balance on and back to carry the rider) Easy!


Clever Delboy did his first two affiliated elementary classes at East Soley and won them both with 71.79% and 75%! 9's for his medium canter, canter 3 loop serpentine, canter down centre line into medium trot, and medium trot to halt immobility salute! LOVE HIM!
He also went to Fairoak and won Novice 38 with 71.94% and second in Novice 28 with 70%!




Mr Alf went for his first outing to Hunters Equestrian in Gloucester and won affiliated Novice 22 outright with 71.72% and was second in the Novice 38 Open with 71.93%. Behaved like a pro. Ah, my liitle boy is growing up. Both have now qualified for the BD Summer Novice Open Regionals.

March/April 2012

Georgia Sayles had a lot to smile about after helping the W&BRC Junior team qualify for the RC Dressage Champs at Hartpury. What a lovely start to her dressage career.
Yay, it wasn't a fluke last time! Alf went out to his second affiliated comp and he won both his novices with 71.92% and 72.31%!
I had a super week training both of my boys with Charles De Kunffy at TTT. Delboy got very very very excited about being asked to do the lecture demo Sunday night but thanks to Charles' brilliant training at getting horses through the back, i managed to do most of it in sitting trot, hooray! That is no easy feat on Delboy. Boing Boing Boing!

Not one but two sponsors this month! The wonderful Wayne Jones Photography take the best photos you will ever get. Seriously!

WJ Photography sponsoring Tracey Lawson Dressage

www.waynejonesphotography.com

Thank you so much to Equifeast for including me in the Sponsored Elite Rider Squad. Alf and Del are doing so well thanks to Calm Cool and Collected (brain food) and Winning Edge Gold (everything a sports horse needs nutrition)! Here's a pic of me teaching in my lovely Equifeast jacket!

Well done Annie Denton and Mercury at the BRC Winter Championships, a rather yummy 69.2% in the Novice! Clare Wilson and Loki earnt themselves 72.5% with some 9's at WEC in the Open Prelim! Sue Jones and George had a ball at the Petplan Novice Open Finals. After round 1, Sue and George, 5th best score in a class of 60,  with 69.19%! Very Proud Trainer.

Eilean Appleton made a good start to the BE season by winning the dressage on 23, with a 9 for the trot canter trans. Shes been working on those over the winter so a very well deserved reward!

Delboy is on his way back! He won Novice 22 with 73.10% (thank you judge Scilla Lown!) and Novice 38 with 72.58% (thank you judge Jenny Gillett!) Happy Happy!