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!

 

January/February 2012

Well the New Year started with a bang when poor Delboy went into 'orsepital with a tooth root infection. I think he may have hoofed himself in his bottom jaw with all that front leg action. The infection is now gone and we are hoping it does not come back, because if it does, big tooth removal operation. Fingers crossed that is not needed.

On a brighter note, Alf went to his first affiliated Novices winning them both with 74.23% and 73.75%!

Tracey Lawson riding Alfero

Happy happy! He felt and behaved AMAZINGLY and since then we have really seen our confidence in each other go up a notch and we are really starting to engage and believe in each other. It has been such a long haul waiting for his splints to settle down. He is only 6 years old and immature mentally and physically, but oh boy is this horse about to start catching up. No rush, Still lots of hacking for his brain and body, walking up hills for his bum, only schooling 3 times a week......but I'm starting to believe that PSG is not a dream for him, but a definite destination. We are now both really really enjoying the journey.


Sara Malpass is about to start her climb up the BD ladder with some exciting new projects. In the meantime I was very happy for her when Quaker won his unaffiliated prelim class by over 3% with 74.5%, and Basil getting 68%. Super achievement for a lass who was hopping about on a set of crutches last month! Now that's dedication. Basil then went on to win his first affiliated prelim!

Denise Holland and Strider have really improved these last couple of months. Strider is a very tall horse, there's a lot to put together and Denise was struggling to find self carriage in the canter. So we decided to sophisticate the trot work and get that more truly engaged with Strider doing more and Denise doing less. That has now helped with the canter and the self carriage is well on its way. Strider needs to sink down into more articulated hind legs, so that he can push himself more into the air. He needs first to find the suppleness to do this and then to slowly build the strength to maintain it. The 'by product' is that a new medium trot has appeared. Can't complain at that! Now I need to get them to believe they are ready to go show this to a dressage judge. Although to be honest as long as they are both enjoying their time together then i'm happy! That's the most important thing in this art we call classical dressage - Loving the art because its just amazing, not just because we win competitions........

..........However.......Sue Jones and George did their first BD Elementary and came home with a big fat red rosette! Just what she needed to keep her confidence up for the Open Novice Petplan Finals at the BD Winter Championships at Hartbury in April. It may seem like I have just completely contradicted myself but I love both sides of my job. Teaching people how to love riding their horse more and if its what they want, teaching them how this can also lead to higher percentages and better competition results. Just never at the horses expense.

"To be an equestrian in the classical sense is
not just to be a rider. It is a position in life"
Charles de Kunffy

I could not agree with this more.

 

November / December 2011



http://www.waynejonesphotographic.com/



Even my very best riders need
centre line assistance!



Clare Turner and I had a fantastic time doing the Spring, Summer and Autumn series of our Combined Training Clinics at Shepperlands in Finchampstead. A super variety of horses and riders kept all 6 of the clinics full. We had baby horses coming for the experience, ex race horses in retraining, horses and riders who are mainly dressage but like to jump for fun, unaffiliated eventers and BE competitors from Intro to International Novice. In the New Year we will plan the dates for 2012. The progress everyone made was such a pleasure to see.

Fabulous photos were taking by Wayne Jones Photography. Waynes team captures every horse and rider at their best, making you and your horse look amazing.There is a 'vibe' that comes out of his photos, they are not just visually good, you can 'feel' the photo. Wayne captures the atmosphere of the surrounding, our emotions are oozing out of the photo. I have never seen anyone else be able to do this. Magical.

Delboy has been out of work from June to October after hurting himself bucking in a trailer (celebraring his two fantastic percentages!) However all is good again now and we went to Snowball for our first outing in ages. Del was very very very excited and the quality of the tests were not in my opinion very good,  but somehow he brought home 2 red rossettes! You cant blame him having not been out for 6 months. Will get him out and about doing some horse box practice, hacking and schooling in clients arenas and he will be ready to relax and breathe in the competition ring by January!

Alfs second splint is still active but the original one has shrunk down to practically nothing! Hooray! He is a late developer for sure and his bones are still soft and growing. However he is an incredibly intelligent active little pocket rocket so its very difficult to keep him in 'light' work!

Red Alf and Del will all be out competing once a month in 2012. Bring it on!

Look how much 'rounder' Crunch is in this photo as he bascules with Ellie cleanly over the fence.This is exactly how I would describe the improvement in their flatwork. Rounder, more through the back, more self carriag....... =  bigger jumps and more clear rounds!


HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

September / October 2011

 

Emily and Inka

September started with a bang when Beverley Wright got 80% in an unaffiliated prelim, Felix thinks he is Moorlands Totillas. Cathy Howard close behind with 76%, 5th in the end of season overall points championship AND the award for most improved rider of the season. Emily Howard and Inka won the trophy for most points at WEC this season.

Susan Jones and Mission In Motion (George to the rest of us) were Reserve Champions in the Novice Open Championship at the Wellington Area Festival. Cannot tell you how proud I am. Sue came out of the warm up test, took everything on board that Aunty said about how to improve it for the Area Championship test, then went and rode for her life. If George was a tube of toothpaste, then Sue squeezed every bit of toothpaste out there was on offer. Brilliant riding. Now qualified for the BD Winter Nationals 2012 at Hartbury!

  



Hannah and Finny

Hannah Bown and Finny won his first dressage competition since Feb and then went on to come 2nd and 1st with 68% & 73%, at their second comp, despite Finny thinking things around the arena were going to eat him in the first test!

Well done Holly Kemp at The BE South of England International, third in the BE Open Novice, finishing on her dressage score!

I rode the lovely Andalusion Relajado in two Affiliated Novices and the clever boy won them both! Thankyou Red for winning back your entry fee!

Alf got 73.2% at his first show since May 2010! Just a Prelim this time, Novice next week. But lets say he definitely needs to go back to Checkendon to school past those jumps outside the arena! Naughty spooky nappy pony! However he had grown up by his second comp and at his first Affiliated Novices, behaved like a star and for the first time in his life didnt put a foot wrong. Maybe he's ill?!?! We had to go 'HC' as needs to wear front boots at the moment until second splint has calmed down, but he got top scores in both Novices. Very happy.



Anni and Mercury



In preparation for Mercurys four dressage tests at the BRC National Championships in a couple of weeks time Anni Denton did three tests at the weekend. They won all three of their classes N24 (67%), N36 (68%) and E43 (67%). So proud of my superstars

Anni got over 70% in the Open dressage at the RC Nationals and was on the winning National Rural Riders Test, who won by 36 points!

Very well done to Clare Grant and That Scallywag Prince for coming 9th at the Great Bookham Dressage Champs. 8's for the trot work and 7's for the much improved canter transitions

How cool are these results from BE South Of England 1* International Novice 







  

Lovely pic of Laura and Vardigo looking gorgeous in top

hat and tails at Western Park International Novice. 

1 BILLY BLACK JACK Mrs Pippa Funnell 8 30.00
2 SORRENTO III Mr Clayton J Fredericks 7 36.8
3 BILLY CRACKLE Mrs Pippa Funnell 6 38.10
4 BILLY ON AIR Miss Gemma Tattersall 5 39.10
5 WHY NOT Miss Bryony Holloway 4 44.80
6 VARDIGO Ms Laura Normand 3 46.50 !!!!!
7 ACHERON Mrs Lucinda Fredericks 2 46.50

Im so proud to tell you that Laura and Vardigo also won the Goring U18 BE Novice!

Future British Team Selectors take note. Laura has arrived!

Yippee! Ellie Lloyd Jones and Crunchie won Munstead BE100 with a 28.5 dressage! Happy Aunty. I had a tear in my eye a few weeks later watching the video of Ellie doing her first BE Novice! 6th place after the dressage with 31, same dressage score as Lucinda Fredericks and only 1 mark behind Rodney Powell. Well done Ellie and Crunch!

July / August 2011

Ellie and Crunchie

Ellie Lloyd Jones has had an amazing couple of months...winning the BE90 National Schools at Tweseldown on Lad, then going on to win her Section at the Pony Club Area Intermediate Eventing on Crunchie, qualifying for the Pony Club Nationals, where she came home 5th! Fabulous result!




Grace Lloyd Jones got a fantastic dressage score of 29 at the Pony Club Nationals Intermediate Eventing (team seventh) and won the Pony Club Intermediate Eventing at Hambledon with a dressage of 21.6!


Katie and Sue

Katie Patrick and her mare Sue have also had an amazing couple of months....winning Prelim 12 with 68.8% at the National Riding Club Area Qualifier, and winning the Novice Riding Test with 76%. Off to the RC National Champs! Then went on to win her section of the Pony Club Intermediate Eventing Area Qualifier with a dressage of 23.3 (three 9's!) and was part of Graces team that came seventh at the PC National Champs!

Emma Thomson's and Quinn's unaffiliated Novice scores are nicely improving with a 68.46% and five 8's and they got their first 8 at affiliated Prelim. Now looking forward to BD Area Festivals!

What a day for Sarah Thomas at the Riding Club Area Qualifier winning the Advanced Riding Test with Dysko with a whopping 87%, beating her younger horse Davidoff into second place with 84%!

Emily Farrar and her 5 year old gelding Inca have got some lovely %'s at affiliated Prelim so good luck to them at the BD Regionals!

Anni Denton and Mercury won the British Riding Clubs Open Dressage Qualifier with 71% and won an unaffiliated Elementary with 69%, her nearest competitor on 66%.

Clare and Prince

Having convinced Clare Grant that Prince is now ready to Affiliate, am very pleased to say they have qualified for the British Dressage Area Festivals at Prelim!



My favorite news for this blog is Sue Jones winning an Affiliated Novice on her event horse George (who has been sadly off with an injury for a long long time) WITH OVER 73%!!! I'm still smiling from that now!

So proud of Laura Normand for coming 10th in her first FEI CIC* (International Novice Eventing). Double Clear too round huge courses! Brilliant!