Junior and Senior Academy Coaching Day

Sara Mould, the Academy Secretary, informed all of the
4 groups: one group of Juniors on ponies, two groups of Juniors on horses and one group of Seniors on horses.
The timetable for each group included two rides, a fitness session by ex-professional footballer Simon Rodger and a lecture given by top international groom Jenny Ellis.
Parents and “grooms” had been invited to stay for the
day and participate in the sessions. This proved to be an
excellent idea and many welcomed the opportunity to join in.

With coaching from Corinne Bracken and Carl Belson, all worked on control and turning in a flatwork and poles session.

The fitness session followed. Simon Rodger brought along an array of circuit training equipment. He is noted for his career with Crystal Palace Football Club and was keen to help build core strength and muscle.

Moving on to a lecture with Jenny Ellis, who worked as travelling groom for International Dressage rider Richard Davison, as well as working with John Whittaker and Geoff Billington. She has been awarded the prestigious BEF Groom Award for outstanding contribution to the equestrian world. Jenny told of some fascinating accounts of her experience in transporting horses internationally. All learned what to look out for in a healthy horse when Jenny inspected an elderly pony stabled at Parwood. Using Jenny’s stethoscope, all were given the opportunity to listen to the pony’s heart and how to take its pulse correctly.

After lunch, BS Median Course Builder, John Farrell, invited everybody into the covered school to set up a course under his instruction. It was a great opportunity to understand how a professional course builder constructs a course and why he does it in a certain way. Once built, all walked the course with John, Corinne, Carl and Joanna Gillespie, our Area Rep and FEI Judge. Each of them gave an opinion on each jump from their own point of view.

It was almost time for the Grand Finale. Everyone had the opportunity to jump two rounds with instruction from the coaches.

Many thanks to Parwood Equestrian Centre for hosting
the event and to Mandy Cosgrove.

Chantal de Gaston-Cooper

Awaiting

photograph