‘Horses must see the world and have enjoyable’

Ronnie Lee Jones displays on alternative ways of manufacturing horses – and younger riders

As of late, there may be some huge cash in showjumping as a sport, nevertheless it doesn’t essentially purchase you expertise or training.

Once I was youthful, I went to Pony Membership, which is unbelievable for youngsters. There may be a lot give attention to studying about administration and anatomy, and I collected a jumper stuffed with badges. I fear now that these routes into equestrian sport are dying a demise.

I reside in Essex, in Space 40, and after I was rising up, we additionally had the nice fortune of British Showjumping academy coaching.

It was a Nationwide Lottery-funded initiative the place you had been invited to spend a whole day at a present centre with an accredited coach – equivalent to Di Lampard or Alan Fazakerley. You’d have two classes, one leaping and one flatwork, and a chat from a profitable rider and a sports activities psychologist.

It was a step up from Pony Membership, however this sort of training is not an choice for at present’s juniors – I consider the academy coaching petered out due to prices, though some nonetheless continues at a grassroots stage.

I’m wondering what number of trainers provide kids insights into shoeing or remedy or administration practices, not only a 45-minute lesson in a faculty?

I’m in my 30s and nonetheless studying daily. We had been lately on tour in Spain and had some fascinating conversations with the farriers over there that ledto some helpful modifications.

Every thing lately is about administration, because it’s a 24/7 job holding horses on the highway.

We’ve spent extra time exploring therapies and have been impressed by the deep-tissue therapeutic massage pulsed electromagnetic area remedy (PEMF) machines. We’ve additionally used the cryotherapy unit at Kelsall, run by Richard Maxwell, and had unbelievable outcomes.

In some methods, we’re fairly old school and there’s no must knock what’s all the time labored, however you do must be open to new concepts to maneuver with the occasions.

Britain vs Europe

Individuals discuss how Europe is forward of us, however I believe Britain holds its personal competitively and when it comes to manufacturing, which we do very effectively if not higher. We’ve got some great benefits of a wide range of exhibits on grass, the county circuit and venues equivalent to Hickstead.

However with regards to breeding, Europe has the higher hand, with extra educated breeders and stronger studbook requirements.

It’s not within the pursuits of the game while you see unsuitable stallion selections being really helpful for newbie breeders on social media platforms, motivated by house owners’ monetary acquire moderately than an funding within the greater image.

A few of these “authorized” stallions shouldn’t have been granted this standing, given their lack of efficiency or authorized offspring. Are we placing our greatest foot ahead for British breeding by hopping onto Fb and listening to random folks’s opinions?

It’s one other space the place the UK would profit from higher training and we must be sticking to studbooks’ pointers and taking recommendation from the specialists.

One factor I do discover is that horses imported from the Continent can have led a really army life from a younger age and might take a very long time to mature and develop. They may trip effectively and be very gifted, however mentally they’re behind.

Over Easter half time period, we had some kids for coaching and we took them out within the forest. I used to be getting off a younger stallion, dragging branches alongside to leap.

Horses must see the world and have a little bit of enjoyable. There are alternatives to take the old school manner of doing issues and use it to our benefit.

● What modifications do you suppose would assist produce younger riders and horses in Britain? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and county, for the prospect on your letter to look in a forthcoming concern of the journal

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