Siobhan and Lisa`s Day at Gainfield

We arrived at the Riding clinic, all revved up and excited about what the day held for us both as we both had our own body issues and different ones!.

The staff greeted us and made us feel very welcome settling Ping into his day stable. Ping had lots of buddies to say hello to and most of all he had Debbie's beautiful horse Pandour sniffing over the stable nose right in the air, Ping settled in very well, no stress or worry at all, I think he secretly fancied staying there. 

When we got to the indoor school for the lecture / demo we were greeted by hot tea coffee and home made biscuits. What could be nicer on a wild windy October day, Debbie, Kelly and Phillipa greeted both Lisa and myself and made us feel very relaxed.  

Debbie kicked the day off with the agenda for the day and some history about herself. how she became involved in training and also how very few riding schools are left that concentrate on really teaching the rider to ride! I was so shocked, but she was right no one train's for the horse and rider any more, it's all about competing and getting out there, what happens when we trip up along the way, the world has changed where were we when this happened!!!!   I thought I must have got sucked into this commercial side of horses along with countless other's and forgetting why do I ride what is the basic reason's "because I love horses and most of all pingu". Just grooming him and handling him used to mean so much to me then suddenly I became competitive and he a machine where and why did I go wrong? 

Debbie has helped me stop and look and think, God what a fool I was how could I have become like this?So I vowed from now, this is firstly about Mr Ping`s welfare getting him right so I now cover all area's- handling, loving, caring fun chat's in the field correct riding, harmony, being in tune-his body and mine, well that`s the plan!!! and we`re getting there slowly.....  I was all ear's for what today had to hold and what I would take away for me and my horse.

 I think what was so helpful was watching horses' being ridden by all sorts of different level's of rider's on all sorts of types of horses.

 . Pingu behaved impeccably we both had visions of him having a fit as the arena was sectioned off with chairs and equipment but he rose to the occasion and showed off. Well why not!!

 Kelly and Phillpa were both lovely people and gave us both fantastic advise on the exercises we should be doing to improve our posture for riding. The equipment was very cheap and easy to use (once shown!) and we both purchased a small exercise ball for use at home.

Phillipa was great with her knowledge and allowed us the time to ask so many questions.

 We were all provided with a fantastic lunch -home madeand lots of it, and oh don't forget the scrummy cakes that strawberry one was delicious, hot drinks flowed and we grazed on the biscuits and cakes  all day as well,will need to work those calories off next week poor Ping extra weight to carry!! 

So the day drew to an end Ping Lisa and myself had a fantastic time,we came away with a great deal more knowledge laughing how the yard would view us sitting outside Pings stable on the balancing balls before we rode, that would get chins wagging!!

 So a huge thank you to Debbie for inviting us and well done this was a hard lecture to coordinate both verbally as well as physically, thank you Kelly and Phillipa for your time and the wealth of experience you have passed on to us both.

We very much look forward to the sequel to "Are you and your horse in Harmony" Physically and Mentally!!!!

 Siobhan Sargeant and Lisa Ware