Fun Free Style dressage competition

                                               

 Beth Hobbs my trainer and friend decided to have a small in house freestyle dressage competition at the yard, giving the younger ones and their ponies the chance to ride a small test to music. I decided to have a go as well, I was sure to win being the only one in my class… the para dressage class!!!  

The girls practiced all week but then after finding it actually quite hard to work out a piece of music to ride to, and make it the correct length,  My daughter Stella and Mia decided to do a pairs ride. Jade rode on her own on her pony misty.

On the day before I had a trial run through, well let’s just say I had to do a cross country course to even get in the arena. As I have mentioned before our hoist is mounted on the back of the lorry, which is parked in the car park at the yard. This is actually quite a way from the arena, so in its self makes it quite a challenge just getting into the arena. Hence why I actually haven’t ridden in there yet. Conquering another first for me, I was actually quite scared as the ride to the arena for me now would be like taking on a cross country course.

Well I mounted Flynn and the journey began, we walked with side walkers out of the field, over a small step/ramp on to the yard, Flynn took all this very steady as he could probably tell I was petrified about how I am going to stay on while we walk up the small ramp and step. All I could think was look up, brace and hold on!! Well we made it over this and turned onto the yard, only to find that Ian Beth’s dad was running the generator, cement mixer and tractor, there was an electrical lead, running across the yard, through a puddle to where he was working!!

You’ve actually gotta laugh, with all the noise and obstacles it certainly tested mine and Flynn’s trust and balance. We stood still for the moment while we waited for him to make the area we were walking through safe! Once past these obstacles we turned a tight corner past the barn towards the arena, again I had a small step/ramp to contend with, but this time it was going downhill. I was more scared to go down a little ramp than up. I just dropped the reins and held on to the Oh Crap strap!! We made it. I had to take a minuet to gather myself as this in itself was a huge achievement. The first time in the arena!!! Yayyyy.

I had chosen a piece of music by Vanessa Mae the violinist; I will always love you instrumental which is 4.5mins in length. We practiced a small routine I had prepared which involved  entering the arena, proceeding down the centre line and turning right onto a 20 meter circle, we were all getting use to the process and Flynn was a little unsure who was giving him instructions as there was quite a lot of Walk on!! Good boy, from everyone walking next to him and me. His ears were moving all over the place as he was taking in the directions and instructions asked of him.

I was able to see my position in the mirrors that are placed in the arena and I manage quite a straight position. We do the whole free-style test in walk. Which includes a change of rein (I even put in a long walk on a free rein!! Ha ha), 3 more 20 meter circles, on both reins and a halt salute. My walking test took about 8 minutes as Flynn kept stopping. We will need to take all this on board as we are learning so much together. I know we need to start using 2 whips as aids. But we haven’t done this yet. Beth Has been riding Flynn with whips and trying not to use leg aids and give the aid with the whip but we are only just starting this. I know that Beth is so proud of Flynn as he is taking all this in his stride. We are taking things really slow so that any progress is positive and we don’t get any setbacks.

I am elated I can’t quite believe what I have just achieved! My first lesson in the arena, being on board Flynn as I’ve said before is the most amazing feeling ever, I feel totally able, and by that I mean not disabled, being out of the confines of my wheelchair feels great. The amount of effort this takes is huge, as the whole time I’ve had to concentrate and engage my core and balance on top of this moving animal. I am so amazed at what I can do just after 3 months of getting on for the first time.  

I actually didn’t want it to be over; well actually I wanted to get off in the school, as I didn’t want to have to run the gauntlet again across the yard!! Oh but guess what I can’t just dismount here and have to go back through the yard to the lorry and hoist. I can remember taking a deep breath and thinking look up... As before Flynn was so steady, slowly moving himself up and down over the ramps/step. We made it back to the lorry and hoisted me back into my chair... I now couldn’t wait till the following day to do it all again.

We had an early start the next morning as the dressage was going to start at 9am and I was to go first. Obviously I was going to take this seriously and turned up in my competition gear!! My daughter will tell you that it took 30 minutes plus to get my boots on. These are things that having a spinal injury make difficult, due to foot drop and tone, it make it nearly impossible to get my old boots on... time for some new bespoke ones me thinks.. Well we did exactly the same as the day before, but this time we didn’t have to dodge electric cables and there was no generator going! It felt better today in the saddle, not as wobbly as the day before, and I was much more confident going up and over the yard into the arena, as Flynn looked after me so well. I would absolutely love to be able to ride more frequently as I reckon that the improvements would be fantastic.

I have 3 walkers, a leader and 2 side walkers, we start the music and off we go. We are able to get through the short test and at the halt and salute; I am so happy I shed a tear as it is very emotional for me. As I said at the beginning, I actually came first of the para class!!! (Being the only one in it) me and Flynn wait for the next one...Mia, Jade and Stella went through there tests and it was obvious they had worked really hard and putting together a routine to music and performing it really well. You could tell by the smiles that they all enjoyed the fun free style dressage morning. Thanks to Beth and all the helpers who helped with me and the hoist as without them this wouldn’t be possible.   

   

Stella, Mia and Jade

Dressage divas Spot, Ginge and Misty!!!

The Loan Oak para team

Julia Mottram meets Super Flynn

Flynn’s first meeting with Julia Mottram

Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist

 I am extremely lucky to have Julia Mottram sponsoring me and Flynn. Julia represents the veterinary division within Keystone Physiotherapy, enabling them to provide all round physiotherapy care. Keystone Physio specialises in equine, canine and human patients they provide domiciliary visits, so they can treat owner and animal in a familiar surrounding. By doing this it enables Julia to develop an understanding of your needs and helps to develop a bespoke exercise plan. Julia understands that there is a holistic relationship between horse and rider and because Julia is qualified in both equine and human, she is able to assess me and Flynn. This will mean we will get an all-round assessment that will bring out the best in us both working together.

I am so excited to see how we can work together and hopefully get the best out of me and my position riding Flynn. I have known Julia for about 3 years, I was lucky enough to meet her before my injury when she had started treating my horse Oubles. She uses to come every 6-8 weeks and treat Oubels. Equine physiotherapy can be defined as the use of physical techniques for the treatment on soft tissues and movement by manual therapy. Physiotherapy is a complimentary therapy, not an alternative to veterinary care, but can be particular helpful in preventing injury by reducing muscle tightness and increasing flexibility and strength.

 Apparently dressage horses can present with the biggest problems, due to the repetitive compressed movements which result in what are effectively repetitive strain injuries.  Flynn is only 7 and has only once before had an equine therapy, so hopefully it will be something he will enjoy. He isn’t a pure dressage horse, as he has competed with Beth Hobbs (his owner) at BD Eventing, Side-saddle and dressage. So by him having a regular treatment as mentioned above will  hopefully help to keep him injury free.

So on Monday 11^th September, Julia came out to meet Flynn, before treating any horse, Julia must get consent to treat from the registered vet. This was established and in she goes!!! Julia treated Flynn in the stable, Flynn wasn’t sure at first and was a bit fidgety, but as the session went on he seemed to relax into it. Julia talked a lot about what she was doing and why, and she was able to explain the importance of the treatment. (I wish I could remember everything) We have  been given some home -work in the form of stretches, which I can do with carrots. I am to sit near to his girth, facing the same direction as the horse. By using the carrots as bait, this will encourage the horse to stretch down to the level of the knee or chest to help with flexion of the neck. The horse should bend evenly through the head and neck to both sides. I am sure Flynn will be good at this as he loves carrots ….

Flynn had the next day off and is now being regularly exercised again by Beth and the team at Loan Oak... We are now waiting patiently for a date for the next session with Julia, as this one will be a mounted session, so she can assess me, my core balance and how we work together. I am excited to see how this partnership will develop and I glad we Have such and amazing equine physio helping us towards our dream of riding Para Dressage.keystonephysiotherapy.co.uk As always thanks so much to Beth Hobbs my amazing trainer, friend and inspiration.