Novice Training Afternoon - 5th April 2009
We new members spent and enjoyable and instructive afternoon in beautiful surroundings at Liz Taylor’s yard in Oxenhall.
Though the proceedings felt leisurely, accompanied as they were by generous quantities of drinks and biscuits, we covered a lot of ground. Gina and Carolyn had prepared their presentation thoroughly in order to give us a detailed briefing.
This included a pack for each person with information on “Tips on what to do before the Ride”, a very detailed summary on “Getting started in endurance” including advice on preparations at home, the different types of competitive and non-competitive rides, how to enter and a step-by-step guide of what to do at the ride and afterwards. Some understandable beginners’ concerns were addressed in the list “What used to worry us when we started” together with hilarious tales of some “doh” moments.
The pack included a Vet Sheet and Entry Form, with hints on how to complete them and an excellent crewing list with handy tips on what to take and what to do on short and longer rides.
There was a practical element to the day as well. We had an opportunity to look at the equipment actually taken on rides. Some of us will no doubt now be splashing out on lidded water buckets (obvious when you think about it), combined bridle/head collar, heart-rate monitors and adjustable helmets.
Liz demonstrated how to trot up for the vet and let us use her stethoscope to test her horse’s pulse rate.
We all learned loads, but one of the nicest things about the day was the opportunity to meet other new members and find out about them and their horses. One courageous lady had already done several rides and recognised that competitive riding was what she really wanted to do. Most of the rest of us have still to take the plunge, but, as a benefit of this training day, we can now look forward to taking part with less trepidation – and possibly with a new riding companion.
All of us are grateful to Liz, Gina and Carolyn for organising this event.
Caroline MacBrayne