Another lovely sunny morning for teaching!
Great to see my client Chris E. and Bailey looking fantastic today, well done!
10
Jun
2014
Rachel Levy
06
Jun
2014
Rosehill Cross Country Schooling Clinic
For those who haven’t been before, here are the details for the XC schooling clinic on Saturday.
I have a couple of spaces left, one at 10.00 (80/90cm) and one in the 11.00 slot (90/100cm). Just get in touch if you’d like to join in.
It’s £15 for the session and you’ll need £20 for Rosehill’s hire charge in cash on the day.
You will need to sign in to Rosehill’s visitor’s register, and if I haven’t taught you before, I’ll email you a rider registration form to fill out too.
The address is:
Rosehill Estate
Rose Lane
Henley on Thames
RG9 3EB
However, their website advises that you don’t use satnav for the final part of the journey as it will take you to the wrong entrance.
For schooling, take the first entrance on the right up Rose Lane, signposted Rosehill Estate.
07
Apr
2014
Q and A – Teaching 2
This question came in from a client who is gaining teaching experience at a local riding school and training for their PTT. My answer follows the question.
QUESTION
Hi Rachel,
My 7 year old client struggles with rising trot (we have done some sitting trot and he is sort of ok) what exercise would you do to practice rising trot.
I have done some rising in walk – just for him to get a feel of what he needs to be doing. Any other suggestions?
ANSWER
What you’ve done so far sounds good, get him to do the rising in walk first and do lots of sitting trot so he can feel the rhythm. A seven year old should be strong enough to lift himself up and down so his problem is probably with timing. You need to be saying “up down up down” to him in time with the trot and telling him if he’s too fast or too slow until he gets the right speed.
If the pony is safe and will stay on the track, he could hold the pommel or a neck strap to avoid pulling on the reins to get out of the saddle. If you’re not sure of the pony, put him on the lunge then he can concentrate on learning to rise without having to control the pony as well (and you can practise your lunge lesson for your PTT!)
Good luck and let me know how it goes,
Rachel
04
Oct
2013
FBHS and BHSI Training Day with Darrell Scaife FBHS
Riding in the dressage demonstration lesson
I had a fantastic lesson with Darrell on Revelation 2 (kindly lent by owner Antonia Findley) who competes at advanced level. We worked on achieving greater connection, and more expressive lateral work, particularly in the half pass. He went very well, displaying his lovely big paces to good effect and, as always, behaved impeccably.
It was a great day for learning out of the saddle too, as I was able to observe Darrell’s coaching. He demonstrated his thoughtful and calm approach during three jump lessons in the morning. The sessions ranged from gridwork for young horses, through to experienced combinations jumping courses of 1.20m+.
The afternoon sessions were devoted to dressage private lessons, such as mine, and again featured a variety of combinations competing at levels ranging from elementary to advanced.
Thanks to David Sheerin and the team at Wellington Riding for hosting this super informative day.
02
Oct
2013
BHS Autumn Convention with Yogi Breisner
An interesting and very enjoyable day!
The day was made up of four sessions, concentrating on training the event horse from BE100 right through to Advanced, and hosted by Yogi Breisner.
Yogi is obviously an excellent coach, but what stood out for me was how impressive his observational skills are. He instantly identified weaknesses, and was able to bring about rapid improvement in performance by prioritising his feedback.
He used common sense when coaching and a calm, friendly approach which really brought out the best in the riders, some of whom would have been understandably nervous at the crowd of hundreds!
The exercises Yogi chose were challenging, and clearly represented the requirements of the level at which the combinations were competing. He was also excellent at differentiation, using intricate exercises to provide a variety of routes for different combinations to follow. This was not dissimilar to the alternate routes available at tricky combinations on a cross country course.
He made the day as interactive as possible too, with questions taken formally after each session, as well as addressing relevant queries whilst coaching.
I found the day very inspiring ahead of the Final of the Coach of the Year Competition next week.
19
Jul
2013
BHS Coach of the Year Regional Finals
I got through to the nationals!
I was delighted to be one of only six selected for the South East regional final, for which candidates applied with their CV, and a written statement about themselves as coaches.
The regional competition, held at Berkshire Riding Centre, was run by Robert Pickles FBHS, in the style of a training day.
I taught a lunge lesson and a semi-private jump, as well as engaging in group discussion sessions on all the horses and riders taking part. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and felt I learned a lot from seeing new horse and rider combinations, and discussing coaching with Robert and the other candidates.
The day surpassed everything I’d hoped for when Robert announced that I had won the place at the national finals in October!
Huge thanks go to Rosie and the team at BRC, for organising the day so well, and providing us with excellent riders and horses.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this prestigious competition, and will be working hard between now and October to further improve my coaching, and give the best performance I can at the grand final!
Photos courtesy of the British Horse Society Press Office
22
May
2013
PGCE Observed Teaching Assessment
Just finished my final Observed Teaching Assessment for my PGCE course!
I taught a showjumping session, working three riders at BHS Stage 2 standard through a grid.
The riders jumped out of canter, and I built the grid up logically through the session, progressing from cross poles to uprights. The main teaching points I focussed on were the quality of the canter, and the line of approach taken by the riders.
I was delighted to be awarded an ‘outstanding’ (grade 1) on the OFSTED scale of grades.
Just want to say a massive thank you to Tamsin, Faye and Katrin (and Pepsi, Jake and Bembridge!) for being such excellent guinea pigs – You guys are a pleasure to teach 🙂
20
May
2013
BHS Spring Coaching Convention
Knowledgable, and super-practical advice and coaching from Stephen Clarke FBHS…
This was a fantastic opportunity to see some top quality horses, working at all levels from promising youngsters through to Prix St. George and Grand Prix. It was an informative day, with expert, and refreshingly down-to-earth, coaching from Stephen Clarke FBHS.
Pictured are Stephen, with participant Fred Hodges BHSI.
28
Nov
2012
Client Focus
Well done to Richard L. for completing your
BHS STAGE 1 EXAMINATION
at Wellington Riding yesterday.
I’m sure all your hard work and commitment to training will be rewarded – fingers crossed for the results!
22
Nov
2012
Q and A – Teaching
This question came in from a client undertaking teaching practice at a local riding school and training for their PTT. My answer follows the question.
QUESTION
Hi Rachel,
Do you know a good exercise for beginners (children) who are not really in control of their horses (approx. 5 of them)? At the minute I always make them go in a ride and ask them to concentrate on keeping their distance to the horse in front, no cutting corners etc. and then do some transitions with them.
Do you know any alternatives??
ANSWER
It’s important to keep drilling them on the basics, and it is best to keep them in a ride, with a dependable lead pony, where they are safest.
You could add variety by putting guide poles on an inside track and making them ride away from the wall, to develop straightness and use of the outside aids.
In trot, ask them in turn to choose a change of rein, which the whole ride then has to ride accurately. If they aren’t safe to trot in a ride, do a few changes of rein in walk then send them trotting one by one to the rear of the ride, with the rest of the ride in walk, or halt if necessary.
Using the centre line is another good exercise for straightness and rider accuracy. If necessary, place a pole either side of X to help them. You can make this into a game by making the poles narrower and narrower and seeing who can steer well enough to make their ponies go through. I’ve even done this with adults and it does focus them really well.
Good luck
Rachel
