Category Archives: Dressage

Dressage is a complex art involving the riding and training a horse in an obedient, flexible fashion.

A P McCoy Dressage Equestrian fashion FEI World cup Frankie Dettori Horse Advice Horse Scout Advocate Injured Jockeys Fund Laura Renwick London International Horse show Olympia Horse Show Piaffes Sports Horses The Markel Champions Challenge Valegro winter

Olympia Horse Show

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Written by Ellie Kelly Horse Scout press

The greatest exhibition of horsemanship: Olympia Horse Show

Horses, champagne and shopping are three of my favourite things. It’s always a heady cocktail of all that with an extra helping of festive fever at The London International Horse Show. Did you know it remains the UK’s largest indoor horse show and around 3000 bottles of champagne are drunk each year?

Olympia always attracts leading riders but this year, the line-up is nothing short of orgasmic. SEVEN of the world’s top ten showjumpers, some of the GREATEST dressage riders of all time plus the current Driving WORLD CHAMPION. Then throw in some damn fine looking Chilean men doing crazy things on horseback and throng of flat and jump jockeys, most of whom are the most FAMOUS on the planet.

Christmas Jumpers

With more talent than your Aunt Roberta’s knitting skills, this year’s jumping entries will raise the roof. The British line-up includes Scott Brash, Ben Maher, leading British lady, Laura Renwick as well as John and Michael Whitaker who have almost a century’s worth of experience between them (ouch).

European challengers include former World No 1 Simon Delestre, current World No 3 and recent winner of the  Rolex IJRC Final, Kevin Staut, FEI World Cup winner Steve Guerdat, Olympic silver medallist Peder Fredricson and the effervescent Lorenzo de Luca who is always a favourite with the crowds.

Perfect piaffes and how to produce the next Valegro

Olympia would not be the same without indulging in the nations love affair with Carl and Charlotte. The pair have practically owned the place with their performances for years now. Whilst neither are competing in the FEI World Cup classes, they will be inspiring and motivating us with a Masterclass on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday Carl will be entertaining and educating on the process of making a Grand Prix horse with Charlotte as his guinea pig and at times the brunt of his wicked humour. It’s hot gossip that Charlotte will be bringing her FEI World Equestrian Games hopeful, Mount St John Freestyle for her Masterclass on Tuesday.

The FEI World Cup London leg is as hotly contested as ever. There is Patrick Kittel, Swedish Olympian and leader of the Western League, Dutch maestro, Edward Gal and the home team includes Hayley Watson-Greaves, Emile Faurie, Richard Davison, Gareth Hughes and Lara Butler.

Doing it for charity

The Markel Champions Challenge is all in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF). A cause close to most jockey’s hearts and some incredible jockeys go tête-à-tête in a relay show-jumping competition.

20-time Champion Jockey, Sir A P McCoy is coming out of retirement to lead the jump jockeys, in battle against the Flat jockeys led by none other than Frankie Dettori.  AP is not a man to rest on his laurels. “Last year, I watched from the side lines as my fellow jump jockeys got thrashed by Dettori’s boys. So this year I shall be picking my own team and shall be looking to the greats of the past to help me do this. Whilst we’ll be ultra-competitive, it’s all for such a great cause in the Injured Jockeys Fund.”

We all scream for Ex-treme

Hold your horses because once again, Olympia hosts three Driving competitions which has attracted some of the world’s best four-in-hand drivers. Thursday’s “Extreme Driving Top score” will warm up both the drivers and the spectators for the following two legs of the FEI World Cup.

As well as popular Ozzie and World champ Boyd Exell, British driver Dan Naprous will be staking a claim as will the most experienced and multi-medalled of any driver, Ijsbrand Chardon who has been at the top of the sport since the 80s.

All I want for Christmas…

Is an Animo show jacket, a Butet saddle and a Liberty Kelly poncho. With 225 shops embracing cutting edge fashion, bargain rugs and unique gifts, this place comes with a warning. Especially if you are anything like us and have hit the champagne bar beforehand. #shopresponsibly #tattinger

The Horse Scout Team will be at Olympia bringing news, views and inspiration.

Tickets to the London International Horse Show are still available for some performances and you can watch the best of dressage and show jumping action on the BBC.

https://www.londonhorseshow.com/

 

British Dressage Buying A Pony Dressage Eventing General Horse Breeds Sports Horses Stallions Stallions At Stud

Premium Pony Stallions Joins Horse Scout

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Horse Scout is delighted to have one of the most exciting premium pony stallions in the UK listed with them.  Chartsturmer WE is the exquisite, 4 year old, chestnut pony stallion, by Caramel FH and owned by Ann-Marie Manning and ridden by sister Jennifer Manning.

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“We met the Horse Scout team at the Bury Farm Stallion show and agreed that Horse Scout would be a great platform to promote Chartsturmer WE from” confirmed the Manning sisters.

The incredibly smart Chartsturmer WE achieved his Premium status grading and licence with Weser Ems in Vechta, Germany in 2015, where he was only 1 of 5 colts to achieve the prestigious title.

At only 4 years of age this beautifully tempered pony displays three impressive and balanced paces. An elevated, powerful, yet graceful trot with a wonderfully active hind leg, a superbly active walk and canter, that already display so much scope and potential for his future, both as a competition pony and breeding stallion.

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Purchased as a yearling, it has always been the Manning’s aim to both produce ‘Charti’ as a leading competition pony and breeding stallion.

“Our long term aim is to produce him as an FEI dressage pony, but also to help dressage pony breeding within the UK.  We saw that the British Breeding industry was in need of a stallion like Chartsturmer WE, and it has always been an aim of ours to help improve this area of the industry” added Jennifer Manning.

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Backed in 2016 Charti is now into his ridden career and will feature in the Northern Stallion Show later in March, along with Stallions AI in April.  Ann-Marie and Jennifer also plan to aim him at the British Dressage Young Pony classes later this year, as part of his own competition pathway and to build his own profile as both an elite competition and pony stallion.

“He is aimed at the competition mare and we will be looking to work with approved mares, but he has only got one breeding season under him at the moment, with 2 offspring due this season.  As much as it is our aim to support the dressage pony breeding industry in the UK, we have also had interest from the eventing market looking to produce smaller event horses with high quality dressage paces.”

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Buying A Pony Dressage Stallions

FEI Dressage Pony For Sale

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One of Three Truly Outstanding 148cm FEI Dressage Pony Geldings On the Market with Horse Scout.

Horse Scout Blogger has sourced three lovely dressage pony for the serious dressage rider who rides ponies.

FEI Dressage Pony Hagelkruis Valentijn produced by Cross Keys International Dressage Horses

This first has been produced by Edward Creamer the Grand prix rider  who trained with the great Monica Theoderescu.  A beautiful pony which has everything to shout about, which his pile of impressive ribbons is testament to.  He is surely the pony to make any judge smile.

Hagelkruis Valentijn is by the Dutch Sports Pony Stallion Leuns Veld’s Lord.

Leuns Veld’s Lord received the highest score at his stallion grading for his elevated and free trot; something which is certainly evident in his sons gait.  Leuns Veld’s Lord has some thoroughbred in him adding an essential quality to the build of this pony.  Leuns Veld’s Lord’s dam Sonhof’s Sabine is a registered Elite mare.

An FEI Pony For Sale On  Horse Scout With An Impressive Career: A pony which could be your next Dressage Prospect on the International Arena.

With perfect breeding for the dressage arena this Warmblood riding Pony has ridden with the Dutch Team and was the Dutch Indoor Medium Champion in 2012.  since then he has gone from strength to strength competing Internationally at FEI dressage competition.  His beautiful test at the CDI Hickstead Individual Test gave him 1st place last year.  He was one of only three British ponies to win a CDI class that year.

This pony is well known at this level having represented Great Britain  in no less than four international competitions.  His owner has sadly grown too much for him an has now moved on to horses so this brilliant pony is now available for a junior rider looking to compete at the highest level.

Cross Keys Dressage Horses are happy to validate his manners, in and out of the stable, and consider him suitable for any rider either young or adult.

Visit his profile on Horse Scouts Ponies for Sale pages by using our click through here or contact Edward Creamer directly through his own professional profile page on Horse Scout and find out more about this lovely pony.

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Buying A Pony Dressage Horse Breeds

FEI New Forest Dressage Pony

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14.2hh FEI New Forest Dressage Pony

The stunning Remo (Goofy), is an FEI dressage schoolmaster ride.  He knows his job, he knows his movements and is ready to teach his next rider. This is surely an opportunity of a lifetime for a rider to progress onto the international arena and compete on equal terms with the best.

This is a truly exciting opportunity to acquire this super talented 15 year old New Forest Pony gelding.

Remo has been a member of the Irish Dressage Team  ( 2014) competing at the European Pony Championships.

Since he was imported in 2011 he took 12th in the Masters Class at open medium level (best placed pony) and 2nd in the Premier League. A leading dressage pony at the Winter finals and also the National Championships in both 2012 and 2013.

He was the first pony to meet the High Performance Criteria and he certainly deserved his place as a member of the First Irish Pony Dressage High Performance Squad.

If you are looking for a pony who is ready and has qualified for the top dressage competitions in Ireland then here he is:  Remco has qualified for this year’s Irish National Championships at Medium Open Level.

Importantly for any parent is the reassurance that this New Forest FEI Dressage Pony hacks out, is very good in traffic, and is relaxed enough to be ridden bareback so underlines that this sound, happy pony will be a well-chosen addition for any young rider or small adult wishing to purchase a top class competition sports pony.

Horse Scout has recently blogged about two other Dressage Ponies recently.  Both of these 14.2hh ponies are  also competing at FEI level and are advertised for Sale on Horse Scout.  Click through to

Pony 1 is also Dutch bred and information can be found here FEI Dressage Pony for Sale  (link to follow)

Pony 2 is a Stunning Palomino Pony also working well at FEI level and ready for a new 5* competition Home advertised Horse Scouts Ponies for Sale Pages.  (Link to follow)

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Dressage General Horses For Sale Stallions At Stud

Dreammaker Stud has Master Merlin Youngstock For Sale

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Master Merlin, a Skewbald Graded Stallion Licensed with The Breeders Elite Studbook

Master Merlin is a modern coloured stallion with progeny for sale on Horse Scout, including a stunning bay 2 year old colt bred by Dreammaker Stud.

Dreammaker Stud profiled on Horse Scout

Yards advertised on the Horse Scout  pages offers perspective Clients an insight to facilities and stud or training options available.

Dreammaker Stud has been developed by Mary and Robert Middlehurst who between them have a wealth of experience in the equine world, most recently focusing on Dressage at Advanced level. Mary competed in many disciplines over the years- Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage at an Advanced Level. Mary is now focusing on the breeding of top class dressage horses at Dreammaker Stud. None of this would be possible without the full support of Robert her husband who was a BSJA coursebuilder and now an active member of the Dreammaker Stud.

Dreammaker stud has a profile on Horse Scout. Follow the connection on Horse Scout.

Dreammaker Stud advertise their home-bred stock on the Horse Scout horses for sale page.

Their well handled colt has ground covering conformation and an excellent temperament. This colt also has a striking trot with a natural elevation and a powerful athletic hind leg.

With an eye on quality and pedigree, Master Merlin covered the studs well bred mare, a Fürst Heinrich Westphalien (Florestan I – Donnerhall – Weinberg ) line. Master Merlin is by the  elite dressage stallion Shufro (Oldenburg) so this lovely bay colt has the right pedigree to be a serious competitive contender. He is expected to make 16.2hh, an ideal height on the market.

Visit his profile Horse Scout by using this link:

2 year old colt by Master Merlin

Dreammaker Stud also have a jumping colt listed for sale on Horse Scout

Dream Maker Stud also have also listed a confident bay 2 year old gelding, to make 17-17.2 hands.  He is well handled and looks built to be suitable for dressage or showjumping. He is a modern type with scope to go to the top. He is by the Graded Premier Holsteiner (Elite) Cassilano, out of a Lorentin mare.

Dressmaker Stud have profiled him for sale on Horse Scout and you can click through to his profile page here.

Dressage Eventing Horse Breeds Horses For Sale Showjumping Stallions At Stud

Wish Upon A Star British Sports Horse Stallion

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Advanced Event Horse: Stallion at Stud, British Sports Horse, WISH UPON A STAR has four progeny currently advertised for sale on Horse Scout.

Wish Upon A Star is a UK based eventing stallion with the right attitude and looks to go with it.  Taking everything in his stride this handsome Stallion has copes with a seasons Eventing and standing at stud he has now gained 258 British Eventing points.  His offspring, advertised here on Horse scout, surely are testament to the strength of his stamp.

Check out his very detailed biography on our Horse Scout Stallions at Stud by using our link here.

Professional Producer Wayne Garrick has a Chestnut Wish Upon A Star mare for sale

Produced by with Wayne Garrick, international 3* Event rider Tack Farm this very smart young mare has a very trainable attitude and a will go attitude.  Wayne is sure she is a sound competition prospect. Standing at 16hh this chestnut mare by Wish Upon A star would make into the perfect all rounder with three correct paces, a good jump and presence on the flat this British Warmblood has Donnersong on her dam side.

Follow this link to our Horse Sales pages and look at her profile page.

Four Year Old By Wish Upon A star

Closer to Wish Upon A Stars home stamping ground is this 2012 youngster in Crediton; an eye catching four year old x Plume of Feathers v. Ali Royal.  Looking for an eventing career she was schooled by Matthew Hall last year and is showing great promise over show jumps. Having been turned away her owner has now begun her training again and says she is really enjoying her work.  This well made youngster has good paces and looks ready to go places.

Use this link to our Horses for Sale pages and read more about this young horse on her profile page on Horse Scout.

Dressage mare by Wish Upon A Star

Well priced Elementary Dressage Mare who has been produced by a teenager she is now competing successfully at British dressage Elementary and working towards Medium.  This year she has been campaigned at prestigious shows such as the U25 Championships at both Novice and Elementary, at the Pony Club Dengie Dressage winter finals at Intermediate and in the Open and has qualified for the BYRDS Home International Competition.  She has been jumped and does show a lot of promise. This handsome mare is an ideal amateur looking for a horse to collect the ribbons!

Check out this link to find out more about this home produced mare. http://www.horsescout.co.uk/horses-for-sale/profile/2271

Event mare in the Making produced by Joanne Holder from Pencil farm

Finally we have an eye catching sales livery produced by Joanne Holder of Pencil Farm near Cheltenham. A good looking bay mare (2011) (x v.Jumbo) walk oOn Bye II who is expected to campaign as an Eventer and certainly looks the part.  Sadly the owner does not have the time to do this mare justice.

You can link to her Horses For Sale advertisement here on Horse Scout.

Professional Producer has a number of horses listed on Horse Scout. Do take a look by linking to her profile page for Pencil Farm here.

http://www.horsescout.co.uk/yards/penhill-farm/profile/217

 

British Dressage Dressage Horses For Sale

Joe Bright Dressage – Professional Producer

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Joe Bright Dressage based near Canterbury has three top competition prospects for sale.

Producing horses to PGSI I this professional rider offers training livery and clinics to all levels and disciplines.  Produced form his lovely yard are three very interesting competition prospects.

PSG/ Juniors Schoolmaster Gelding.

Eye Catching Dressage schoolmaster who started out as a show jumper has a fluid and easy way of going in the dressage arena.  With winnings of £1,800.00 under his belt he was jumping at 1.30m.  He still jumps well  but has taken to his new career in the dressage ring and it seems that this is where his strengths lie. Established lateral work and a big heart, this handsome bay gelding is definitely an ideal ladies ride even though his stands at 17.2hh.
Take a look at more photos of this gentle giant here.

For Professional or Amateur Dressage rider a stunning 4 year old by Charmer

An adorable attitude to work and life defines this super talented four year old Dutch Warmblood gelding who would suit a professional looking for serious competition horse or, equally, an ambitious amateur looking to secure a rising star.

This 16.2hh liver chestnut gelding holds your eye taking everything in his stride and tuning into his rider.  He loves hacking and is not spooky, he turns out and works well in the arena.  At his first British dressage Show he scored 71.96 (riding HC).

See more great photos of this horse and contact Joe through his Horses for Sale Profile page on Horse Scout here.

A Serious Dressage Horse for the Future by Glocks Johnson

Stunning grey gelding by Glock’s Johnson the 5* Grand Prix Stallion, this established dressage horse stands 17.1hh.  With a light uphill carriage he makes the right statement in the ring supported by his enviable scores at the Addington Premier League Shearwater Qualifier.  He scored 8.5 for both his attitude to work and his trot with 8.4 for his walk and a great score of 8.6 for his canter.  A testament to his way of going at such a young age. His temperament will make him a candidate for an amateur rider and his talent will attract the professionals.

Take a look at the sales profile for this horse here on Horse Scout

Details about Joe Bright and his training and livery yard are also advertised on Horse Scout. Follow Joe Bright and the horses he produced by networking with him, and other professional producers on Horse Scout. Joe Bright Dressage

For these and other Dressage horses visit our horses for sale pages on Horse Scout

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Buying A Horse Dressage Dressage Coach Horse Advice Professional Rider Show Horse Trainer Working Hunter

Louise Anne Bell – Competes For Britain

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Louise Anne Bell – International dressage rider and working hunter champion 

Banbury, Oxfordshire

Not content with winning the Supreme Working Hunter Champion title 15 times at the Royal International Horse Show, Louise Bell turned her focus to dressage four years ago and now competes for Great Britain.

How did you get involved with working hunter classes?

I was around 17 and into eventing when I started to work for Daphne Wyatt who was into showing. Eventing was expensive and I discovered that I found showing easier and could be successful — I actually produced a horse of hers which she sold on and it went on to become Junior European champion!

What advice would you give to someone trying to make a similar transition?

Come to someone like me for help rather than muddle your way through! And make sure you have a quality horse — one that’s nearly a good flat show horse but has a good enough jump for a working hunter show class.

Any tips to impress the judges?

In showing, as the round isn’t timed you don’t need to jump a course quickly. You want to ride a rhythmical, flowing clear round that’s also stylish — and your horse must ride for a stranger. Be confident, stay focussed and walk your course as you would ride it.

Do you favour any specific bits or tack?

In showing you can use any number of bits, it doesn’t matter, just use what’s best for the horse.

How did you get into dressage?

I’ve always loved flatwork that’s why my show horses go so well. So when Horse & Hound asked me to take part in a swapping discipline challenge with Michael Eilberg I was really keen. But I soon discovered that dressage is a huge undertaking and I had to accept that I didn’t know anything and start from scratch.

What was the most difficult part of dressage for you personally?

Establishing the contact. In showing we want the lightest contact — as a lot of judges who get on won’t pick up a contact your horses have to go well without it. But I soon learnt that in order to get a horse engaged and going correctly you need a good contact. I went through phases of my contact being too strong and now it’s much lighter again. You have to learn how to use your body and your hands independently. It’s so difficult but awesome once you get it.

You must enjoy it — and are clearly good at it — as you made your small tour debut just two years after the challenge?

I get as much buzz out of dressage as jumping, if not more, and love doing things such as one-time changes. I guess I’m addicted to the training and the special bond it creates, probably because of the hours you have to put in! There’s so much attention to detail in everything that you do with dressage — the horse has to understand you in every way. It’s so intense.

Louise Anne Bell how did your two star working hunters — W Get Smart and Into the Blue — take to the transition to dressage?

I’ve had Into the Blue (Dynamo) since he was three and he’s now 10. He is adorable but demanding — a bit of a pre-madonna and very opinionated. Dynamo found dressage very hard at the start as he’s very spooky… As he finds everything a little too easy, I have to challenge his mind in ways not to indulge his spook! But once he has understood something he will try and please you… and maybe pop in a spook after! He loves one time changes, piaffe, and passage.

So he’s clearly doing well…

Yes… he’s now getting 70% at Inter 2 (and has qualified for nationals at Inter 2), is competing at PSG and will compete at Grand Prix in the autumn.

He won his first advanced at Hartpury few years ago, was second in Valencia and third in Saumur this year (medium tour) and fourth in Barcelona and Mallorca last year (small tour).

And W Get Smart?

He’s the 13-year-old Dutch-bred son of Pythagoras and out of a KWPN mare called Hester whose grandfather is Blakeney, a TB racehorse… He’s a real pleaser, but he sometimes takes control and being nearly 18 hands you can understand why he should really belong to a guy!

He found taking on dressage very easy winning both regional champs and winter champs in medium and advanced medium, but keeping him in self carriage is hard for me although he’s getting very good at it now — the advanced work in piaffe passage has helped him massively.

He’s currently not far behind Into the Blue and competing at Inter 2, coming ninth in Deauville recently.

Do you have any other horses?

I also have another young horse, Zack-ki Rosenlund, who is seven years old. He’s dressage bred but has jumping lines on mother side (Landgraf). I’m hoping he’ll do PSG next year small tour.

So you’re clearly more of a dressage rider than working hunter girl now?

I devote most of my time to dressage but I’m still a part time working hunter rider. My working hunter Catch the Beaver has now qualified for HOYs in the working hunters and recently won me my tenth National Supreme Working Hunter Championship, following in the great footsteps of my legends of the past — Rocky IV, Out of Sight, Cruise C and Cracker — who also won this title on more than one occasion.

You clearly have an eye for a good horse. What do you look for? (when buying a horse)

Temperament, but it’s also got to have presence…. a ‘look at me’ element.

The rest I can work on. It’s also got to have a great walk and great canter.

Any favourite dressage bloodlines?

No. Into the blue is jumping bred (by John Whitaker).

Who do you train dressage with now?

Michael Eilberg once a week. He jumped before he got into dressage so he’s understood me as a rider from day one.

What tips did he give you?

Listen… and do what i say!

And your ultimate goal?

Tokyo 2020. I can’t win medal in working hunter so maybe it’s meant to be dressage.

And why an ambassador for Horse Scout?

It’s a classy website with detailed information on horses and riders. It’s also a fantastic tool for us riders to get our work seen by the public and also great for transparency for buying and selling top quality horses.

Interview by Sam Lewis for Horse Scout

Find out more about Horse Scout Ambassador Louise Anne Bell

Get the most recent updates on Louise Anne Bell and find out more about opportunities to buy her horses and support her as a rider on Horse Scout profile pages for professional coaches, trainers and riders by using this link . 

 

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British Dressage Dressage General Horse Advice Professional Rider

Abigail Hutton – International Dressage Rider

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Abigail Hutton, International Dressage Rider based in Oxfordshire

Since arriving at Talland in 2009, Abigail’s rapid rise in the world of dressage has been nothing short of impressive. Here she talks to Horse Scout about her goals and tips for keeping competitive horses happy.

When did you start to ride competitively?

I come from a non-horsey family and I was happy hacker until I was about 23 when I went to work for a show jumper in Ireland. I had always been interested in dressage and in 2009 my life changed when Pammy Hutton offered me a scholarship to be a working pupil at The Talland School of Equitation in Gloucestershire.

So that’s where you met your husband Charlie Hutton, Pammy’s son?

Yes, I arrived on a Sunday and met Charlie on the Tuesday and that was that!

How difficult did you find the transition to dressage and did Charlie help?

I had to play catch up and was given a schoolmistress, Amo, to start out competing at medium advanced! I had some crap scores, but some good ones too, and eventually rode Amo to Inter 2 and in two regional championships. That opened up the doors to take on more rides.
Charlie is a huge help and I train frequently with him — he is brutally honest with me!

Do you train with anyone else?

I have regular sessions with Carl Hester and sometimes with my mother-in-law Pammy Hutton.

What do you struggle with most?

I guess I struggled with my seat and posture as I hadn’t ridden from a young age and i’m a natural sloucher. Putting your neck in back collar really makes you sit up. Also, I had a long battle with competition nerves and I just found that just going out more and more really helped. I’m going to start pilates too.
What are your career highlights over the last year or so?
I’ve ridden at three National Championships and represented Ireland at Hartpury, Hickstead and Saumur CDIs in 2015. I also placed in the top five at Hickstead International with Armagnac and had a win at Keysoe Premier League with my young horse, Giraldo, owned by Lotty Chatterton.

Tell us about your other top horses?

I have another 12-year-old horse called Don Dino, a 17.1hh Hanovarian gelding, which belonged to Charlie but as he has kissing spine the vet suggested he should have a lighter rider. He’s really talented and we have qualified for the Nationals at advanced medium.
Then there’s Starlet Blue, a nine-year-old mare owned by Judy Peploe. She’s premium graded in Germany but very inexperienced so we’re competing at novice and elementary.
I also ride Giraldo, a really special five-year-old gelding owned by Lotty Chatterton.   I’m off to Hickstead young horse champs with him (national and international class). He has been getting 80% scores and has a really amazing big uphill balanced canter and is really adjustable. And his brain and attitude… I’ve never known anything like it — he just loves to work!

What tips would you give to other riders?

Train hard but don’t take it too seriously — it has to be fun.
Most riders put too much pressure on themselves and their horses but that can make things worse. If you get a bad mark, it can only get better! And if you’re having a bad day when you’re schooling, just go for a canter.

What are your goals?

To keep riding for a living, have happy horses and have fun.
Of course I’d also like to win a national title, go on international big tour and ultimately ride for the Irish team at the Olympics.

Any tips to help keep horses sound and happy?

Horses thrive on routine but don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of my horses do a couple of days dressage, then a hack on Wednesday, then dressage again and have the weekend off. Others have a jump day or a canter day in the middle and Dino only does dressage twice a week — he hacks and canters the rest.
Be patient and take note of what makes your horse feel the best, but don’t worry about breaking it every once in a while — sometimes routine may alter for a show so you need to be relaxed about it!
I’m also a serious fan of getting your stirrups up and working in a light seat to get your horse forward and loose in the back — it’s also great fun! Dressage horses are being bred with so much power and energy now, I think you have to be up for a bit of adrenaline to keep them fresh in their minds and entertained. I also take Giraldo to the water treadmill once a week. (see our blog about Hydrotherapy)

Why Horse Scout?

It looks professional and is it’s clever how horses and riders connect and how you can see the history of a horse and who used to ride it. I also like the fact that there are some great horses for sale but many at realistic prices.

images provided by Judy Peploe

Find out more about Abigail Hutton on Horse Scout

Abi Hutton has a profile on Horse Scouts’ Professional Rider Pages which goes into detail about her career and what she can offer you.  It also has some lovely photos; click through and follow Abigail Hutton on Horse Scout.

 

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Buying A Horse Dressage General Horses For Sale Professional Rider

Shaun Mandy, Horse & Hound’s blogger

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Shaun Mandy – Horse & Hound blogger, dressage rider and coach talks to Horse scout about his practice.

A colourful character within the world of dressage, Shaun Mandy has been trained by some prolific names in the business. Here he gives us the lowdown of his life with horses and shares his tips on buying, backing and training youngsters.

 

How did you get into riding?

I grew up on a fruit farm in South Africa with a riding school on the neighbouring farm. Fascinated by horses, I dragged my mum to the school, began riding and never stopped. I was crazy on eventing despite the fact that from the age of 12, my instructor, Hillary (now a lifelong friend) said I’d always end up in dressage!

Have you worked for anyone famous?

I moved to the UK around 15 years ago when I was 17 for a placement at the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy in the New Forest. From there I became a groom for Pippa Funnell and then Olympic gold medallist, Jane Holderness Roddam, at West Kington Stud where I got a lot of experience riding young horses and eventing.

And in the world of dressage?

I was given a horse that had bottled it cross country by the Dutch rider Eddy Stibbe. I then began training with Jenny Loriston-Clarke followed by Pammy Hutton, but the real turning point was when I decided to pack my bags (and my horse, Poppy, and dog, Pringle) and moved to Denmark to train with Hasse Hoffmann, a top trainer and author. I stayed for 18 months often riding around 10 horses a day from youngsters up to Grand Prix level before returning to the UK in 2015. I now train with Peter Storr and rent eight stables at Gainfield Farm, employ a groom and apprentice, and take in horses to produce, alongside competing my own horses.

Tell us a bit about your own horses.

My top horse is Euphoria E (Inky), a Dutch seven-year-old by Uthopia — I own half of him. We’ve just stepped up to advanced medium, came second at Wellington’s Premier League with 68.55% and we are aiming for PSG in the spring. At the regionals, Inky felt awesome in the Medium test getting many 8s, but unfortunately three costly mistakes meant we finished 9th on 67.47% — one judge summed it up well (see pic) just little disappointing when it’s so close to being super!
My other horse, D.I. Dompadour (Poppy), whom I own outright, was also doing advanced medium with the aim of PSG in 2017, until she had colic surgery recently which means she’s out for the rest of the year now. She’s talented but tricky with everything taking a long time — she’s eight years old now.
I also ride another Dutch gelding, a four-year old called Houston V (Huey) by Tango x Goodtimes, and have high hopes for him. We’ve competed in a couple of four-year-old classes and placed third at Hartpury scoring 78.8%. The next step is novice tests and five-year-old classes next year.

Do you buy and sell horses?

I recently went to Germany with Lorain Nixon, who owns Houston to buy two gorgeous three-year-old fillies. One Furstenball x Sandro Hit (Bella) and the other by Vitalis x Florestan 1 (Bonny). I backed both, sold one within a month, but hope to sell the other after doing some four-year-old classes next year.

So what do you look for when buying a youngster?

Natural ability is good to see when you’re buying an unbacked three-year-old or younger — it’s about watching them move loose in a school. I like to see them as natural as possible in their paces so trying to get them not too excited when chasing them around. Attitude is very important to me and a trainable mind. The walk and canter are also important. Looking for a walk with a good overtrack and an uphill canter with active hind leg. For the purpose of selling on, it helps to have well-known breeding using proven dressage sires and grandsires.

And your tips for backing a horse?

Sounds obvious but a horse learns a good habit as quickly it learns a bad one — so make sure you do everything carefully, slowly and correctly.
And if you have an ‘oops’ moment and scare it by doing something a little too quickly, go straight back and repeat it even slower to ensure they are 100% happy, rewarding them for their patience.

We’re envious… you’ve been taught by some highly reputable trainers — give us one tip that stands out in your mind even today.

It has to be a quote from Hasse, from my time with him in Denmark: “Ride with colour”.
It means to have a plan in your mind when you school and to mix things up — it’s easy to just put a horse through it’s paces but think what you are working towards and make it fun.

So you now train horses and riders up to four-star advanced eventers… Any tips you frequently incorporate into your work?

Make sure you change gears frequently when riding, especially in your trot and canter work. Inky can get stuck in a canter and I really need to think of changing the gear three or four times when going down the long side of the arena. It helps Inky tune into my signals but also strengthens by making him take more weight behind.

So what are your future goals, Shaun Mandy?

To continue training horses and riders, get more sponsors and owners onboard, to ride international GP and, eventually, get to the Olympics!

And your thoughts on Horse Scout?

Networking is so important for any rider in order to get and retain sponsors and owners. There hasn’t really been one place that you can do this until now. It’s pretty cool being able to control your own profile and those of your own horses, whether they’re for sale or not.
…end

– If you would like to keep a horse at livery or train with Shaun Mandy, who also takes competition liveries and producing/sales liveries then visit his Yard Profile on Horse Scout and  find more information on the fantastic facilities at Gainfield Farm – Shaun Mandy Dressage 

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