With the Hartpury Festival of Dressage now being packed away and the riders on the road home. Its time to reflect on what you want form your own dressage training.
Expert Tuition with a Professional Dressage Trainer Matt Hicks; the ‘gentle man’ who has a deep understanding of a horses way of going and how to improve both horse and rider.
Matt Hicks has a keen eye for the difficulties the horses under his watchful eye are experiencing and can interpret the influence (for good or bad) of the rider may have on a horses way of going.
Matt Hicks’ experience in the schooling arena proves his expertise as a Dressage Trainer.
Matt Hicks has experience to pass on built on his own experience through a varied riding career both eventing and in the dressage arena. He trained initially with the late Debbie Johnson (Landford Stud) gaining experience in the event world to CCI3* before focusing on dressage in the 2002/3 seasons building his practice, equestrian career and knowledge base over the next 8 years before taking on the glorious Hurstbourne Equestrian Centre with his partner in 2011. The advantage of being tutored by a professional rider with a string of top class horses is that, for clients who need an understanding of the next level, Matt is keen for his pupils to experience how a movement should feel by allowing clients to have School Master Lessons on an Advance dressage horse.
Matt has taken full advantage of the facilities and his wonderful stable staff going from strength to strength taking six major titles between 2012 and last year both Nationally and Internationally.
His success and his fabulous competition rides are supporting his claim to equestrian prowess and experience in the Grand Prix arena The lovely Excalibur, who has 287 BD points to date is owned jointly with Ms Annie Bacharach and campaigned at FEI Inter 2 . This season Matt Hicks has already, already taken 6 points and a steady stream of the ribbons. This expressive 10 year old is by the Warendorfs Ehrentusch himself a grand prix horse who has 17 progeny competing in the international dressage arena.
In Sheepcote Walnut an AES gelding from the proven performance dressage lines bred by the Pincus family who had several successes on their horses at the recent Hartpury Festival of Dressage. Sheepcote Walnut is By Sheepcote Wurlitzer Owned by Serena and David Pincus who is by Weltmyer/Worldcup , and was successfully ridden at grand prix by David. His other progeny competing at grand prix include Sheepcote Whistle. The Pincus’ are undoubted experts in their field with successes for Sheepcote horses at this weekends Hartpury Festival of Dressage.
His other ride on the syndicated El Zorro, whose antics are all part of his up beat approach to his job! Is by the KWPN Amsterdam by Argentinus out of Touch of Class (by Tin Rocco x Barsoi xx) a dressage stallion who stood in Spain his dam Toline was also a KWPN horse. El Zorro is highly successful and Matt Competes him at FEI PSG having started his competitive career in 2009 he has now amassed an impressive BD 363 points to date.
The Duke (X), a handsome grey is now competing at Medium and is aimed at the Winter Championships. Ali Hincliffe (Matts right hand girl!) campaigned him last year.
And the nine year old Flemming offspring, Balance, out of KWPN mare Kaylee. A hansome Bay owned by Matt Himself, who, I believe, is competing at Advanced and Medium Advanced with Matt.
As a professional Dressage Trainer Matt Excells with the youngsters in his stable.
A young stallion (2011) Gaudeamus by Florencio 1 (Sensation) x Ulfia x Jazz (WBSFH top 5 Dressage Stallion 2013 and 2014) owned by Matt with Mrs Ali Hill and Mr Terry Hill.
The Hugely successful Chameur by Florencio 1 (sensation) x Elite KWPN Trendy also by x Jazz 2010 Champion KWPN Spring Stallion 2012 PAVO Cup winner (Edward Gals’ ride Glock Zonik is by Chameur) reflects the possibility of Gaudeamus as a stallion for the future.
The combined Florencio x Jazz bloodlines are extremely popular, and successful; the progeny exhibiting the grace, elevation and power of their breeding lines. White socks are definitely a feature of the line along with an elegant head and intelligent look.
At year older Fiderschwung by Fidertanz (Grand Prix Dr.) by Fidermark I (Grad.Prix Dr.) x Sandro Hit 1 lines (WSBFH top 8 2013 and 7 2014) again owned by Matt along with Mrs Sandra Thomas an elegant chestnut with the build so liked by Matt strong through the shoulder and second thigh with a well set refined neck and the modern longer back which give these horses their ground covering advantage. Fiderscwung has started his competitive career and gaining a respectable 4th place at his BYHN5OQ last month.
His third Young horse Skyscraper is by Secano (2006 Holstein Champion) Cor De La Bryere lines x Donna. An attractive well made iron grey Oldenburg with characteristically long legs on top of lovely black feet. A young horse with a lot of growing to do yet but an interested look in a calm face with well set ears and nostrils, he looks like he will make a nice picture for the judges in the arena in time, for his owners Ms Annemarie Dolan and Mr Mathew Metcalfe
Matt Hicks as Hicks Equestrian is a BD Accredited Coach, a professional dressage and eventing trainer and an International Dressage Rider who operates for his friendly 5* competition yard Hurstbourne Equestrian Centre which is on a large private estate.
Matt has both long and short term clients horses at livery for training and all levels are catered for
