Despite the cold weather approx 100 owners, riders and coaches of Equine Pathway horses from dressage, eventing and showjumping gathered at Addington Manor on the 29th November for the second Equine Pathway information day.
Presentations during the morning session were made by the Equine Pathway Managers, Caroline Griffith, Corinne Bracken and Yogi Breisner. Will Connell also gave an overview of the venue to be used for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, which will be a target for some of the horses currently on the Pathway, whilst John McEwen looked from a vets perspective at how best to preserve the longevity of the performance horse.
Also presenting was Dr. Lars Roepstorff of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, who is currently working on a co-federation and FEI funded project looking into the effects of surfaces on the performance horse.
The group then moved to the indoor arena for the practical sessions, hosted by Yogi Breisner.
Richard Davison was first to work with Carl Hester on a young pathway horse who is likely to make his debut at the Grand Prix in 2011; followed by John Ledingham, who worked with Laura Collett and Simon Crippen with two young horses on a variety of jumping exercises before they jumped a small course which the riders and John then analysed for the audience with input from Richard and Yogi.
Simon and Laura then changed onto more experienced horses and worked with John again on a more complex set of exercises. The three coaches John, Richard and Yogi then took questions and encouraged discussion within the group.
The World Class programme which hosted this event is very grateful to Simon Crippen , Laura Collet and John Ledingham who stepped in at the 11th hour.
Related Links
Sport England Funding to Aid Equestrian Participation, Retention and Excellence
Dressage at the 2009 Royal Windsor Horse Show