The last few months of pre-season training has been substantially minimised for my main event horse, Ronnie, due to suspected ulcers. The few weeks off ridden work didn’t stop our pre-season training, having regular trips to the water treadmill to maintain and develop his muscular strength, as well as treatments by In Hand Equine Osteopathy to ensure he was in peak condition ready for pre-season training once he was back feeling on form! Within just a few weeks of gastric treatment he was feeling much better and our pre-season training was under way, including a trip to the gallops last week, a gridwork session and U18 South East XC training at Tweseldown!
I have been focusing predominantly on dressage with 14hh Barney this winter season, progressing up to BD Advanced Medium with many successful results including placing 2nd and 5th at the BD Area Festivals, as well as being chosen to represent England at the Pony Club Dressage Championships at RWHS in May! As well as this, Barney’s pre-season training has been well underway with treadmill sessions, fitness hacking, gridwork and arena XC schooling. Barney is ready and raring to go for the event season now and I can’t wait to see what we get up to!