News

July 17th 2003

My mother and I left wintry Melbourne on Saturday and arrived in sunny Germany on Sunday. People here are very friendly. We have a car this time and I even managed to get to Wietelshof  without help, and arrived in time to have a ride (6pm). The hotel in Warendorf is super and breakfast a treat.

Real work started the next day and I was pleased that the discovery Richard and I had made about the need in the quest for stability in the sitting trot to stretch in the stomach first, before (or simultaneously with) stretching up in the neck in order to allow me to ride as one piece, rather than a stack of blocks balanced precariously on top of each other, actually does work on my own horse. However Susanne told me that the reason Pzazz is not always straight is that I ride him crooked. As I have been working on straightness pretty consistently I was pretty discouraged by this, so I pondered on this all day, and decided not to do that any more (although I wasn't sure how).

 Tuesday I was just more positive in my head about it. I decided that I just was NOT going to make a straight horse crooked any more, Instead of fiddling about correcting the little wobbles; I remembered that he was straight, so leave him straight. Susanne was so pleased with the improvement that she suggested that I should lock the car in the underground car park in the city and have to get the police to let us out every night, as that is how Lori, Mum and I had spent the previous night ( that's what you get for not reading the signs written in German). So a trip to the shop to get white bandages and saddlecloths for the show at Kayhruda, as we were deemed to be ready for a public debut.

 However I have learned that plans here are very changeable and the next day we were still straight, but I couldn't get the poll up, (of course my riding is the problem as Susanne has no trouble, as she kindly demonstrated in 2 minutes flat, simply by asking him. As always he offered it.). I have always found it easier to get the frame down than up, I think as I have done a lot with youngsters and rehabilitating racehorses. So I am deemed not ready to be let loose in public after all. AND THEN today we discovered a way to find that elusive competition frame, but it was too late to get to Kayhruda. Anyway the discovery was  more exciting than a horse show, and all my new white things are still clean.

I hope this story gives hope to everyone out there who struggles away day after day to improve. Some improvements are made by repetition and slogging away and some are made by exciting discoveries, like today when Susanne told me that I should try to enjoy the medium trot, not look like I was afraid of doing it. Well I look afraid because I am, as I can't be confident that I can stay sitting, or not upset the rhythm, etc. I replied  that I couldn't even imagine a day that I could enjoy the medium, then thought, well why not today, just as we crossed X on a diagonal and Hallelulah! The trot was great. Even Susanne enjoyed it and the days work was over. So is this the magical solution, is it that simple that when you decide to just enjoy the ride, your body cooperates and relaxes and progress is permitted? Maybe if anyone reads this they could try it out and let me know if it works. I am certainly going to try to replicate it tomorrow.

My beautiful new bridle from Mal Byrne fits perfectly, and the soft leather reins are fabulous. It has attracted attention from other travellers. It is unusual here to have gear custom made as we do.

We have enjoyed the company of other English speakers, Lori from Canada, and Lisette from Florida. Wednesday we had a special tour of the Westphalian stud, and the FN and the DOKR, the German Olympic training centre. There are 110 stallions at the stud in peak times, but it is winding down now. The stallions are worked daily. The school which examines the berieters is on this site, and utilizes the unfashionable stallions.

Some interesting facts are:-

· The horse industry here provides 300,000 jobs, including 7-10,000 people who train horses and/or riders.

· There are 1,000,000 horses in Germany.

· 28.1 million euro is spent at the horse auctions.

· 2.6 billion euro is spent on recurring expenses for horses, which includes 1.6 million tons of grain.

· In 2002 there were 8866 registered stallions, 115.140 mares and 46.231 foals recorded.

Now it's Sunday and today it was back to where we started, getting my hands right. I learned today that ‘down' is not specific enough. They must be close together, just in front of the saddle, so that the little finger is only a hairs breath from the pommel and vertically aligned, exactly. Hipped roof on top of course. I am told to imagine a German beer stein, of the type with 2 handles and be thinking of holding this still while I ride. This is the control centre of the rider, so must be exactly right.

We visited Herr Ramsboek earlier this week with Susanne. He is a big breeder and dealer. He showed us a paddock of 65 mares and their foals, and told us he has two more brood mare bands like this. He also showed us some very glamorous two year old colts. He has 1000 horses and seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of breeding. He breeds 200 foals a year, and buys about 200. He operates out of two farms, each with a couple of indoor schools and innumerable stables. Whatever it is that you want in the way of horses he is likely to have it. He is also a charming and hospitable host. Thank goodness for  satellite navigation, as I was the designated driver, leaving at 2am.

We also went to the foal show at Gestut Vorverk where 400 foals were presented, for premium ratings and auction selection.. The Royal Diamonds really impressed. It is amazing who you meet here. We were sitting watching and a friendly man started to talk to us. He seemed to enjoy remembering his little used English. He breeds a few foals each year. I asked him if he went to shows with his horses. He thought for a moment, deciphering my German, then told us that he had (? Bred/owned) Shutterfly, and had recently been to Los Vegas to the World cup Show jumping final to see her go! He gave me his card and invited us for tea! People here are just great.

More later. It is likely that I will compete at a show next Thursday, so a moment of truth approaches. Can I produce my new efficient German style of riding under the pressure of the competition? I will let you know how it goes. And I am going to see if the idea of enjoying the ride helps the competition, and I will practice the things on my “when you are hot” list I have been putting together, on the advise of Harriet, the sports psychologist. Enjoy your riding..

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