Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2017 | Page 85

Equestrian
TRAINING HORSES
with Robert Booth BHSI
Having a four year old this year is both
fun and daunting: bringing a young
horse out into the show atmosphere
can be very exciting.
The shows have grown and got very busy - especially
at the lower level where a young horse has to start
- and most classes are combined with open classes,
which mean they are competing against more
experienced horses. This means the timing is faster,
which is not so good for youngsters.
With the last two horses we started at four years
old, there was much more on offer for training
and training shows. Being more of a trainer than
a competitor, I prefer these and found the British
Showjumpings Equine Pathway invaluable for the
production of a young horse. Being in a different
environment with other horses in a controlled way,
and working with top trainers is my way of doing it -
but unfortunately this is no longer available.
This was how Rydam Regis and Upgraded Flight, who
is now jumping 1.30m confidently, were brought up.
The Origin Show held at Quainton Stud, sadly held
only once back in 2008, was Rydam Regis’ first show
and was a brilliant way of introducing a young horse
to a show. The horses were judged by experienced
foreign judges for style, schooling and performance
and received constructive advice. We were allowed
a ring walk before our class, to let the horse see the
jumps and the arena.
The event was held over three days, the courses got
progressively bigger and tougher, and every day the
horses grew in confidence and experience. It was all
about producing the horses. Rydam Regis finished
fourth at that show and is now jumping Grand Prix
in A