Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2014/January 2015 | Page 75

Training horses
with Robert Booth BHSI
Equine trainer
Rodgebrook Horses
Tel: [phone]
www.rodgebrookhorses.co.uk

Robert Booth
Taking on a youngster

A

s a producer and trainer of young
horses, and having carefully sourced
our youngsters and knowing
trustworthy breeders to obtain them from,
passing them on to the right home is very
important to us. When we start a nice
youngster and work with them through the
stages of their education we can try to assess
the horse and put them into the category for
their potential as a competition horse. Then
hopefully when a purchaser comes along
they can find the right horse to suit their
requirements.

Obviously young horses are not suitable
for novices and they require knowledge
and consistent work, but a great deal of
satisfaction is gained by working with a
green horse and building a successful
partnership and trust between horse and
rider. The latest young rider to take on the
challenge is Hayley Gregory from Seaview.
Having taught Hayley for some time I knew
her ability and felt confident in selling her
the lovely four-year-old bay gelding SHW
Romeo (Toby.)
She is quickly developing a rapport and

understanding with him and it is looking like
a good match in both type and personality.
Hayley had plenty of time to get to know
Toby with us before her decision to buy him,
and after taking him home, settling him into
her routine and bringing him for regular
lessons they have successfully completed
two schooling shows at Lake Farm with clear
rounds and good behaviour.
All credit to Hayley and her mum Dorothy
for putting in the work and commitment
and we wish them good luck and a
successful future.

Useful tips
on training your horse

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ften a young horse will
revert back to being very
green at his first show, so the
more you can prepare the horse
for a new experience the better.
He will need to be able to be
ridden in company, see strange
places and new jumps and

be able to load on and off a
horsebox.
Leave plenty of time and start
in the smallest class you can,
preferably a clear round where if
you do make a mistake you can
usually go back to correct it.
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