Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2014 | Page 71

Training horses with Robert Booth BHSI Equine trainer Rodgebrook Horses Tel: 01983 521870 rodgebrookhorses.co.uk Robert Booth Fun at training evenings F or many years I have been holding training evenings for the Vectis Equestrian club; fortnightly on Tuesdays at home, Froghill or Little Kennerly Farm; flatwork or jumping and weekly Monday evening jump training at Froghill tack, Godshill through the summer. These are informal, fun and sociable, not too demanding group lessons. The tendency nowadays for private one to one lessons has become more popular and is useful for more individual training, but the importance of being able to ride in a group helps enormously in many ways. It makes riders aware of others around them and helps to keep to the same speed and rhythm as others. They have to shorten or open their horses to keep in time and it is a good opportunity to work on basic, often forgotten exercises and rider position. Watching others can improve understanding of what is to be achieved and help to see why and how things happen. For the horses, it teaches them to behave in company and to be sociable with other horses in a controlled environment. It also teaches them to move away from the group and ignore the others while working and concentrate on the rider, and to not get excited by others working around them. It is very good for young horses before they have to start competing. Mandy Steen from Froghill does a wonderful job of organising these evenings and manages to get everyone in the same place at the right time. These lessons are open to all and it’s a good chance to meet up with fellow riding club members and F