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