Island Life Magazine Ltd October/ November 2012 | Page 98

EQUESTRIAN

Equine trainer
Robert Booth BHSI

Rodgebrook Horses
Tel: [phone]
rodgebrookhorses.co.uk

Growing up fast
This year started very slowly as far as

atmosphere of a bigger show, but having

and after learning to duck to go in the stables

competing is concerned. Having made the

experienced Hickstead stables and lorry park

he was relaxed stabling away from home.

decision to pass our best horse Rydam Regis

in the wet we decided not to take him. We

In the four-year-olds at Hickstead he

(Greg) on to William Funnell we suddenly

did however get the chance to watch Greg

again had to go in a completely different

found ourselves without a horse to compete.

make his first appearance in the main arena

type of arena, this time on grass and big

So the three-year-old Upgraded Flight

with Dan Moseley, rider for Billy Stud in the

open spaces which can be daunting for a

(Grant) we bought just before Christmas

1.50m Young Riders Championship where he

young horse. But he proved himself again by

had to have a crash course on how to be a

finished a commendable fifth.

jumping a clear to qualify for the main arena

showjumper.
Usually we would start an early three

the next day in which he jumped a very grown

International Show at Hickstead but for the

up round, putting in some nice shaped jumps

year old, leave them for the summer and

same reasons we decided not to take him but

with just one down. Grant has had to grow

start again as a late three year old ready to

it did give us the chance to watch Dan and

up fast but it shows he has the mind and

compete at the beginning of the summer

Greg again and have a bit of a holiday.

enthusiasm for the job.

season at four. Grant was well handled, well

We did make it to Addington Young Horse

bred for the job being by Upgrade out of a

Show with what was a very low mileage four

Turbo mare, a blood type with lots of energy

year old. The format of the show is designed

ready for work so started breaking him as

to encourage and improve the youngsters

soon as we got him.

with steady progressive courses. Considering

He was easy to break although a little

Grant had only briefly seen one other outdoor

exuberant and playful he took to work very

arena, to go in and jump round with one fence

quickly. We had the summer worked out with

down was very brave.

a few training shows planned finishing with

98

Grant was also entered for the Royal

He qualified for the championship with

the young horse show at Addington Manor in

a clear round on the second day. A rush

August and Hickstead National four-year-olds

of blood and too much confidence in his

in September. Then it rained!

championship round caused him to have

We had him entered for the Hickstead

three down mid-course, but he did compose

Derby meeting just so he could get used to

himself to finish nicely. We knew then we had

stabling away, roam around and soak up the

a brave and enthusiastic horse to play with

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