Fiona Maynard Para Rider

Wishing one of our lovely long term liveries Camillo a very happy 18th birthday! 🥳 Thank you to his owner Claire for the delicious cakes today! 😋🎂

Head over to our Tiktok and give us a like! We don't think we'll quit our day job!! 🤣💃

TikTok · Fiona Maynard Dressage Check out Fiona Maynard Dressage’s video.

Head over tomorrow to my new Tiktok account to see what me and my team have been up to...🫣

https://www.tiktok.com/.maynard.dre?_t=8lZuRlkaIwi&_r=1

*** Course Jumping Clinic***
Show jumping course Jumping with Alex Wyatt. For that foot perfect round, shaving off those seconds and tricky distances… come and join us at Bean Place, TN26 3AZ on Sunday 21st April from noon. Contact Emma on 07592890382 to book your place.

Very excited to be hosting this clinic!!!

UPCOMING CLINIC!

We are delighted to be working with .maynard.dressage and will be running a Bit and Bridle clinic from Bean Place, Bethersden on Friday 22nd March.

You can book via this link https://horsebitadvice.com/horse-bitting-clinics/

Welcome to new member of the team Talia! Talia has joined us to complete her level 2 apprenticeship in horse care with her young horse Nova

When life throws you a curveball, take a breath and make time for yourself! Thanks to Sean Roberts at Silvolutions Hypnotherapy

***First one of 2024- 📣📣!!***

Marion Bush Pole Dancing clinic with Invicta Riding Club, at Bean Place, Bethersden on the 17th February, only a few spaces left! Members and non members welcome! Contact Emma, 07592890382, if you would like a place! £25 including arena hire in a pair or three or £35, including arena hire, for an individual session.

(AD, Paid Partnership) Thank you and for our special delivery! So excited about the new season!!

Fantastic present from my yard manager! Very pleased I'm a unicorn and not a chestnut mare!! Lol! 🤣🦄

***Last one of 2023- Last call📣📣!!***

Marion Bush Pole Dancing clinic with Invicta Riding Club, at Bean Place, Bethersden on the 16th December, only a few spaces left! Members and non members welcome! Contact Emma, 07592890382, if you would like a place! £25 including arena hire in a pair or three or £35, including arena hire, for an individual session.

****NEXT STEPHEN MOORE CLINIC****

Rare opportunity, Spaces are going fast!!!!

Stephen Moore Dressage Clinic at Bean Place, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AZ.

Hosted by Invicta Riding Club, riding club members and non members welcome.

Friday 8th December and Saturday 9th December 2023

Stephen is an International Dressage Trainer, who has taught all over the world. He is a sympathetic trainer, friendly and understanding.

All levels welcome from grassroots to Grand Prix, including para.

An excellent opportunity to watch other horses and riders of all shapes and sizes. Meet new people and enjoy our horses in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Price: £60 plus £5 arena hire.

Please contact Fiona on 07789202782 or Emma on 07592890382.

***Next Event- Last call📣📣!!***

Marion Bush Pole Dancing clinic with Invicta Riding Club, at Bean Place, Bethersden on the 18th November, only a few spaces left! Members and non members welcome! Contact Emma, 07592890382, if you would like a place! £25 including arena hire in a pair or three or £35, including arena hire, for an individual session.

****NEXT STEPHEN MOORE CLINIC****

Rare opportunity, Spaces are going fast!!!!

Stephen Moore Dressage Clinic at Bean Place, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AZ.

Hosted by Invicta Riding Club, riding club members and non members welcome.

Friday 3rd November and Saturday 4th November 2023

Stephen is an International Dressage Trainer, who has taught all over the world. He is a sympathetic trainer, friendly and understanding.

All levels welcome from grassroots to Grand Prix, including para.

An excellent opportunity to watch other horses and riders of all shapes and sizes. Meet new people and enjoy our horses in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Price: £60 plus £5 arena hire.

Please contact Fiona on 07789202782 or Emma on 07592890382.

Fiona and Denver have arrived safely at Wellington and Denver has flown through his last international trot up of the season! 🤩 Fingers crossed for the next few days! 🤞 Denver is going to be sleeping in comfort in his HUGE stable!

This explains the importance of the effect of biomechanics at all levels. So we can not only ride better but keep our horses happier.

So what is Rider Biomechanics? 1. Overview

Rider biomechanics is the organisation of the rider’s body, to enable the horse to carry them most easily and efficiently perform the movements required in whatever discipline they are working. Horses communicate using body language and energy, they are super sensitive to the body language and energy of those around them and respond accordingly. The more the rider is aware of their body and able to differentiate various body parts and eliminate parasitic movements the clearer their communication becomes. I say rider, but also include those working with horses from the ground, whether general carers or trainers.

To quote Mary Wanless “You can not NOT influence the horse’s way of going when you are in the saddle.” and Carl Hester “Riders need to be in self-carriage too.”

Imagine you are giving a child a piggy back. Is it easier if they sit centrally and still, or if they slump over to one side and/or wriggle about?

One way of assessing riders, sees them in 3 groups, whatever they are doing, those who
a. have a negative impact on their horse
b. are neutral, not getting in the horse’s way
c. have a positive influence , able to teach their horses how to come into self carriage and perform increasingly challenging movements.

Almost all riders start as type A. As they progress they can move to B and C, given appropriate training and feedback. Riders cycle through these categories as they become more proficient at one pace / activity they may challenge themselves and their horses further, which takes time and practice to become proficient at. e.g. once you can ride a square or circle at walk well, it does not necessarily mean you can ride it equally well in trot or canter without appropriate practice.

It is generally easier for a rider to learn on a more experienced / trained horse than to try to teach the horse while they learn too. The gap between the experience of the horse and rider should not be too great though, as this in itself can create its own challenges, in matching the forces and speed. You would not teach someone to drive from scratch in a Formula One car.

Many riders think Rider Biomechanics is all about the basic position of straight line ears, shoulders, hips, heels (ankles), but this is not the case. This is just the starting point, or one of the foundations. However, if these foundations are not solid and consistent then it is difficult to build on them without compensations being made. Like so many sports or arts, the best make it look elegant and effortless, as if they do nothing, while the beginner looks busy and uncoordinated.

Riders (of any age) who learn from scratch with Rider Biomechanics as a focus tend to become more effective and confident riders quicker. Their learning is accelerated. Those that learn without this focus tend to struggle longer, then plateau, then need to go through a period of unlearning and relearning. This not only includes theoretical knowledge but muscle memory / habits, so requires more repetitions than when learnt correctly or in close approximation in the first instance.

Whether a beginner or International competitor there are always improvements to be made by paying attention to your biomechanics, whether for the health and comfort of the horse or those critical extra points. Practice does not of itself necessarily make progress, focused, attentive practice is required to progress.

Look out for more in this series introducing Rider Biomechanics.

***Next Event***

Marion Bush Pole Dancing clinic with Invicta Riding Club, at Bean Place, Bethersden on the 23rd September, only a few spaces left! Members and non members welcome! Contact Emma, 07592890382, if you would like a place! £25 including arena hire in a pair or three or £35, including arena hire, for an individual session.

Denver arrived safely at Somerford Park yesterday afternoon for the National Championships! Him and Fiona are on at 10.09 this morning! 🤞

Worth a watch!

📅 SAVE THE DATE! 📅
🔗https://DressageTraining.tv/tickets
Live Public Webinar with Mary Wanless BHSI BSc.

🚀 Limited spaces available - act now to be sure of a place. These webinars fill up quickly! 🏃💨

We are excited to announce that due to popular demand Mary Wanless, Ride With Your Mind, Is coming back to do a 3 day clinic.
Saturday 30th September to Monday 2nd October 2023.
For information and bookings please email: [email protected]