Hilltop Equestrian Services

Another busy but very enjoyable weekend away for the The Association for British Working Equitation National at Aston-le-walls. It was a pleasure as always writing for our national judges and helping the team behind the scenes as well as getting to see Spanish International judge Jose Benito there for the advanced riders to gain their International qualifications. Well done to all who competed!

Riding this very lovely boy H***h for his owner today. As you can tell he was thrilled at the idea but soon perked up once we got going 🤣

It was a busy weekend of coaching on Saturday and then nipping up to Greenlands Equestrian Centre near Carlisle to judge the regional for Working Equitation on Sunday getting back just in time for the footy 🤣🙈.
Bit nerve-wracking being C judge as up to now I've been the 2nd judge but with 12 amazing competitors and my lovely writer by my side it was a very enjoyable day despite the rain outside!

As ever I only managed to grab a couple of piccies but all clients from this weekend did some really really good work. Everyone was subjected to no stirrups 😄 doing foundation work occasionally does wonders for getting everyone stretched and into better riding positions making them more effective in the saddle.

Got to write for Marcia at The Association for British Working Equitation National competition at Bishop Burton yesterday. I love getting to write for the national judges when I can as you learn so much as well as getting to see the tests from different spots round the arena.

It's been a week between these ears whilst his mums been away enjoying herself. So nice to have the farm track for warming up/cooling down especially in this weather 🌞🌞

Check out that bean!! Removed from Mr Monty today

Yet again one picture from an entire day 🤦‍♀️ today I was judging the dressage phase for the The Association for British Working Equitation regional at Long Lover Livery alongside Holly Barber who was judging the Ease of Handling and Speed.
Great to see so many entries again and be able to judge on home turf 🥳 well done to all!

Lovely sunny day to give pegs a pre show tidy up 🌞

Brew time in the (dare I say) sunshine! Got my yard days mixed up so we are doing fencing and yard jobs to get a start on being ready for our regional competition here on the 16th June.

As most of you know last week I became an approved Regional Judge (up to and including Inter B) for Working Equitation and this week I was straight in to it and was 2nd judge for Holly down for the The Association for British Working Equitation regional at Wing with Sarah Vousden as organiser.
Great turn out with lots of entries and even the sun made enough of an appearance I've come home sunburnt 🤣 as always a great atmosphere despite the long day (at least it wasn't raining!)

Here we go day two of The Association for British Working Equitation Spring Academy 😁😁

I am absolutely terrible with social media at the moment 🙈 but this was from good Friday. We had some lovely weather come out just in time for my two Juniors to come and have a session together. We decided to have a go at introducing them to the Working Equitation obstacles so they can enjoy their clinic with The Positive Equestrian Coach - Steff Singleton. next Sunday.

Just last week it felt like spring was finally on its way! Stark contrast to today where I was back in my winter over trousers and jacket 🥶🥶

Lily was not impressed to be clipped and then come out in the wind and rain for her hooman to have a lesson 🤣

Been busy few days clipping and trimming, unfortunately didn't grab a pic of Peggy's clip.

Merry Christmas to everyone! Hope you all have a fabulous day xx

Clipped Lily this week in time for her showjumping lesson. (Forgot the before photo as ever 🙈)

Yesterday's lesson was a pole day with lots of turns (some easy, some not so easy) finished with a little canter.
Sounds easy but a knock to the confidence a few weeks back has meant no cantering recently but Summer made the decision and gave it a go 🥳.
All this going on whilst being watched from the other side of the fence - this lead to a discussion on if the cow would like to have a go too and how some people ride cows 🤣

🐴It's clipping season!🐴

Full clip £45

Blanket/high trace £35

Low trace/bib £25

Mane and tail tidying £10 each

It's been a busy week of clipping despite an unfortunate incident which meant I broke the charger for my clipper batteries. However all is fixed and the clippers are charged and ready to go!

Fantastic couple of days away. Learning alot as well getting in some practical practise with intermediate and advanced riders who were kind enough to come and ride for us 😁

A fantastic 2 days of judge training with José Andrés Benito at the wonderful facilities of The Unicorn Equestrian Centre.

🎉 Redrock looking show ready! 🎉
This was ready for Cheryl competing at The Association for British Working Equitation national at Hartpury at a few weeks ago
Full plaiting up plus hoof black

🎉Catch up time 🎉
Beautiful Golega ready to compete in the regional competition of Working Equitation at Long Lover Livery over the weekend (13th August)
Full plaiting up with a running plait as Golega is a PRE

Day one done!

Day one of our Advanced Judges Course at The Unicorn Equestrian Centre. Great to have all national judges and most candidates present. We are so pleased to welcome International WAWE judge José Andrés Benito here from Spain to share his knowledge and experience!

It's been a very busy few weeks so thank you to all of you for putting up with last minute changes. I am away at a WE Judges course with almost all the UK judges and candidate judges to learn from Spanish International Judge Jose. I will be back to normal 🤞 as of this weekend 19th August. Looking forward to catching up with you all!

I have actually used this as a teaching technique! It is a rather useful tool for encouraging the riders to feel contact on the horses side and to squeeze the horse on rather than tap or kick.
When teaching younger kids I put my hand where I want them to squeeze their legs and tell them to try and make me say ouch 😆

A sunny evening well spent watching Holly doing her demonstration of the Ease of Handling phase of Working Equitation