End of Year Round up

There has been a strong recurring theme for the last month or so which is "the mind". Perhaps some day I should explain where the name Clear Light originates from as this is also related to the mind. But for now I shall tell you a little about what I've been up to.

So last month it was the British Dressage National Convention at Hartpury taken by Adelinde Cornelissen. I am very glad I went, along with three other trainer friends. Adelinde was there with both her mind coach and her physical coach. She is incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about her training and has boundless energy. Her training regime involves a lot of co-ordination exercises from juggling whilst balancing on a Swiss ball, to boxing, to trying to push someone off balance! Fascinating to make the connection between these exercises and dressage, looking forwards to incorporating some of this into my seat clinics.

Adelinde works with the successful cob Tiger Tim

Lots of audience participation

 

 

I then attended a course in a subject I've always been interested in, and now hold a Diploma in NLP. What exactly is NLP? Neuro linguistic programming is a range of techniques that allows you to be the best you can possibly be. It can help "reformat" your brain and transform negative thinking, as well as help you achieve the goals you might possibly have only dreamt about. The course was very interesting from both a riding trainer perspective, and also from someone who is interested in the mind and psychology in general. Whilst I'm generally a motivated person who tries to live with as few limits as possible, I think the training will help me to support others in achieving their goals. Of course I already work with nervous riders and competition riders, but I think having detailed NLP knowledge will be able to benefit people in less obvious situations also.

Risby and I did a dressage to music demo for the kids at the riding school, or should I say Risby Rudolph and I ;-) The weather was absolutely terrible, it had been raining non stop for weeks and the school was flooded. He was a bit fluffy and plump at this point, having not been ridden much due to the awful conditions. We got absolutely drenched but we had fun, and enjoyed a mince pie and some mulled wine after!

 Risby Rudolph flying through puddles!

He even had lights around his neck

Olympia was a fantastic end to the year, and it was a real treat to see Charlotte and Valegro again. Thank you to my friend Stacey for the ticket! What a fab 2013 it has been with lots of competing, Germany and plenty of interesting horsey trips out. A big thank you to all my trainers and friends who have been amazingly supportive and enthusiastic, and of course to all the wonderful horses I have been privileged to ride. The only sad ending was that Dotty has been sold now :-( However she has gone to a wonderful home with a professional rider and we look forwards to following her progress :-)