My evening with Andrew and Bettina

[seabiscuit]

Yesterday there was a lecture-demo at Hoplands with Andrew and Bettina Hoy. Briefly this is what was covered-

First up we had Bettina on a young horse, and she explained that she always, always stretches the horse down in all 3 paces when warming up, and gets them working really deep and round, with the nose pointing outwards. This she does for a good 15 mins or so before bringing the horse up.
She says that this is so important, esepecially with young horses to build up the muscles behind the saddle , people dont appreciate the importance of stretching down enough.
Next up, we had a pupil of Bettina's, she was about 17 or so, she comes from Austrailia , where she has competed at one star level. Her sponsor paid for her and the horse to fly over to the UK and train with the Hoys for a year. Lucky girl!
Her horse was a v.unusual looking ex polo pony. Both girl and horse did some beautifull flatwork, with the horse showing the beginnings of piaffe.

Next up was Bettina on Cocaktoo! Absolutely stunning to watch! He did look cosmic with his long white wooly legs underneath a fully clipped body!
http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/desertstream545/?action=view&current=MVI_0461.flv

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/desertstream545/?action=view&current=MVI_0466.flv

Then two pupils did some jumping... poles on a circle. Video here. The smaller horse is the girl from Oz, and the bloke with the silver helmet is a pupil from Germany, in contention for the next Olympics. Emphasis was on rhythm, rhythm, rhythm, all the time. Bettina was endlessly clicking her tongue as they came round corners!
http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/desertstream545/?action=view&current=MVI_0468.flv


Then we had Andrew jumping a new 5 year old...Absolutely stunning , so athletic. Definately a future superstar..sorry camera ran out on this video..
http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/desertstream545/?action=view&current=MVI_0469.flv

Then the German lad did some more jumping..his horse was superb, just skipped over the jumps.
Then there was Andrew jumping Baloo, a 3 star horse. Lovely genuine Irish type. Not flash, or very eye catching. He did everything in absolutely textbook fashion. (with the help of Bettina's tongue clicking around the corners!

)

Then they went on to talk about how they ALWAYS go cross country schooling on EVERY horse before EVERY event- even all the advanced horses. Just to run through the water, steps and coffins etc. Andrew said that people do not practise their cross country enough. So before every single event every horse gets schooled cross country. On top of that every horse gets jumped twice a week, and they always start jumping with on a circle with the sort of exercises in the video above.

So all in all it was a very enjoyable evening, and made me realise that I really do not do enough preparation for my events! So the highlighted points were, much more stretching and working long and low before and after work. Jumping at least twice a week always starting with jumping on a circle with ground poles. Much better rhythm to be established when jumping. And XC schooling before EVERY event( gosh that will be expensive!

)

 

[wizoz]

Wow, what a brilliant informative evening. I've always admired how beautifully Andrew and Bettina's horses are so well schooled in every phase. They are both superb riders in their own right and to have been privvy to that exhibition must have been quite humbling. Lucky you and thanks for sharing

 

[digger2]

Yes thanks for the post, i feel like i've leart just from your comments!

 

[H-J]

Great vids

Im in communication with them both at the moment for a 2 day clinic at my yard this year

Cant wait

 

[icestationzebra]

Thanks for posting that - very interesting! Particularly liked the exercise on the circle - will give that a go!

 

[Baggybreeches]

Wow thanks for that, my trainer does a similar exercise with circle. And what a good excuse 'I HAVE TO GO XC SCHOOLING BEFORE EVERY EVENT' because Andrew and Bettina do!!!!!

 

[Ferdinase514]

Very interesting!

I used to do the jumping on a circle exercise with Finnus!

PMSL at HJ the organiser!! - let me know if they come...i'd love to come and watch

 

[H-J]

Im quite a good organiser! I spose comes with the PA terrotory!!

Will def let you know

 

[Chatty2]

Thanks for sharing this

I hope they do some clinics round my way.

 

[ChestnutMonty]

Great post thank you, esp jumping on a circle - never heard of that before- will have to try!

 

[jesterfaerie]

I am going to see this demo on Tues, cannot wait. And it sounds fantastic!

 

[igglepiggle]

Do they have other dates then?

 

[SpottedCat]

That's really interesting and highlights a couple of points for me, firstly that us amateurs can't hope to compete with pro's if there is a need to do that - there is no way I'd have the time or money to do that before every event! Also, I think I'd have a different opinion, which is that if your horse is bold and comfortable at the level, I'm not sure I'd want to put the extra mileage unnecessarily on its legs. Perhaps that is why I don't do very well BE!