DECEMBER 2008
Welcome to your BYRDS South West newsletter!!!
(Sit down with a glass of mulled wine & a mince pie & have a good read!)
Trudging around soggy fields, dealing with filthy rugs and muddy horses is the order of the
day at this time of year. Limited daylight means many of you will not be able to ride as much
as you would like. It is therefore a time to reflect on your achievements during the Summer
months and plan your goals for the future.
Try to set yourself a ‘long term goal’ i.e. something that is possible to achieve by – say
Easter. It could be achieving 68% in a test you may enter at our Festival. It could be some
training goal; to be given a 7 for your trot to canter transitions for example. It could be your
riding technique – being able to do a whole diagonal in a 20 x 60m arena in medium trot
sitting! Then work out some mid term goals which will help towards that end, and lastly some
short term aims that you would hope to achieve within the next 2 weeks. Thinking about your
training in this way focuses you more and makes the sense of achievement much greater.
Write these down and tick them off when achieved! Read Ali Dawson’s piece in this
newsletter which will explain more fully.
TEAMS 2009.
We will be sending teams to the following shows in 2009.
Please use the attached form to register your interest in representing BYRDS SW at any of
the team competitions for 2009. Should you change your plans and decide that you no
longer wish to be considered, or should your horse/pony go lame etc., please contact Mrs
Scrimgeour immediately –
Phone 01672 514276 (before 7pm) mob. 07813773113
Email: [email protected]
The College, Keysoe Bedfordshire
5 Teams of 4 people to be sent from each region. Each team to comprise one member from
3 of the 5 squads (A*, A, B, C, Fledgling) A* is for riders on horses who are on a national
squad. (Riders cannot represent their region if they have a Union Jack pocket badge).
We try to send as many people as possible to this to give them team experience. It is also a
great show where everybody gets to know each other.
Selection Procedure: Riders must enter the BYRDS SW Festival in April and compete in
their current squad test. Should the rider be unable to come to the Festival it may be
possible, by special arrangement, to ride their squad test at one of the subsequent training
days and that result will be taken into consideration. Those gaining the highest scores and
who have shown a real commitment will be chosen. Selection not until 3-4 weeks prior to
the competition.
Marlton, Southern Ireland. Friendly International
We are allowed to send 3 teams of 4 people. The teams are Pony, Junior, Young Rider. The
levels that they can compete are up to them, from Novice to Prix St. Georges . This show is
selected initially by BYRDS SW, but as it is an International Show with teams representing
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the final selection is done by National Selectors of
British Dressage.
The Home International, Wales
Our ‘Premier Team’ competition for the summer where we would hope to send our 2 most
successful and experienced teams.
Team make-up last year was 1 Pony, 1 Junior, & 1 Under 25.Member. The 4th member was
of any of those categories. Team classes Novice to Medium. Individual FEI classes.
Sheepgate Under 25 National Championships in August
This is a great competition and we try to send as many people as possible. This year we got
in 3 teams of 4 riders plus a few individuals.
Selection Procedure for all the above: Riders wishing to be considered for either Marlton
or the Home International should send their result sheets regularly to either Claire Moir or
Mrs Scrimgeour, by email, showing results achieved in affiliated classes over 66% at the
level they wish to compete at, and 68% in unaffiliated classes. The BYRDS SW Christmas
Show and The Festival will both count as Selection Trials. All other test results should be
counter signed by the judge or show organiser. At least 3 results are required. Those
showing the most consistent and highest percentages, coupled with the commitment to the
teams will be selected. Final selection will be about 3-4 weeks before the competitions.
I do hope that Santa brings you all that you wish for and that you enjoy the Christmas fun at
The Grange – music classes with optional fancy dress - please come and support the show.
The Festival is looking great and there is an ‘open’ fancy dress to music class there too the
evening before– so come on Parents…? There is a rumour that some of the trainers will be
taking part – just a rumour!
Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during the
Christmas holidays.
Best wishes,
Claire Moir
British Dressage Talent Competition Results
Ponies : Lydia Rogers 2nd
Samantha Berry 3rd
Juniors : Emma Jenkinson 6th
Well done to you all.
A viewing day held at Bury Farm in Buckinghamshire, under the sharp eyes of new Team of
selectors & top trainers resulted in Abbie Hughes, Steph Pike, Rob Trobridge & Jennie
Bracken being invited to attend BYRDS National Training Weekends.
In the Pony Viewing, Sam Berry, Fiona Wood & Laura Thyer have been selected for the Pony
Squad and will be training at the Unicorn shortly. Sarah –Jane Keevil is also being invited to
some of the Pony Squad training. Junior rider Olivia Kuropatwa has been selected for the
Prime Squad and Emily Harris has been selected for the Progress Squad. Sarah Gorvett has
been selected for the Young Rider Squad. Well done to you all.
Also huge congratulations to Ed Chanin, our para rider who has been selected for World
Performance development scheme after a viewing day at The Unicorn in November.
15 year old Lydia has been a member of BYRDS since the days of her tiny grey pony Crackerjack –
12.2 at best. She was part of the C squad for the very first Inter-Regional at The College – and won
the Individual title. A few years later on a slightly bigger grey, Romany River Princess she was part of
the winning team again at The College. Lydia has evented and hunted various ponies as a member of
the VWH Pony Club, winning at Area Eventing, jumping some huge hedges out hunting and being
well placed at the Regionals.
In 2006 Little Jasper was purchased, 14.2 chesnut of great talent but even bigger ego!! Lydia has
really worked hard to bring him to Medium level and this summer it all paid off at the PC
Championships where she won her arena and finished 10th overall. She went straight on to Sheepgate
where he went well in the pony FEI test.
Lydia borrowed Ballerina from Lucy, her sister, for the BD Talent Spotting at Medstead Grange and
went on the finals at Addington – a really interesting couple of days with fabulous training from
Connie Endres. The first day saw Lydia gain the highest mark overall and after the ride-off on Sunday
afternoon she finished as runner-up, not bad for someone who only manages to ride one day a week
when she is home from school.
When not buried in school books – 2 GCSEs down and the rest this summer – Lydia plays lacrosse and
netball at county level and is aiming to become a lawyer after leaving St Mary’s, Calne.
Well done to Lydia for a very successful 2008 and good luck for 2009.
BYRDS South West Autumn Camp
South West BYRDS members enjoyed a motivating training camp at the Hand Equestrian
Centre, during the half term break. Lots of new members were present, which was a great
opportunity for them to meet new people/friends and the schedule was full of variety so lots to
learn! The first day was spent with a lesson by either Chris Dannan, Claire Moir or Dan
Greenwood, which was followed by a group ride with the same trainer. This consisted of the
whole group discussing what they could identify for themselves, the positives and negatives,
including what exercises should be used in order to improve either horse/rider. It also gave
the riders a chance to practise what they had learnt in the lesson and apply it for themselves,
without a trainer helping (as you're on your own in a test situation)! This proved invaluable for
all and very worthwhile! Jacqui Pyle was also very busy on the stable management side and
had designed a great quiz - which made everyone have to think! Our annual AGM and
Supper was held on the Monday evening, including a totally inspiring talk by the Team Gold
and Individual Silver para - olympic medallist - Simon Laurens. I felt very determined after
listening to his experiences - as he portrayed anything is possible if you set your mind to it
and work very, very hard in order to achieve your targets. It was a privilege to hold/wear his
Olympic medals - I'm even more determined to win one now! I took three horses to the
training camp which kept me on my toes - however all three dramatically improved and were
very well behaved making my job much easier. It resulted in a weekend of seven
affiliated wins at Bicton and Stockland Lovell, ranging from prelim to medium which was
brilliant - the trainers did a good job! On behalf of the riders we would all thank the
organisers who enable us to receive such good tuition and have a great time in the process:
Deirdre, Claire, Dan , Chris, Ali and Jacqui including also Mr and Mrs Davis who own the
Hand! I was awarded an Elizabeth Woodward training bursary - which I am going to put
towards training to help me with my flying changes! Members were also awarded gold
achievement strips for representing the SW region in various teams both nationally and
internationally! Lydia Rodgers gained the trophy for achievement - she rides a difficult pony
with which she has worked very hard and has now reached medium level with him, with
success! It was a great camp and we are now all aiming even higher for 2009!
Abbie Hughes
Members’ news
Philly Roberts
I am spending my gap year, after finishing my A-Levels in June, at Ferdi Eilberg’s yard with
my young horse. The work here is amazing and the training and riding of all the Eilberg’s is
just inspiring. The main thing with the training that I have learnt up here is the consistency
and the planning that goes into every single horse and every single training session. Each
time you ride the horse you must improve it in some way or another. I have found this
consistency and planning has turned me into such a more focused and thinking rider. I now
start each session with a plan, right from the walking in to the working down. Each movement
should be ridden in the same correct way every time you ride, the half pass or the shoulder in
has one way of being ridden, one set of aids, and each time you ride it you put the aids on
and the movement happens. The riding experiences I have had have been so great, from my
first piaffe and passage work on Pro-Set to jumping x-country banks on show-jumpers.
I couldn’t have asked for a better yard to be in and just don’t want it to end!!
Abbie Hughes
I first met Ferdi when I spent a week at his yard for work experience at the age of 14 – he
terrified me! However I returned to the yard in every school holiday and at every chance
possible – absolutely loving it. It is an inspiration to see all the horses improve each time I
visit – it’s often a dramatic difference – due to such correct training. I have learnt so much
mainly about discipline! Learning to be clever and how to train each individual horse, knowing
exactly what you are aiming to achieve in each training session. He says ‘you must train your
horse not just exercise it’ which makes you have a plan therefore results are quicker
achieved. I find generally being in that atmosphere makes you ride better, watching
professionals work and getting the opportunity to ride a variety of quality horses is such good
experience. I always return home full of enthusiasm, very focussed and ready to achieve
some good results.
Teal Anthoney
WOW! I’ve finally attended my first BYRDS camp, when my Mum said I could go I squealed
with excitement. The programme was full on, from getting up early, mucking out then getting
ready for the days training, to learning how to trot up my pony Ben, in my stable management
lesson with Jaqui. Clair Moir provided the instruction for my individual and group lessons in
which Ben and I learnt loads of useful things with plenty of advice for our continued training at
home. I enjoyed meeting the other families at the supper and was delighted to meet Simon
Laurens, who presented me with a Bursary from the Dr. Elizabeth Woodward Training Fund,
for which I was most grateful. It was really cool to be at The Hand, a venue that has so many
facilities on offer and it was well worth the experience, even though it was four hours
travelling for us to get there!! Thankyou to my Daddy for taking me and for all those involved
with making the Camp happen, I am looking forward to the next one, as it was a great
experience from which we benefited massively and learnt so much.
Emily Harris
We all hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a
Happy & successful 2009.
NEWSLETTER FOCUS – GOAL SETTING BY ALI DAWSON
What is Goal Setting?
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future as a dressage rider,
and for motivating yourself to turn this vision of the future into reality
The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in your riding career. By
knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your
efforts.
Being focussed
Goal setting techniques are used by top-level athletes. They give you long-term vision and
short-term motivation. They help you to focus on improving your knowledge, skills and
techniques. They also help you to be better organised and to identify the support that you
need to achieve your vision.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement
of those goals. You can see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long
pointless grind. By setting goals, you will also raise your self-awareness, as you recognise
your ability in achieving the goals that you have set.
More than this, properly-set goals can be incredibly motivating, and as you get into the habit
of setting and achieving goals, you'll find that your self-confidence builds fast…..and that
leads to improved performance!
Getting started
Start by looking across your performance to date and see what you’d like to achieve.
Goals are set on a number of different levels:
First you create your "big picture" of what you want to do with your riding, and decide what
large-scale goals you want to achieve. These are the ones that you would like to achieve in
your lifetime, or at least the next 10 years.
Second, you break these down into the smaller and smaller targets that you must hit so that
you reach your large scale goals.
Finally, once you have your plan, you start working to achieve it. Following a goal plan isn’t
always easy but there are some tips and tricks that will help.
Goal Setting Tips
The following broad guidelines will help you to set effective goals:
•
•
•
‘Positive intentions’ Make sure that all of your goals are worded as positive
statement so…you would say something like “I want to have a positive mindset”
instead of “I want to stop thinking negatively”.
‘Stay SMART’. Be precise: Set a precise goal, putting in dates, times and amounts so
that you can measure achievement. If you do this, you will know exactly when you
have achieved the goal, and can take complete satisfaction from having achieved it.
•
‘First things first’. Set priorities: When you have several goals, give each a priority.
This will make them more manageable.
•
‘Think in ink’. Write goals down: They’ll be no good in your head where they could be
easily forgotten.
•
‘Bite sized chunks’. Keep goals small: Keep the low-level goals you are working
towards small and achievable. If a goal is too big, then it can seem that you are not
making progress towards it. Keeping goals small gives more opportunities for reward.
•
‘Being in control’. Set performance goals, not outcome goals: You should take care
to set goals over which you have as much control as possible. There is nothing more
dispiriting than failing to achieve a personal goal for reasons beyond your control. In
sport, for example, these reasons could include poor judging, bad weather, injury, or
just plain bad luck. If you base your goals on personal performance, then you can
keep control over the achievement of your goals and draw satisfaction from them.
•
‘Keeping it real’. Set realistic goals: It is important to set goals that you can achieve.
You may set goals that are too high, because you may not appreciate either the
obstacles in the way or understand quite how much skill you need to develop to
achieve a particular level of performance.
Remember……SMART Goals:
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. SMART
stands for:
•
•
•
•
•
S Specific
M Measurable
A Attainable
R Relevant
T Time-bound
For example, instead of having “to ride for GB” as a goal, it is more powerful to say “To have
represented Great Britain, internationally, at Young Rider level, by January 2015.” Obviously,
this will only be attainable if a lot of preparation has been completed beforehand!
Achieving Goals
When you have achieved a goal, take the time to enjoy the satisfaction of having done so.
Give yourself a ‘pat on the back’. Recognise the progress you have made towards other
goals. If the goal was a significant one, reward yourself appropriately. All of this helps you
build the self-confidence you deserve!
Keep tweaking your plan
With the experience of having achieved this goal, review the rest of your goal plans:
•
•
•
•
If you achieved the goal too easily, make your next goals harder.
If the goal took a dispiriting length of time to achieve, make the next goals a little
easier.
If you learned something that would lead you to change other goals, do so.
If you noticed a shortfall in your skills despite achieving the goal, decide whether to set
goals to fix this.
Failure to meet goals does not matter much, as long as you learn from it. Feed lessons
learned back into your goal plan.
Remember too that your goals will change as time goes on. Adjust them regularly to reflect
growth in your knowledge and experience, and if goals do not hold any attraction any longer,
then let them go.
If you don't already set goals, do so, starting now. As you make this technique part of
your life, you'll find your performance improving and your riding career accelerating,
and you'll wonder how you did without it!
Have you got something to sell or is there something you need?
For a £10 donation to BYRDS SW, we can place an advert in this newsletter.
WANTED!
Adverts for this newsletter.
Please send your advert copy along with a cheque for £10.00 made out to ‘British
Dressage’ to:
Katie Oakeley, Acorns, 57 Firs Drive, Hedge End, Southampton, Hants. SO30 4QQ
FOR SALE
KN Symphonie Dressage Saddle
Karl Niedersuess (KN) Symphonie Dressage Saddle in good condition. Black 17
1/2” medium fit.
The Symphonie is a classic dressage saddle with a deep seat. The saddle tree is
specially designed to allow enable the horse to move through the shoulders and
back in comfort. The rider is able to achieve a balanced position from which to
influence the horse.
Only ever been used on one horse throughout his very successful dressage
career. Cost £1400 but would accept £500 ono.
Contact Di Pigott on 01793 790313 or email at [email protected]
CARL HESTER MASTER CLASS
Featuring Valegro & Movistar
This was a wonderful opportunity to see one of the best riders in the country demonstrate
how he trains his horses. Carl and his team brought 4 horses with him including Movistar and
Valegro, showing them from young horse through to Grand Prix. The whole event at Crofton
Manor was televised by Horse & Country TV and will soon be shown. Well worth watching!
THE SOUTH WEST BYRDS CHRISTMAS SHOW
THE GRANGE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
OKEHAMPTON
Tuesday December 23rd 2008
(by kind permission of the Reddan family)
Open to all under 21 years & U/25 “active” BYRDS
Please contact Mary McGinley 01822 820355 or email
[email protected] for details
2008/09 S.W. BYRDS IMPORTANT DATES
December 23rd CHRISTMAS SHOW The Grange Okehampton
Hon Organiser/Secretary Mrs Mary McGinley 01822 820355
Apr 25th & 26th 2009 BYRDS SW FESTIVAL The Hand Clevedon
Gala Dressage to Music Saturday evening – all levels
Classes to suit all levels on Sunday. SAE to Mrs S Woyka, Home Farm,
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0QW
2 DAY CAMP.
HAND EQUESTRIAN, CLEVEDON
March 7th/8th
CANCELLED
TRAINING CLINICS
MANTON, Marlborough
Please contact Mrs. Scrimgeour for details 01672 514276
Change of date from Dec 30th to JAN 4th
Jan 4th
Claire Moir, Ali Byrne (& Simon Laurens) £45
Feb 15th
Ali Byrne
£35
March 8th
Claire Moir TBC. Ali Byrne (& Simon Laurens TBC) £45
April 17th
Ali Byrne
£35
May 24th or 25th or 26th Claire Moir, Dan Greenwood Ali Byrne TBC £50
June 14th
Ali Byrne & Test/Squad Practice £45
HALF MOON STUD, Dorset
Chris Dannan
£50
Jan 2nd
Feb 6thpm/7th Chris Dannan
£50
Please contact for Judith Parker for details 01725 552334
CATHERSTON STUD, Wiltshire
Feb 16th
Jennie Loriston-Clarke/Claire Moir £TBC
Please contact Mrs. Scrimgeour for details 01672 514276
TALL TREES, Cornwall
Helen Sisson
Sep 27th
th
Dec 30
Helen Sisson
Feb 16th 09
Helen Sisson (Half Term)
April 6th 09
Helen Sisson
th
May 25 09
Helen Sisson
Sep 26th 09
Helen Sisson
Please contact Jane Hoskin for details 01218 831632
THE GRANGE, Okehampton, Devon
April 16th
Matt Frost & Chris Dannan
£42
Please contact Jaqui Pyle for details 01837 851282
THE FORTUNE CENTRE RIDING THERAPY, Bransgore
December 28th
Claire Moir
£45
Please contact Claire Moir for details 01425 672323
Clinic, but Squad Upgrade a possibility
TEAM APPLICATION FORM
Form of intent and your wishes to be considered for a South West Team in 2009. Please ring
Deirdre Scrimgeour with any queries before 7pm, or email. Please keep Mrs Scrimgeour
informed of any change of plans immediately before teams are finalised. Final Selection will
normally take place 3 to 4 weeks prior to the competition. You will not hear anything prior to
this although there may be an earlier long list of Possibles for the H.I.so –
Communication is vital!!
NECARNE
30th APRIL/ 3rd MAY
( )
MARLTON FRIENDLY INT. 5TH/6TH JULY
( )
COLLEGE INTER-REGIONAL 12TH/13TH JULY
( )
HOME INTERNATIONAL - 28th/29th/30th JULY
( )
SHEEPGATE U-25 NATIONALS 18th/22nd AUGUST
( )
NAME ……………
AGE ON JAN 1ST 2009 ……………………….
HORSE/PONY HEIGHT/AGE …………………
LOWEST STANDARD ABLE TO COMPETE & AVERAGE % GAINED.
STANDARD COMPETING AND AVERAGE %
PRESENT SQUAD ……. …
THOUGHTS OF UPGRADING IN 2009 to ………?
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER …………………………………………..
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS
We will need your ongoing competition records. College is in squads, one of each plus one from any squad.
We select. 5 Teams of 4 .. There are higher individual classes too.at Marlton, Sheepgate & H.I. We will know
more details in the Spring, but please contact Deirdre Scrimgeour for further information if necessary. All team
participation is at the rider’s own expense.