How to Excel At Being Average

Wonky day 12/2/17 on 12th February I attended a sidesaddle unmounted rally at Pittern Hill Stables by kind invitation of Roger Philpott and Ginny Oakley - who are the masters of all things sidesaddle!  The morning was spent in the (freezing cold) school, watching riders and horses of varying experience jumping a small grid.  We saw a lady who is new to jumping wonky but not new to wonky and her amazing horse.  Then 3 ladies (one of whom was partially sighted and who never moved in the saddle - perfect balance) who are intermediates jumping wonky though experts at sidesaddle.  Finally we were given a demo by a rider who has won sidesaddle rider of the year SIX times jumping a racehorse fairly new off the track.  A-maze-ing dahhhling, and in equal parts thrilling and fascinating to watch.  Lean your left shoulder towards your horses's right bit ring seems to be the key to not falling off!  And kick on because a long flat jump is much easier to sit than a showjumping style bounce

Tam and Beau's  Haynet Blog February 2017 – You’ve got to have a dream… Hello Haynet community!  To start, I’d like to introduce me and my little horse Beau.  I am average, at everything.  If you take one thing from following this blog please let it be that averageness shouldn’t stop you trying new things and giving it a go – it doesn’t stop me!  Beau is not average, he is an opinionated grumpy old thing, and a total legend.  I have thrown so much at him in the 18 months we’ve been a team, and he has gone along with it all In 2016 we played at dressage training, Team Quest, quadrille training and competition, sidesaddle, gymkhana games, a spot of jumping, Riding Club camps, Your Horse Live and lots of relaxed hacking.  Horses are my spiritual home, and always have been even though I’ve struggled with confidence and motivation quite a lot over the last few years.  Beau is my therapy There is not much to share on our activities this month.  All we’ve done is the first w