Thursday, 7th November 2019.
Tory and I have been invited to support coach Alison Kenward at her dressage to music demonstration at this year’s Your Horse Live event. We are packing mountains of food (human and equine), drink, clothes, tack, safety kit and of course our super smart Equestriman breeches, gilets and base layers into the Horsebox and the camper van we have hired for the weekend.
We are both nervous. Me extra nervous because we found out too late that the horses needed to have been vaccinated within 6 months and Beau is due next week. So we are only taking Stella who I have ridden 3 times! We have agreed to share the riding so we both get to push ourselves out of our comfort zones, and get to have a lesson a day in the live coaching session.
We are also excited. Since we didn’t do quadrille this year this is our annual holiday! The camper van has a shower and central heating as well as a room each for Tory and I so we don’t argue over the one bed in the Horsebox.
We calculate that it will take an hour to get to the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh, we load up Stella and head off.
Tory has left the camper van at home so as I head down the road with Stella she pops back to get it. We live in Northampton, and I expect to see her in my mirror on the M1 but has still not appeared on the M45, at which point I am already wondering why I have not had hands free fitted to the truck so I can track her down! At the end of the motorway there she is, so we head across country in convoy.
Stoneleigh Park is big. And I almost turn into BHS HQ because it’s the first horsey sign I see. We drive past, down the lane, turn left at Stoneleigh village and keep going. I wonder if I have gone too far and if I have enough diesel to get lost. Then, on the right, we see the big entrance gates and turn in. Security are super helpful and show us where to go. We park up and go to investigate Stella’s pad for the weekend. The temporary stables look pretty permanent, and there are 3 bales of Bliss Bedding ready to put down for her. That turns out to be more than enough, even on tarmac. We hang her haylage and put her water in, and install her. She has food and plenty to look at so is quite happy.
The row opposite is full of ponies who are all wrapped up in body suits and bandages. Turns out they are all here for a native breeds showing championship so need to stay super clean. Stella’s row is empty but the signs on the stables say they will contain Ben Atkinson’s stunt horses for the weekend - how exciting! Around the corner are stables marked Jonty Evans, Sharon Hunt, Lee Pearson, Isobel Werth, morning Charlotte Dujardin and even one marked Valegro! Even though those stables are currently empty we are star struck so open a bottle of wine.
Later, after microwave dinners in the camper, we wander up to see where the route is to the arena and how spooky it is. We realise as we pass the main hall that we could have ridden, but it’s too late now as Stella is tucked up for the night (and we have had a glass of wine) so watch the show ponies for a bit, examine our Country and Stable Arena and then after we have made the security guard a cup of tea we go to bed.
Friday, 8th November.
It’s my turn to ride today (how did that happen?) so I wake at 5 already petrified. The arena go round is at 7 so Tory tacks Stella up for me and we lead her up. Disaster, the arena is not open yet and all the rescue ones who should have been walking round inside are being led up and down the horse walk. Stella thinks this is BRILLIANT and is on a mission. My legs are not as long as hers and so she has to slow down, which she objects to. When we reach the arena Alison is there and Tory finds someone to open the doors for us all. The ponies go in for their leg stretch and when they leave, we go in. Trec GB and Ben Atkinson are in there, and this makes for a packed warm up. Stella finds this exciting so we go straight into trot and Alison talks me off the ceiling. After about 40 minutes we have settled down and she is working beautifully, then an announcement comes over the tannoy telling people to move vehicles and Stella tenses and starts scuttling in panic! I also panic and again Alison has to talk me down. Stella settles again and we manage to walk, then they announce again. We have only a couple of minutes left so I decide what will be will be and I take Stella into what will be the ‘safe corner’ and dismount. We lead her back to her box and I have a little cry because I am still so nervous. Alison hugs me, Tory takes care of the pony and we all settle down again.
A little later our fellow display riders Rachel and Francesca arrive with their horses and we all get ready to go and do our thing.
I have decided that it will help to get Stella up the lane early, so we head up at 10 for the display at 10.30. This was too long. Stella gets bored of walking in circles fairly quickly and starts to fidget. Soon enough the others arrive and we are called in.
I trot round, trying to stay out of everyone else’s way, and listen for Alison’s instructions. I find out afterwards that some of my friends were watching, but right now I don’t see them. I do as I am told, circling in and out, offering a centre line and some medium strides, showing stretch (sort of) and the basic movements required at prelim dressage to music. Then it’s time for Rachel and Francesca to show movements to music.
We take Stella to safe corner but she won’t stand. I dismount and she manages to stand for 5 minutes then it all starts to become too much so we take her out. This was a good thing because she is quite happy to be back in her stable and munching. Once she is settled and everything put away we go back and catch the end of the demo. It looks like the audience is captivated and Alison is doing a great job!
In the afternoon Stella has a rest and watches the activity on the yard instead.
Tory and I wander round the stalls and stands and chat to people we know. Then it’s evening stables and bed time again. Tonight we buy chicken and chips from one of the food stands and eat it on our walk back through the stable yard to the camper van.
There is excitement through the evening as people arrive with huge Horseboxes and settle their horses in. Then we hear the gates being locked and everybody settles down for the night. I go out to take security a brew, see Jonty Evans and almost throw myself on the floor shouting ‘not worthy’, but regain control in the nick of time and simply nod and smile.
Bed, sleep, recharge.
Saturday, 9th November.
Tory and I are awake. It’s just gone 4.30 am. Bleagh.
Tory’s turn to ride today at the 7.30 session so we feed Stella at 6. The yard is gradually starting to come alive and all the horses are STARVING! That’s what they are telling us anyway. Stella looks like she has slept well and is ready for her grub. We head back to the camper for another brew - we’ve paid for the gas so might as well use it.
Simon is coming today to see his Equestriman clothes in action. So is the rest of the quadrille team 😃Batmananna, Chief Cheerleader and Mrs Whipcracker will be cheering us on from the sidelines.
At 9.30 there is a stable walk round for some of the lucky show attendees, so we had better make sure Stella’s pad is tidy! That’s a job for after the arena go round.
To be continued...
Much love, Tam, Tory and Stella (and Beau, happy in his field)
EQUESTRIAN SPORTS
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