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Welcome to my Blog!
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RIDER: EMILY TOLLAFIELD
HORSE: Scarlet
BREED: Selle Francais
HEIGHT: 15.2hh
HORSE: Finn
BREED: Dutch Gelding
HEIGHT: 14.2hh
Emily Tollafield & Scarlet with Trainer,
Kirsty Short & Bouncer
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Hello everyone, I would like to introduce myself, the ponies I ride and my support team eg mum and our two
dogs Lucy and Treacle who spend most of their time sleeping and
working out how to steal food – so far this year they have enjoyed a roast chicken and three picnics –
only two of which were ours!
My name is Emily Tollafield, I am 14 and come from Gravenhurst in Bedfordshire. Raglan Road aka Finn is
a 14.2hh, 6 year old dutch gelding who belongs to Sarah Baker – we have had him for nearly two years.
When he came he was unbroken and quite nervous so its taken time to build up his trust.
My riding career started when I was two with a shetland pony ‘Spider’ who was the perfect lead rein friend.
An elderly loan pony Rosie gave me the first taste of hunting aged 4 and I remember the first day I ever
cantered very well.
Another loan pony a 12hh Welsh Section A, Sam gave me experience of a pony with a tricky personality,
introducing at an early age the great leveller that ponies can be and how to sit a buck! Three years
of great fun hunting, jumping, eventing.
When I was 8 years old, the opportunity came to loan a newly broken 4 year old grey 13.2hh welsh x tb
mare – Grey Squirrel. A wonderful mare with a lovely jump, however her less than perfect confirmation
and sometimes tricky temperament did not lend themselves to dressage. Five wonderful years with
magical moments out on the hunting field, show jumping, inter hunt relays, eventing and pony racing –
we went to the Pony Club National Novice Championships and were 10th at Milton Keynes 3 Day Event –
the only pony in the line up!
With the knowledge that Squirrel’s competition career was to end in 2010 and maternity leave beckoned,
her owner purchased an un-broken 14.2hh gelding to take her place. With a huge, naturally talented
jump ‘Raglan Road’ aka Finn arrived – a nervous and sharp pony he has been a testing boy in all
aspects of handling and ridden work – after much time and patience our partnership is growing (we have
had some character building moments though) which normally end up with me looking at his bottom
galloping away whilst I am sitting on the ground!
AIMS FOR 2011
A guideline to his season during 2011 will be some early PC Events at Novice Level (BE 90) with the
aim of qualifying for PC Novice Championships and getting experience before registering BE and
competing BE 90 with BE 100 towards the end of the summer finishing with MK 3 Day Event in September.
He will also contest Burghley Event Pony Classes.
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FINAL FEEDBACK FROM TRAINER, KIRSTY SHORT |
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What a fantastic season for Emily, a real story of how hard work, determination and ambition shows you just what you can achieve.
Ems started the season with a green Finn, whom she was finding it hard to stay on, but through her dedication and hard work she has created a fantastic partnership and produced a lovely pony.
Being able to have this experience with Gareth Hughes and Baileys, has offered Ems to think not only about riding but also how what you feed your horse is so important. Baileys have made a difference to all the horses we feed a huge thank you. Gareth helped brake things down so simply it reminds us that we should make things easier for our horses to listen to us Emily gained so much from not just the training but to see how others produce their horses. Emily is not just a young rider but very professional in how she approach’s her riding and I look forward to next season
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Monday 19th September 2011.... |
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How quickly does the time fly? It seems like only a few weeks ago that the Tried and Tested Programme commenced and so soon it is coming to an end.
Since Milton Keynes Three Day Event, Finn has been slowly ‘let down’ – long lazy hacks and gentle work to keep him ticking over. Sadly Doris (Stychlands Regal Lady) has been sold which was always the plan, she has however found the most wonderful new home and I know she will be loved and enjoyed hugely by Alyce.
I had an interesting day last Wednesday when a group of us from school were invited to a one day conference in Edgebaston ‘Girls Go Gold’. The keynote speaker was Dame Kelly Holmes and the day involved a number of talks and seminars aimed at school aged girls who are passionate and dedicated about their sport. A great day which gave information on psychology, nutrition and balancing sport v friendships v school work.
The following week-end I completed the last section of my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award which involved a 25km walk over two days and camping overnight.
The highlight of the last two weeks was my final session with Gareth. The day dawned bright and sunny and after a straightforward journey it was good to catch up with everyone at Gareth’s beautiful and peaceful yard. Jane from Baileys gave Finn the once over and immediately picked up on the area where he needs to build up some more muscle – Im looking forward to seeing the results of the Performance Balancer she recommended.
I was the last lesson of the group which gave me the great opportunity to watch – Gareth had not met Finn before and with five minutes of watching him and a quick chat set us to work. Finn was working in a correctoutline but is ready to move up to the next stage and take some more weight behind, Gareth guided us through and we asked Finn to work more up-hill in small bite size sessions, the improvement was clear for me to feel and everyone to see.
All that was left was a photocall and goodbyes – so with a touch of sadness, this is my last diary entry, I hope you have enjoyed reading about my season.
Once again a huge thank you to the team at Equine Affairs and Baileys for putting together the programme and their support throughout.
Best wishes, Emily
PS: Lucy (puppy – well two years old) has just enjoyed a whole cream sponge cake which was supposed to be for my birthday party – she looks a bit guilty but not as much as she should!
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Monday 19th September 2011.... |
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Hope you are all well – I have had a busy and enjoyable couple of weeks since my last diary – lots of fun enjoying reminiscing over the Gosling Cup and preparing for MK 3 day event.
On the Friday of Blenheim Horse Trials, not only did I have a day off school but enjoyed the company of my Gosling Team Mates and Harry Meade who walked us round the 3 * cross country course and spend time explaining not only how to approach and ride the enormous fences but also gave us an insight to his methods.
Last Sunday I took Doris and Finn to Bury Farm to jump round a show jumping competition each to prepare for Milton Keynes as it had been a little while since either of them had been out – both jumped well with Doris 3rd with a double clear and Finn having a rail in the jump off.
Leading up to Milton Keynes, both ponies had their last gallop and both felt fit and ready. Friday dawned and we headed off to Milton Keynes with Doris and Finn smart and ready for their first vets inspection which they both passed. Doris dressage followed and she did a great test which left her in 6th place – Finn followed quite quickly afterwards and produced his reliable, accurate lovely dressage only marred by me forgetting to halt – he finished the day 4th in his section. Having walked the roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross country courses we headed home.
Finn was first up on Saturday morning and he set off on phase A, the roads and tracks just after 11am – feeling fit and well he was spooky and I needed to hold tight – he was somewhat shocked at the first couple of steeplechase fences but soon got into his stride and finished just within the time. Phase C went well and he passed the vet – in no time we were out on the cross country course and he was foot perfect and came home within the time and no time penalties.
Doris was at the end of the day nearly the last to go –
she was her normal easy ride and I loved every minute of it –
again clear and home within the time.
After cross country both ponies were in 3rd place – the scores very close over the top 10 in each of their sections.
Sunday morning and trot up – both ponies were through with a thumbs up. Sadly the leader in Finn’s section and the 2nd place in Doris’s both were withdrawn moving us up to 2nd. They both jumped great clear rounds and it was left for the leaders of the sections to go – both jumped clear and Doris and Finn were placed 2nd.
A fantastic few days – Finn and
Doris are having some down time but not too much for Finn as we have our Gareth Hughes Day coming up soon.
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Monday 5th September 2011.... |
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Hope you are all well – Finn has had a quiet couple of weeks after the excitement
of The Gosling Cup and he is now busy getting ready for Milton Keynes Three Day
Event in two weeks time – I have increased his fast work in preparation for the steeplechase and longer cross country phase so by the time of the event he will be fit and raring to go.
Even with Finn having a restful time, I have been busy – a great Pony Club Rally
with Scarlet where we worked on shortening and lengthening of strides – Scarlet at
15.3hh managed to put more strides in a distance than the 14.2hh ponies!
Straight from the rally I headed over to get Squirrel and Bolero ready for his BEF
Futurity Grading at The College – Squirrel was filthy, a quick bath (and I wont
tell you what mum did to her mane to get it into plaits – it involved scissors
and defn not in any manual Ive read). I led Squirrel and although only three
months old Bolero behaved beautifully and showed off his paces to the judges
like a pro – we were all so excited when he was awarded an Elite Grading of
9.0 and was the highest placed Eventing Foal of the day and Reserve Champion
Sports Pony Eventing Foal of the whole 2011 Futurity Series.
I enjoyed a great day out at Burghley on Thursday and it was good to catch up with
Kirsty and lots of other friends and to watch the PC Team SJ which I am aiming for
Finn and I to do next year. The next day we headed to Holkham Beach with my friend
Amber, her pony Cookie, Doris and the two dogs – it was a beautiful day and we had
a great time – even though we ended up on the nudist part!
Sadly, the Summer Holidays are over and I am back to school, however for the next
few weeks I am on a four day week – this Friday we head to Blenheim to enjoy the
prize that The Gosling Cup Team won - a course walk with Harry Meade (hopefully
Kirsty will be off the waiting list and competing so we can support her too),
the following Friday is Dressage Day at
MK 3 day and the following week is our lesson with Gareth – what an exciting time.
Ill keep you posted.
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Monday 22nd August 2011.... |
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Sorry to sound like a show off – PWPC WON The Gosling Cup 2011 yesterday and Finn and I were part of the winning team.
The Gosling Cup is a unique five phase event for Pony Clubs in East Anglia, 2011 was the 65th running of the event – so with Tack and Turnout, Dressage, Team Ride, XC and Show Jumping it is a busy day – and with all four scores counting there is little room for mistakes.
The lead up to The Gosling Cup is always frantic; I have been part of the team before, however this was Finn’s first year and he was somewhat shocked by the preparations. Luckily the team (Clodagh Murphy, Sadie Lenburgs, Georgie Hay and myself) and our ponies were invited to stay at Mary and Con Dower’s for a few days before to prepare and practice. Sue Allen came to help us for the team ride and many friends, members and ex members of PWPC came along to help get our tack and ponies ready for the turnout.
Hosted this year by the Essex and Sufolk Pony Club in Layham, the alarm went off at 4am! With the XC and SJ courses walked, final touches were made to tack, ponies and the team members before entering the Turnout Arena where three judges look for anything that might be out of place (the rules are quite strict and sashes have to be pinned in a certain way, no numnahs allowed the list goes on!). The Judges were complimentary about the team and commented they wished they could give plus marks so we were hopeful of a good result in this phase.
Shortly after the turnout and a photo call we headed down to the dressage area to warm up –
all four members enter their respective arenas at the same time so its tricky for the support
team to watch everyone. Finn produced a lovely test, he made a few mistakes but nothing
dreadful not helped by arena being on a bit of a slope – the others went well too.
The news came through that we were 2nd in the T and T and 2nd in the Dressage.
Next came the Team Ride, Sue arrived and we ran through the Test (a dressage team
ride written especially for The Gosling Cup) - it is a great thrill to enter
four abreast at A, halt at X and
the salute to be taken by a member of the Household Cavalry.
Tack was changed ready for the XC, a tricky and technical course with
plenty of skinnies – the commentary was good and it was worrying to
hear that it was causing plenty of problems. Once on-board and warmed-up
the commentator reported the course was on red– it took nearly an hour
before the course was clear (during this time the news came through
that we were 2nd in the Team Ride). Finn was a star and gave me
a wonderful ride across country – the only slightly
tricky moment was at the sculptured hedges when he jumped the middle!
The rest of the team had great rides too.
Another change into show jumping gear – the arena was tight and on a slope and clear
rounds were hard to come by, Finn felt tired and a bit flat and although not the
tidiest of rounds he jumped clear and helped me out – the team had three clears
and one 4 faults.
Time to chill, relax and think about the day with everyone and then the news came
through that we had WON – it was so exciting, PWPC have not won The Gosling Cup
for seventeen years. Individually I was 2nd in my arena and Sadie and George
were 3rd.
Prize Giving followed with all the teams competing parading – we were all soon covered in rosettes and then The Gosling Cup was presented. After the lap of honour we were taken off for photos on and off our special ponies and the day ended with a water fight in the water jump.
An amazing day Finn was a star throughout; he is going to have an easy time for a couple of weeks before getting ready for MK 3 day event.
Hope you enjoyed reading about The Gosling Cup as much as I enjoyed competing in it!
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TRAINER FEEDBACK: KIRSTY SHORT |
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Emily has been having an amazing time with all her horses. She has been gaining so much confidence
and is proving to being a very competent jokey and it shows all her hard work is paying off. Emily now
has the summer to perfect everything she has been working on, so she is making the most of it.
After her training session with Gareth, where she rode her mums horse Scarlet who is on the feeding
program, Emily has taken her out to various parties where she has behaved impeccably and jumped
fantastic. They are really happy with the results and it shows in the photos how well Scarlett looks.
Great coat, well rounded and perfect amount of energy!
Emily wanted to work on her balance when she first came to me and Finns spookiness. With her
hard work and determination she has cracked this for the time being. She managed to fly round the xc
course with one stirrup at the weekend; a few months ago Emily would not have coped, so I think a
massive congratulations to her. Emily has been working on lots of courses, riding without stirrups and
having lunge lessons too.
Finn has got better the more he goes out and that is key to a green horse. It’s all about how much
they see and Emily has been out and about most weekends. If they can’t go competing they go xc
schooling, this helps not only the horse but the rider too. This is key to building the partnership and
what everyone needs to do more of.
This opportunity has not only given Emily the confidence to show everyone what a talent she is, but
also to help her focus on the task that she has to succeed with the young horses. It is not easy riding
young horses especially when you don’t have the experience but what it does teach you is patience
and that if you keep going you will get there eventually.
The next four weeks will be working on getting to Area Horse Trials and going well there fingers
crossed to qualify for the champs.
Well done em good luck with the next four weeks.
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Monday 8th August 2011.... |
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Hi everyone, I hope you are all well.
I went to the Milton Keynes RB Equestrian Derby last Sunday. We took Doris and Finn.
The course consisted of 18 fences, about 4 with AB combinations. They had mirrored
the Derby course almost exactly! They had the Bank, Road Crossing, Devils Dike,
a Water Tray, the Via-Duct wall and the double of gates! It was all laid out beautifully.
Doris did the 2’6 – 2’9 and just rolled a pole coming out of the double of uprights.
Doris came 7th with the fastest 4 faults.
Finn was a good boy; he was doing the 3’0. He jumped everything and he also rolled
a pole coming down the hill. He finished 6th also on the fastest 4 faults!
Photos courtesy of Dave Hay.
With PWPC holding their Main Camp just down the road in Gravenhurst, I had a good jumping
session with Nicky Chandler in the week leading up to Area Horse Trials. We were outside
on grass and Finn was getting quite forward and running through me a bit, but we soon
sorted it and he jumped very nicely. Finn has become much more powerful in his canter
(its all that work walking up and down the hills at Rowney Warren) – the downside is that he
sometimes becomes un-balanced and on his forehand, which is contributing to having the
odd pole down show jumping. This is an area we will be working on at home with lots
of canter poles and something I am looking forward to working with Gareth on when
we see him in September.
We got up very early to leave at 6.15 yesterday (7th August) to get to Isleham, Soham for Area Eventing.
Finn did a nice test of 30 penalties, which I was really pleased with. We then got ready and warmed up
for the Show jumping – Finn was being a good boy. After the Show jumping we had ended up with 8
penalties, which was unlike him! He was a good boy around the XC course, gong clear and not having
any time faults. We came 5th overall, which was good even with the extra 8 faults. The team
finished 7th, but unfortunately prizes were to 6th!!
Photos courtesy of Dave Hay.
One of my aims for 2011 was to qualify for the PC Novice Championships and we
have been so, so close and it has been a year of ‘if only’ (if only the bike
had not come down road as we went past A at Area Dressage, if only the planks
had stayed up) that’s horses for you and he has been such a star in this first
year of competition – Finn has a quiet week-end coming up (although we will be
doing lots of work at home) before the preparations start for The Gosling Cup
on the 21st – a unique five phase team competition
for Pony Clubs in East Anglia. The first phase is Tack and Turnout so the
polishing starts....
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Monday 25th July 2011.... |
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I had a really successful day at the recent New Bury Farm ODE. I rode Stychlands
Regal Lady, a 9 year old, 13hh bay mare owned by Ashley Harrison she finished 2nd
in the Junior Pre-Intro. Doris (as she is known at home) has shown great talent
in all three phases -
she has contested three ODE's this year and jumped double clear in all three with
top five places.
The weather at New Bury Farm was the worst I have ever ridden in - during the dressage phase on Doris I could hardly see the judges car it was raining so hard - Doris tried her hardest and produced the best test she could and stayed focused and calm.
Doris went on to jump double clear around the 12 fence SJ course and well-built but attractive XC coming home across country with fastest time in her section but we still picked up time faults. Doris was amazing, the rain was still pouring down and going slippery across country but she took no notice - I just steer her to the fences and off we go!
The rain slowed a little by the time I rode Finn in the Junior Intro at 90cms. We had a lovely test of 31.1 and then Finn went on to jump a lovely round in the Show Jumping.
The drama unfolded on the cross country course when the buckle on my left stirrup broke at fence five the ditch to a skinny on an angle!! I had no choice but to remove the flapping leather and continued round the rest of the course (16 fences!!) with one stirrup and I finished with no jumping penalties. Pulling Finn up was not going to happen, he was going so well and really helped me out over the ditch and skinny as I was so unbalanced by the stirrup and leather braking - I was disappointed that I ended up with time faults but delighted with him as he has only done a few
events.
Finn was 3rd, which I was so pleased about because he had really helped me out on the XC course when I was riding with only one stirrup!
Finn over the famous barges – without a stirrup!
Well, today wasn’t as eventful as last weekend!
We went up to the Cottesmore Pony Club for an ODE. The countryside was beautiful! There was just field after field after field of pure grassland!
Finn did a lovely test of 30 penalties and was 2nd after dressage. He just rolled a pole in the Show jumping and we went clear XC over a technical course that had plenty of questions and had lots of steep hills!!
Unfortunately we had some time penalties – in the pony club they have introduced a new rule that PC Novice (BE 90) has to be timed, and all the other events we have been to have not been timed so it came as a bit of a shock! I know now that I need to up the pace a bit more for Area Eventing which is two weekends away and hopefully the PWPC team will qualify for the Championships up in Cheshire! Wish us luck!
In the meantime take care, Emily.
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| Monday 11th July 2011.... |
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Hi everyone, hope you are all well.
We have had a busy couple of weeks, travelling up to Norfolk for Area Dressage and then to Suffolk for Area Show Jumping!
Finn was a very good boy at Area Dressage. We left at about 5.15am on Sunday to get up to Norfolk
for about 8am! Our first test went very well minus Finn having a spook at a cyclist biking past
behind the hedge! Finn did a great test of 72.00! He came 2nd which was amazing! Unfortunately they only took the
winner to the Pony Club Championships, and we only missed out by a couple of marks, but I was
thrilled anyway. The team came equal third and lost out by going to the Championships by
only one collective mark!!
In the second test, which was just a test to pass time, Finn was really good, once again to come 4th this time
with a score of 71.29. I was really happy with him.
The Area Dressage Team – Annie Golding, Clodagh Murphy, Me and Amy Adamthwaite.
Yesterday we went to Poplar Park EC, for Area Show Jumping. We stayed overnight with friends on the Saturday evening, and Finn enjoyed a hot shower and a solarium! We got to Poplar Park EC at about 10am, and we had the course walk at 10.55 and the Tack and Turnout at 11.15, so it was all quite tight! The team came 5th in the T and T.
Finn jumped a lovely clear in the first round, and the team went through to the second round on 8 faults.
The team at the T and T. Me, Clodagh Murphy, Sadie Lenburgs and Georgia Hay.
Our time for the first round was 11.50am and the time for the second round was 5.15pm!! It just shows how many teams entered!
Finn was a good boy, but just had 4 faults at planks going down a hill. Other than that, Finn jumped a really lovely round.
Finally I am on holiday for the summer! Lots of time to play with the horses!
Next weekend, we are at Bury Farm ODE, doing the 90cm. I will let you know how we get on.
In the meantime, take care.
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| Monday 13th June 2011.... |
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Hope you are all well and not melting in this mini heat wave. What a busy few weeks it has
been since my last diary.
On the Friday of half term saw Finn and I at Keysoe representing my school in the went Schools
Team Show Jumping. Finn was a really good boy, jumping a double clear in the 90 and was 12th
and then he jumped a double clear in the 80 as well! Unfortunately prizes were only to
6th.
The Sunday saw us back at Keysoe BSJA with Scarlet. She was a really good girl,
just having a pole in the 80 and 90.
She went really nicely, jumping all the fillers and spooky fences.
Last weekend I went to Stanford Rivers One Day Event. We got there bright and early to walk two courses as I was taking Finn and Doris (aka Stichlands Regal Lady) who I ride for the Harrison Family. Doris did a nice dressage test and then went double clear over the Pony Club Level 2 (BE80) to finish 4th which I was absolutly thrilled with!
Finn warmed up for the dressage nicely and he did a really nice test. He just had a spook after the long rein walk as there where some children jumping on and off logs at the top of the arena, but other than that, Finn did a beautiful test which put him 4th after dressage with a score of 33.2.
He then jumped round a technical course of showjumps on a slope, with a set of planks going down the hill! He jumped a lovely clear. The showjumping was causing problems – the time was quite tight and as it was raining all day, the ground got quite slippy so horses were sliding into the fences.
We warmed up for the Cross Country really well. We went out on the course, and he jumped round really well. The course was really spooky – there was a mushroom fence, an egg fence (!!) and a pencil jump which had pencils as the jump! He jumped round clear, which I was really pleased about.
We ended up 3rd, which was good. I was really pleased, even though we all got absolutly soaked, as it was raining the whole day!
I had a lesson with John Adams on the next Monday night with Scarlet as part of the PWPC Summer Schooling Evenings. She was a good girl, jumping through a grid and then round a technical course. I was pleased with the way she jumped and behaved with other horses in the arena.
Today we went up to Warwickshire for an One Day Event with Finn. We walked the Cross Country and it was quite technical – with three skinnies on a turn in a wooded area, a big step down into the first water and a skinny coming out of the second water, a coffin with skinny logs as the first and third element, with a meaty ditch in the middle!
Finn warmed up really nicely for the dressage, and did a beautiful test of 29.22%. He was equal 3rd. The showjumping had caused quite a few problems, there were lots of four faults and eight faults. Finn was a really good boy, jumping a clear round.
The Cross Country as well was causing a lot of problems. I think there was 15 scores up and there was only 2 clears!! Finn was a good boy, and just having a glance of the middle skinny of three going from light to dark, but other than that, he was really good, jumping everything else, including a train fence and other technical fences.
I think Finn might have got a rosette as he was in 3rd place when we left, even with the 20 penalties added on. Hopefully he will!
The next couple of week-ends see Finn and I representing PWPC at Area Teams – Dressage first and then Show Jumping the following week.
At last exams are over and I can look forward to putting in lots of time with the horses – our lovely puppies have been heading off to their new homes – if you head to The College EC pop into the tack shop and see Missy Moo.
Keep your fingers crossed for PWPC teams over the next week-end – we would love to qualify for the Novice Championships.
Take care, Emily
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| Monday 13th June 2011.... |
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When I found out I had won the ‘Tried and Tested’ Competition, I was really happy!
The day of Gareth’s lesson arrived, I was looking forward to the day off school
(a dressage lesson with Gareth Hughes was defiantly a better bet than double German first
thing on a Tuesday morning!!!). I was very excited the night before, I had given my pony
Finn a bath, so he was nice and clean, ready for our lesson. I took him out the stable
and went to put him out in the field so he could stretch his legs before he travelled
in the lorry up to Oxfordshire. When we brought him out, we saw he was on three legs!
He was really quite lame, and he didn’t want to put any weight on his leg. I tied him up
and hosed his leg for 20 minutes, but I wasn’t going to take him, even if he was looking a
little bit better on it. I was devastated that I couldn’t take him, but luckily my mum has a
horse – Scarlet. Scarlet is a 15.2hh chestnut mare. She lives up the road, in a huge field with a nice, cosy field shelter. Mum went and got her and we gave her a quick bath, and got her looking clean and tidy.
Kirsty picked us up at 9 in her lorry with Bouncer, and we set off for Oxfordshire!
When we got there, I was amazed by the size of Gareth’s yard. There must have been at least 50 stables! We saw him riding his horses in the indoor school, they all were so beautiful! We were given our numnahs and we went to watch the first lesson. Kirsty went next on Bouncer and we watched her and listened and laughed at the banter about us being eventers! Mum had lunged Scarlet in Gareth’s lovely outdoor school and then she was assessed by Bailey’s who gave us some great advice on feeding her.
My lesson with Gareth was fantastic, he had a really good sense of humour and made everyone laugh when he told me that I rode on the flat as if I was jumping a course of fences – always looking for a hole or the next fence instead of between Scarlet’s ears! Towards the end of the lesson Gareth helped me and Scarlet produced some lovely work.
We had the most fantastic day out and I cannot thank Gareth, Equine Affairs and Bailey’s enough.
Since my lesson with Gareth, it has been quite a hectic couple of weeks – luckily Finn’s lameness was some pus in the foot – it did not take long for him to be up and running.
Sadly he missed his next outing, representing Silsoe Young Farmers at the Beds County Rally so
Scarlet stepped in again – she was fabulous and came 2nd in the dressage and jumped a nice round for
just 4 faults. I also took Doris (Stychlands Regal Lady) who I ride for the Harrison Family – she
finished 2nd in the Chase Me Charlie getting a big round of applause as she is only 13 hands and
jumped 105cm.
I also took part in Stock Judging, which involved assessing and placing four Welsh Section A
ponies and then giving feedback to the Judge - it was a fantastic day and a great party in the
evening was made even more exciting when Silsoe Young Farmers were announced as the winners
of the Rally 2011 - the last time they won was over 48 years ago!!
The following week-end we headed up to South Lincolnshire for a lovely show and to contest a Burghley Event Pony Qualifier – Finn did a lovely dressage test and jumped a good round over his biggest test so far (1m5) before going on to be assessed for his confirmation and type. He finished about 12th out of 27 entries so a good day.
The other exciting news is that Grey Squirrel, the lovely event pony I had on loan has had her foal, a lovely bay colt by Bodewode Brokat.
What with Lucy’s eight puppies keeping us on our toes we have had a busy couple of weeks.
Half term has seen me revising for exams – I am looking forward to heading off to Keysoe with Finn to represent my school – St Francis’ College in a Team Show Jumping Competition and on Sunday Scarlet will be out competing BS at Keysoe.
I’ll let you know how we get on – in the meantime take care.
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Photos courtesy of David Short,
Baileys Horse Feeds &
Equine Affairs
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| Vidoes & Filming courtesy of Nicky Tollafield
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Finn Loose Jumping as a Youngster
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Finn Loose Jumping as a Youngster
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Emily and Finn Novice Area Show Jumping - Clear!
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Emily and Finn at Cottesmore ODE
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| BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS TRIED & TESTED ... |
ASSESSMENT OF SCARLET...BY LORNA FROM BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS
Scarlet is a 10 year old Selle Francais, she is in work but this is not regular work at present,
she has been a ‘late starter’ but is to hopefully do some eventing. She can be very sharp and
spooky, she is a little worrier and becomes tucked up and hollow in the flanks. She lives out
at grass and has a high fibre diet. Last year she developed some sarcoids, but she has had no
other health problems. She looks well, but she could build her top line a little more, due to
the travel and stress of being out for the day she was a little tucked up and hollow.
Current Diet
½ a scoop of Ready Grass
1 ½ scoops of Speedi Beet
Micronized linseed
¾ of a scoop of Grass Nuts
Suggested Diet
1 ½ lb or 3 mugs of Performance Balancer per day
1 scoop of Ready Grass
½ a scoop of Speedi Beet
A pre or probiotic
Lorna recommended replacing Scarlet’s high fibre Grass Nuts with Performance Balancer as this will
provide all the protein, vitamins and minerals she needs to build muscle and maintain good health
but without providing any calories. The fibre and forage element of her diet will provide the calories
she needs to maintain condition and fuel her work but, if more are required, say in the winter, Lorna
suggested adding Outshine high oil supplement to Scarlet’s diet. This will provide additional slow
release calories/energy in a small volume and just 1 to 5 mugs would be required per day.
As Scarlet can be a worrier, Lorna suggested using a pre or probiotic to support the fibre-digesting
bacteria in the hindgut. Probiotics contain live bacteria which can be fed daily to replace any which
may be lost, whilst a prebiotic helps support the existing beneficial species so that they can flourish
at the expense of pathogenic gut bacteria. Lorna suggested a course of Protexin Gut Balancer (a
combined pre and probiotic) followed by Baileys Digest Plus prebiotic before, during and after
times of stress, like travelling and competing. This helps support and replace any bacteria lost when
the rate of passage of feed through the digestive system increases at times like this. Helping to
improve digestive efficiency in this way should help avoid the times when the mare gets hollow
and tucked up.
EMILY'S THOUGHTS...
The opportunity to have Scarlet assessed by a feeding professional was a very welcome one as she has
been tricky to feed over the years – being a redhead and female she is very opinionated on what feeds
she likes and those she does not immediately get discarded out of the bucket or she goes on hunger
strike thinking she is being poisoned!
Many of the feeds we have tried have not been successful and have had the opposite effect to the one
we wanted eg becoming even more spooky and stressy to ride and handle. It has been noticeable that
Scarlet always looked her best during the spring and summer months when the grass was good and she
could live out, therefore her feeding regime has been tailored to try and mirror that – readigrass,
grass nuts and speedibeat.
The representatives from Baileys carefully listened to the feedback we gave on Scarlet’s temperament,
character and workload and it was interesting that the advice given took into consideration all of
these points. Baileys were keen not to make great changes and recommended the Performance Balancer
rather than grass nuts, together with a supplement to aid her digestion – the quantity of
Performance Balancer was set to take into account that she is in ‘part-time work’.
Having introduced the Performance Balancer slowly over a 10 day period, I was delighted that she found
it appetizing and has eaten up and licked the feed bucket clean. A noticeable improvement in her
temperament has been shown – very chilled and relaxed when ridden and handled and the normal
fairies and pixies under every leaf are no longer there. Scarlet looks very well with a lovely
shine on her coat and I am positive that she is putting on more ‘top-line’ already.
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| Condition Photos taken on 17th May 2011 at Aspen Grove Dressage
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ASSESSMENT OF SCARLET - EMILY'S FEEDBACK...AUGUST 2011 (3 months later)
How time flies – it is hard to believe that it has been two months since Baileys assessed Scarlet and recommended their No 19 Performance Balancer and the Digest Plus supplement..
They say ‘the camera never lies’ and how true it is when you compare the pictures of Scarlet at the end of May to those taken eight weeks later – she has muscled up behind the saddle and across her hindquarters which have always looked a ‘bit weak’. The Digest Plus pre-biotic has been an enormous help when Scarlet has been travelling and competing and has helped to stop her looking run-up.
Scarlet can be a bit of a ‘red head’ at times and will spook at a butterfly if the mood takes her; I have noticed a considerably improvement in her temperament and attitude and this combined with building up muscle behind the saddle has helped hugely with the work she is producing on the flat and over fences.
From a yard management perspective, Baileys Performance Balancer has to be the easiest product to feed – three cups of the Balancer a day, together with some fibre – Scarlet (the fussiest eater at the best of times) has continued to eat up.
A great product which comes highly recommended.
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Condition Photos taken August 2011 at Home
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You can contact me via Email: nickytollafield@hotmail.co.uk
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| THANKS TO MY SUPPORTERS... |
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The stretch and flex bandages from Equilibrium are highly recommended - not only do they look fabulous, they are easy and straightforward to fit - no fiddling around with gamgee! There is no danger of over tightening the bandages and once applied they stay in place through all sorts of activities.
Emily's pony Raglan Road had sustained an irritating nic on the inside of his hind fetlock and boots kept rubbing it - the stretch and flex bandanges have saved the day.
The bandages have been used daily and washed plenty of times - always coming up as white as they were when new with no loss of flexibility or stretch.
Highly recommended - thank you!
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