Supported Rider Q and A
In this new addition to the Dengie Club Quarterly we get up close and personal with our supported riders. This quarter we focus on our event riders and speak with Bristol based Charlie Pickman and Paddy Muir who is based in North Yorkshire. Don’t forget you can keep up to date with all our supported riders on the Dengie website just click here for further information.
Q1
What’s the worst thing about the winter months for you and your horses and how do you cope?
Frozen schools and icy roads make it particularly tricky to exercise the horses. At the moment it seems as though we have moved to the Artic with recent temperatures as low as minus nine!
The frost, snow and cold – living on a hill on the North Yorks Moors we really get the worst weather. I cope by wearing a ridiculous amount of padded North Pole clothing. My movement is drastically impaired by this but I DO STAY WARM!! As for the horses they spend many boring days on the walker which they all hate and have discovered a way to stop it moving when I am not looking.
Q2
What changes do you make to your horse’s exercise regime over the winter months?
Most of my horses that have been eventing throughout the year have a couple of months off work when they are roughed off in the field, weather permitting. Normally before Christmas they start walking exercise and begin trotting in January. I aim to have them fully fit by March so in February they will be schooling, jumping and cantering.
I exercise and school them when and where I can, otherwise the dreaded horse walker.
Q3
What changes do you make to your horse’s feeding regime in the winter months?
I tend to cut down their feed a bit, depending on how much work they’re doing. Most of the horses tend to have Fibremix Easy and Alfa-A Original. If they have been on any oats or higher energy feeds during the summer that will be cut out as well over the winter.
I adjust the feeds according to the work they are doing. Feeding Dengie feeds is easy and flexible. Less work equals more Hi-Fi and less concentrates.
Q4
With the credit crunch upon us where are you happy to save, but where do you refuse to compromise?
As the eventing season finishes in October it gives me a few months to save up for the next season. I go by the philosophy of trying to prevent problems before they happen, so there aren’t many areas I would be happy to compromise. I prefer to have fewer horses and give them all 100%. The horses come first, so everyone else has cheaper Christmas presents!
I refuse to compromise on clothes shopping and horse food – after that I can skimp on anything!
Q5
What is your favourite Dengie product and why?
Alfa-A Original. I feed Alfa-A to all my horses and haven’t had one yet who hasn’t gone well and looked good on it!
Hi-Fi and Alfa-Beet are amazing. They are the main components of all my feed rations to which I will add oats or concentrate if necessary. They are really versatile and the horses love them and look amazing!
Q6
Who does the mucking out on Christmas Day?
My Dad and I mucked out on Christmas Day - we did only have 3 to do so it was no great hardship! I also rode both my 2 horses at home as they couldn’t be turned out.
Sharon, my friend who keeps a horse here.
Q7
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?
I have made a few New Years resolutions this year. I plan to get fitter. I don’t see myself as being unfit, but the fitter and stronger I am (particularly through the core muscles), the better I can ride. I also want to get jobs done now instead of saying I’ll do them tomorrow, like cleaning my riding boots!
I haven’t made any New Years resolutions this year, but that way I don’t have any to break!
Q8
What was your proudest moment from last year?
I was proud of Billy in the Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier at Chard Show when he got 39 out of 40 for his jumping ability. He won the class convincingly and I have since found out the judge would be very interested in buying him if I ever wanted to sell him.
Leading after the dressage and cross country at Blair CCI**
Q9
What was your most embarrassing moment from last year?
Going the wrong way in the dressage at Blenheim was embarrassing. It’s no use having the horse going their best if the jockey gets lost! I hope this was a one off.
Demolishing the show jumps the following day after leading the dressage and cross country at Blair CCI**!
Q10
When will you start preparing for next season and what are your goals for the year ahead?
I have already made plans for the 2009 season. At the end of last year we decided to retire Meg (my Advanced horse), so I will be concentrating on the up and coming horses. Viking is qualified for the Novice Regional Finals so I hope to qualify him for the Novice Championship at Gatcombe. I’m also hoping to do a CCI** towards the end of the year and possibly an Advanced event. Josh will continue at Intermediate and CIC** level. Billy will start his eventing career and hopefully will be successfully competing at Novice level by the end of the year. I have a good feeling about 2009 and hope that everything goes to plan!
Already on the road – hope to do Badminton or maybe another CCI***.
Next quarter we will be speaking with our supported Dressage rider Hannah Esberger-Shepherd. If you have any burning questions for Hannah then click here to send us an e-mail.
