Mari Durward-Akhurst

A sports psychology day at Moulten, followed by bad luck

My regional squad had a sports science day at Moulton College, based on psychology. It was a really good day enjoyed by all and we got lots of really good advice to help us when riding at home and in competitions.
One of the things that I took away from the work shop was the quote ‘control the controllables’ and I think this will be really useful. There are also activities I can do on the horse to stay calm such as breathing, for example when trotting around the arena at home breathing at each letter.

The clutch went on our lorry at the beginning of the Easter holiday and so I unfortunately missed my last Regional Squad review. I was really disappointed as the sessions have been very beneficial.

I went to support my coach Sacha Hamilton at a show with her five and six year old. It was a very hot day and so some of the judges had their engines on and that was very scary! It was a good day and Sacha did really well and her youngsters behaved. She finished the show with a 2nd and 6th (scary engine) in the novice and a 1st and a 3rd in the elementary. I enjoyed helping Sacha with the horses and it was good fun to watch her, its always really inspirational watching.

I had a chance to spend a day at my trainer’s yard to help out over the Easter holiday (a break from revision). I had a great day helping with the horses. I am looking forward to going back to help in half term. I had a chance to ride Ferdi, I took him for a walk and trot around the field which he really enjoyed. I did a lot of jobs that day some of them included: cleaning the feed buckets, doing the feed, tacking up, untacking, grooming, cleaning tack and lots more.

Unfortunately Ady is lame and has box rest, and so I am horseless at the moment. We think she may have twinged herself in the field when it was thundering. I am really missing riding at the moment so am trying to ride some horses that I have been offered for a one off ride, and it is good to ride lots of different horses.

I have been to ride my old loan horse Woody, he was just as cheeky as before but we had a good ride. It could have been better but I haven’t ridden him for ages and due to Ady being lame haven’t ridden for 3 weeks. He is a very old man now bless him (22). It was great to see him and he loved all the attention he got. I will hopefully be able to go back and see him soon. I have been riding one of the horses on my yard too, so that’s a lot of fun.

I am now back at school after having a great break at Easter. I was planning lots of riding but unfortunately I could not do as much as I would have liked. It is about two weeks till my AS levels so I am doing some serious revision and hoping that I will have time to finish it as I never seem to get it finished! All but one of my exams are in the first week unfortunately! Once they are all over I can concentrate on my riding fully again as I have some free time before I have to go back to school.

Even though Ady is on box rest she is still doing well on her Dengie diet and her coat is gleaming. She is a happy girl and really loves attention at the moment and cuddles. If you leave her for just one minute she starts stamping her foot as she wants more cuddles. Cheeky girly!! She has lots of energy to and so it will be fun to ride her after the break, not sure I will have much control!!

Mari