The Prettiest Horse Coat Colors

Top 10 prettiest horse coat pictures of the week.
ALL CREDITS TO OWNERS OF PICS
Enjoy =)

10. Fleabitten Grey TB x Shire

9.Light Grey Fell Pony

8. Piebald Gypsy Vanner

7. Red Bay Cleveland Bay

6. Black Shire x

5. Cremello Quarter Horse

4. Chestnut Mustang

3.  Mouse dappled grey Welsh sec B

2. Light Bay Chestnut Warmblood

1.Skewbald TB x ISH

Memorizing Dressage Tests

                                                                                                                                              

The top tips for memorizing your dressage tests!

1. This part of dressage is the mental part, so look at it with a more 'classroomy' view. How do you memorize things in school?

2. The general different learning styles are: Visual (piece of paper sort of work, looking at images and even making flip books/ animations of where you'll be going and what you're doing. 

3. The other ways about it are verbal, physical or logical. Some of these can overlap though. There are other ways people use that they make up following their own learning patterns and habits.

4. Visualization ~ It takes around 21 days to form a habit. You need to start memorizing your dressage test ASAP. Not one day before if you can help it :') 

You can sit in a comfy chair or lie down on a bed, and close your eyes. Take some deep breaths and try to visualize your test in front of you. 

Visualizing your dressage test is going to help you do two things. First, it’s going to help you memorize your test. Secondly, when you visualize the perfect ride, you program your subconscious mind to ride correctly. That’s because when you do “perfect practice” in your mind’s eye, your muscles will fire in the correct way. As you visualize, go through your dressage test stride for stride. Fill in as much detail as you can. What are you wearing? What does your horse look like? What does the arena look like? What color is your jacket? What color are your gloves? Fill in as many details as you can AND include your senses. Hear the rhythm of the footfalls. Feel the contact with your horse’s mouth. See your horse’s head and neck out in front of you. Smell the fly spray. Also, add emotion to your mental movies. Experience yourself feeling calm, relaxed, poised and the harmony of being at one with your horse. 

Physical ~ Do your test on foot. Another thing to do is walk and trot, and canter the parts of the dressage test at home, You can also do this in a regular dressage arena if you want. Of course it will take you a long time to walk, trot and canter around an entire dressage arena , but it definitely works to do this. If you have a big rectangular area or just mark off an area and trot down the center line, do your halts, trot off, plan where you’re going to turn, walk where you’re supposed to walk, canter where you’re supposed to canter. So you actually have a chance to physically practice. 

 Know your dressage test “forwards and backwards”. When you can pick any point within the dressage test and you can answer those two questions, you really own that test. Also, if you do happen to blank out in the middle of the test, you’ll be able to remember where you are very easily.

Source = 5 years dressage competitor Intermediate level & paired with information from a International dressage rider and dressage judge, qualified BHSI Instructor.

Badminton 2014

Lets all keep updated with this 100% fab event, eh? I'm staying over here so shall be on the top of all the amazing leaps of faiths, flying changes & beautiful equines! (and of course the best burger vans on course!! :')

*UPDATE 9/5/14*                                                                                          DRESSAGE DAY 1

So, what went on today eh? Well, with middle row seats on the east side of the arena, I got a pretty good idea :')

LEADERBOARD 
1ST = Clark Montgomary on Loughan Glen (USA)
2ND = Paul Tapner on Kilronan (AUS)
3RD = Francis Whittington on Easy Target

MOST POPULAR RIDERS POSITIONS 

Lucinda Fredericks = 4th on  Flying Finish
Mark Todd =Joint 5th on Campino
William-Fox-Pitt = Joint 7th on Parklane Hawk
Mark Todd = Joint 9th on Leonidas
Pippa Funell = 11th on Billy Beware
Mary King = 12th on Imperial Cavilar


ALL THE RIDERS TODAY WERE AMAZING. WE SHOULD JUST BE PROUD OUR WORLD CAN DO THIS WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE ANIMALS :) WE'RE PROUD OF YOU!






QUOTES FROM THE TOP

What have the top riders been saying this year about Badminton?

Clark Montgomery said:


“He felt amazing. I knew he was capable of producing that sort of test, but it’s the first time he’s performed in front of a crowd like that. He loves an atmosphere and he really perked up in there,”

^^Clark on the stunning Glen!^^

We made two little mistakes – he got a bit stuck in the mud after the the extended canter and changed behind, and then became a bit stuck again in one of the shoulder-ins, but otherwise it all went to plan.”

EXTRA INFO - Ins and outs of Badminton 2014 dressage

Paul Tapner, Britain’s Francis Whittington (Easy Target) and Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish) stayed at the top of the leaderboard and now occupy 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.

Sarah Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) slotted into equal 5^th place with a good test aboard the mare, Reality 39, to finish on the same score (40.5) as Mark Todd (NZL) and NZB Campino. Mark is also in touch with his second ride, Leonidas II, who lies equal ninth on 41.8.

Two of the favourites for the title, British rider William Fox-Pitt (Parklane Hawk) and New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson (Nereo), share 7^th spot on 41.

With heavy rain forecast for overnight and the early part of tomorrow, riders are predicting a tough cross-country test.

“It’s going to be a whole new ball game,” said Francis. “As riders we’re not afforded the luxury of disliking the course, so we all have to like it and get on with it – though I’m very glad I’m going early on.”

In light of the anticipated conditions, fence 18b – the second part of the Swindon Designer Outlet Mound – has been removed.

Paul Tapner said: “That particular fence wasn’t in keeping with the rest of the course, which requires bold forward-thinking riding and with the weather forecast as it is, I think it’s a good decision.”

The overnight leader is optimistic about his chances on William and Holly Becker, Kathryn Kraft and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen.

“My horse is honest. He needs a positive ride, which this course encourages. I’m looking forward to it and hoping for the best,” he said.

The action starts at 12 o’clock tomorrow when the first combination, Izzy Taylor and KBIS Briarlands Matilda, will set off. 

From the Badminton 2014 page^^

And for some pictures to round off tonights update:

Let's nail that trot boy!

Work that walk!

Warming up, nice and steady there!

Enjoying the atmosphere of the crowd!

Such a handsome chestnut enters the warm up!

Beautiful view of the well known Badminton oak!

Showing their flashy paces in the ring there!

Grooming - the longest part of the day!

Honestly! One impatient horse waiting to be ridden!

I want that gorgeous dun horse! What a flashy mister!

Someone's aiming high this year!

Such a pro canter there!

Some top tips before take-off!

The horse = the center of attention!

Mistubishi hosts the best eventing competition of the year!

Just look at that crowd!

Top tips with Lucinda!

...And the plait is finally finished!

Such a pretty view, the badminton lake & house!

My picture of the day, Pippa funell grazing her two mounts by the Oak!

*ALL CREDIT TO PHOTOGRAPHERS*

Thanks for reading!

Working Hunter Pony Classes

Working Hunter Ponies

WHPs. The classes that are so fun but scary first time ... so here's my tips :)

I've done many working hunter ponies on my Connie and before that on my cob. In the summer I worked with a lovely little welsh mountain pony and entered about 7 WHP classes altogether, winning 4.

First things first, you need to forget pretty much everything you know about normal SJ. WHP and SHP classes are very different, people won't wanna see you messing with strides. You'll need a smooth, forward round to get you the win. Remember, it's not a timed round, nor clear out, it's a happy, bouncy canter with smooth scopey jumps they're looking for. 

Think of it as just cantering around normally in a field, and the horse will take a few jumps in his/her stride. The pace should be steady but forward. Hunters can often be quite lazy ponies, you don't want to be stopping in the ring. While SJ requires a lot of technical skill and planning the strides and lead up to the jump, ideally you want the same stride throughout a WHP class, when jumping and cantering.

You don't wanna be stopping, and don't bother trotting to change lead etc. You should keep to a good hunting pace throughout, no-one cares what leg you're on.
SHP you'll just have to show off your pony pretty much. I've usually been asked to do a figure of 8, though I know some shows prefer a loop around the ring or a D shape. Just keep things simple and you'll be fine. If you're asked to gallop stay in control but give the horse enough rein to really show off his/her paces.
Keep in control in gallop so you can stop ready for the corner to bring out a nice extended trot, however it's not dressage, so just do your best but naturally!

A lot of shows won't give you a set test, so you need to work out how to use the ring to your advantage. I generally do a figure of 8 at trot and canter to show leads and paces off, then a loop with flat out gallop and some trotting in. I generally keep off walk until I take it to and from the middle, it keeps everyone watching.

Work off this:

'In the jumping section, we're looking for a pony that's forward going, fairly effortless, keen, and happy to do a day's hunting safely. In the conformation/show, we're looking for active paces, decent legs, self carriage, conformation according to breed/type, and a little bit of the "look at me" presence every winner needs to stand out.''
^^That's what I tend to work off and I've placed a many wonderful and memorable times Good luck!

Breyers

Heyy :'))
So I'm back yet again for an upload on my 100% fave model horses ~ breyers!

Breyers have been part of my life since I was 7 when my dad brought me my first ever model, Skulldugery, as a halloween present on year.

Ever since then my life as been full of these shelf-filling superhorses! 

And before I continue I'll shoutout my special friend, Cally. You are such a dedicated, special, trusty, and amazing collecter to hang with :') Thanks for being there =)

Here I want to post some of my fave breyer models, new events & releases, and photos! So I'll be blogging and bloggin away :') Just ignore if you have no clue what breyers even are xD

Here are my top 10 fave photos of the week:

*ALL CREDIT TO THE TAKERS & EDITERS OF THE PHOTOS; I OWN NOTHING *just love your pics :')*

I will upload more everyday :') 

Cheers, Elleyyy xxoxo