Excel Talent Programme Training Clinic

I've just come back this evening from an awesome two days in Leicestershire, at the Excel Talent Programme training clinic. It was a productive couple of days filled with training sessions with Gareth Hughes, a rider position analysis with Russel Guire of Centaur Biomechanics in conjunction with a strength and conditioning session from Luke Sweet from the EIS (English Institute of Sport), nutrition and psychology help, a farrier inspection by top farrier Ben Benson, and a one-on-one session with our rider mentor Becky Moody.
I am really pleased that one of the Excel Talent trainers, Gareth Hughes, is my regular trainer too. This makes these training clinics really productive as he is already familiar with Seb and I. Although it is great to have other trainer's eyes on you, I'd prefer to do that when we are not under a time pressure of sticking to a schedule. With Gareth we can crack on with where we left off from the last lesson. Seb and I are working really well under his quiet, sympathetic system and Seb is developing the strength required to carry himself in a relaxed manner, not by tension. He is an entirely different horse overall since we started with Gareth three weeks ago. He is happier and calmer, and a lot more confident in his work. It all comes from not telling the horse what to do, but showing him the way and rewarding when it was right. I found myself not wanting the training sessions to end, as I was enjoying Seb so much and wanted to see what else he could offer.

Source:
http://www.visualisesportswear.com/about-us-and-the-concept/

My rider analysis session with Russel was very interesting. Each rider had to wear a "Visualise Technical Sportswear" jacket, which has fluorescent lines on it indicating rider straightness from back, front and sides. Russell then filmed each rider trotting (rising and sitting) and cantering towards and away from him. He then plays it in slow motion on a large screen for us riders, him and Luke the Strength and Conditioning coach to analyze. The fluorescent lines showed if a rider was leaning off to one side, collapsing, or crooked in any way. I found that I collapsed my upper body slightly to the left, causing me to sit further to the right which in turn caused my right toe to stick out more than my left (amazing how it all connects!). Luke then gave specific exercises to help each rider's weakness, as well as standard exercises to help all riders, along with a DVD explaining the exercises and a folder with all the descriptions and training session plans. It was very organised and effective, and I'm looking forward to trying my exercises and feeling the difference. I tried straightening myself in my training session with Gareth today and I really felt the difference in how much straighter I could be. Something to work on!
The psychology session was really good in making me understand how important it is to take more control of my life and looking out for number one, me. She said it's not being "selfish", as some people say, it's just being "smart". My problem is that I exhaust myself helping other people and end up not having enough energy to put into myself and my riding career. That then stresses me out completely and then I can't do or think about anything rationally! I am certainly working on it though, and once I have my own life under control with the power to say no to things that don't benefit me, I will improve in my focus and goal-setting in my riding.
I was really worried about my nutrition session as although I am a fairly healthy person, lately I have admittedly been surviving off coffee and digestives (thanks mom for leaving them in my draw at the yard!). I do eat a lot of fruit, but apparently that isn't the most important thing here - it's the protein and substantiality that I need in my snacks. So rather than just having an apple and banana after doing the yard in the morning and before riding, I should eat an apple with yoghurt, or an oatcake with peanut butter. Instead of relying on a cup of tea/coffee and digestives to keep me going throughout the day while I'm riding, I should drink chocolate milk (really?! Yess!) as it is a good recovery drink with the perfect ratio of carbs to protein. It is also actually a lot healthier than caffeine and a sugary biscuit. I'm really bad with eating lunch as I don't like feeling full in the day, so I need to keep topped up with low GI snacks containing protein to stop my blood sugar levels from peaking and troughing. So, off to Tesco tomorrow!

The farrier inspection with Ben Benson was also really useful. He watched Seb walk up and down on the arena surface (as that is where is job is and where his feet need to be most effective) and gave good feedback about how he has been shod quite long in the toe so wouldn't leave him more than four weeks between shoeing until his feet get shorter and the hoof-pastern angle comes more upright. We were talking about farriers and as I'm looking for a new one, he gave me a few tips to spark their interest in you and your horses and make them look forward to the day they go to shoe them all. 1) give 50 cups of tea/coffee and biscuits. 2) ask lots of questions and discuss in-depth the horse's feet and what it needs doing. 3) Make the farrier see the horse walk not only outside but in the arena too on the surface it works on - that is just as important. 4) Call him up or frequently inform him of when you have done well and of the horse's progress. It makes him feel good that the job he is doing is contributing to your success. All of this results in the farrier putting his best efforts into your horses and he then becomes a valuable team member. Now just to find that farrier!
On the night that everyone stayed over we all went to the pub. Us girls sat down one end of the table and all the parents sat down the other end, and we had a really good laugh. It was so nice to catch up with everyone and really chat about everything, as during the day we are all wandering around doing our own thing and don't get a chance to stop and talk in-depth. It's a good group of girls on this programme, we are all really supportive of eachother and I hope that continues throughout next season :)
Sebby was one tired pony this evening when we got home, but as soon as he saw his dinner in his stable he perked up and had a good roll in his fresh straw. I'm going to give him a nice hot bath under the solarium tomorrow (a first for both of us!), all clean and ready to move to Ampney on Thursday. Julius will get a bath too on Thursday, and will move to Ampney on Friday. I can't wait to have everything and everyone in one place at Ampney Park, as well as being able to live there. Soon I'll have the new addition of a dog, so keep an eye out for that post too!