Share your shame!

So we will hopefully have lots of people trying their have at dressage for the first time on Sunday (as well as some more experienced ones doing our TWO novice classes) and I thought it would be nice to give them some moral support by sharing our most embarrassing dressage memories.

Personally, mine is probably when my hunter, Meg, lost her brakes in medium canter across a diagonal and ended up several metres outside the arena, but even that can't beat an unfortunate friend of mine who got caught in a sudden downpour... and found her freshly applied fake tan transferred quite dramatically onto her breeches.

Post yours below, and I'll put the best ones in a blog post sometime in the next few days. Information about the dressage is, if course, on our website, www.leighanddistrict.co.uk

Sad news as the horse world loses a legend

Tragic news today from the Eilbergs whose fabulous Grand Prix horse Two Sox has been put down less than two weeks after retiring. Two Sox didn't miss a national championship in 10 years, and was national champion in 2008 with Maria.

The news was broken, as far as we know, on www.horsehero.com, who had the following statement from Maria's mother, Geri:

"Such sad news: Barely two weeks into retirement, Two Sox, our beloved Ed, shattered his pastern while grazing and was put down yesterday. It is a complete mystery how this happened as he appeared to be settling perfectly into his new routine of hacking and turnout. The paddock was small, level and in view of our outdoor arena so we could keep an eye on him and he seemed perfectly relaxed in the october sunshine. We are all devastated it is like losing a member of the family, he was such a special horse, one of the best. it's been a terrible shock, especially for Maria. Geri Eilberg."

You can watch Two Sox's retirement lap of honour, and the standing ovation this great horse received, at www.eqtv.co.uk.

Your horse is fit... are you?

With just over a week to go until the first competition of our winter dressage, we know that many of you have been working hard to make sure your horses are fit enough for competition - but what about yourselves? It takes a lot of work just to "sit there looking pretty", so to help we've found a helpful article about lengthening your leg from the fab American magazine Dressage Today. Personally I really wish there was a magazine like this over here in England - if you're on Twitter why not follow them at @DressageToday

Championship news and dressage is back!

Hello all!

Sorry it's been so long, it's been incredibly busy over at L&D towers. However we're thrilled to report that last weekend we won the Osbaldeston Classics showing championships by a whopping 60 point margin. We're really pleased and would like to thanks everyone that came along and represented us. This weekend is the team showjumping event, so let's hope we can dominate that, too!

Here's Darren and Ann with our trophies...



In other news, Leigh and District's winter dressage series has returned for its third year, giving horse owners in the North West the chance to brush up their dressage skills from next month riding their tests in the shelter of our indoor school.
Once again, we're offering separate classes for beginner riders and green horses aged six and under, plus a choice of two prelim and two novice tests.
For those who become dressage members there is the chance to compete for an end-of-season trophy, while the test schedule has been co-ordinated to help horses and riders improve over the course of the season.
Leigh and District's dressage committee pride themselves on being the friendliest in the area and are always happy to answer questions from newbies and provide advice on everything from tack and togs to how to interpret the judge's comments.
The first competition will take place on Sunday, October 9th, at Landlords Farm Equestrian Centre, on Dicconson Lane in Aspull, Lancashire.
For more information, test schedule, membership and entry forms, email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Racehorse to... dressage ring

I know quite a few of you attended our TARRA (Thoroughbred and Retrained Racehorse Association) qualifiers at the July show, so you might be interested in the news that British Dressage have teamed up with Retraining of Racehorses to run a racehorse to riding horse dressage championship. More details can be found on the British Dressage website, here

Dressage points champions

Congratulations to all the competitors who took part in our winter dressage series.
Holly Watson took the beginners junior champion title with her very cute little pony Carrwood Goldleaf, and Karen Calderbank took the senior beginners title on her pony Gigman Sandypipit, who was originally bought for Karen's daughter Abbey, but commandeered by mum!
There were double winners in both the junior and senior prelim and novice sections. Abi Lilley won both titles with her pony Euphoria Queen. Abi says she will be trying her hand at elementary level next year.
Debbie Dobson won the senior prelim and novice sections on her "gentle giant", the part-bred Shire My Gentleman. Look out for Debbie and "Sheldon" as he is known at home in our new heavy horse showing classes, which we have introduced this year.
The open elementary champion was Jackie Fare on her chestnut gelding Oskar. Jackie had to ride some particularly difficult tests to win this season, including the fiendish elementary 49 - sorry Jackie!
Special mention also goes to Savannah McMullen, who was our most improved junior rider, and Karen Calderbank who was our most improved senior. And Abi Lilley won the highest score award for getting a massive 72% in the prelim 13.
It was also great to see some veteran horses showing the youngsters how it's done as they competed for the qualifying spots for this year's Veteran Horse Society dressage championships. Congratulations to everyone who got through - they now go on to the regional finals, where they will be battling for the chance to go to the VHS dressage national championships! The dressage gala day on July 3rd will also be a VHS qualifier, so if you missed out this time make sure you enter in time - and hope for sunshine as we will be venturing out of the indoor arena.

Dressage results and fabulous gala day!

**** February results ****

After the postponement of the January dressage competition due to the heavy snowfall, we were thrilled to see that competitors braved the cold for Leigh's February dressage competition.

Karen Calderbank won the senior beginners' class on her pony, Gigman Sandypipit, while Holly Watson took junior honours on Carrwood Goldleaf.

The open prelim class was won by Debbie Dobson on her shire cross, My Gentleman. Abi Lilley and Euphoria Queen won both the junior prelim and novice classes. The elementary winner was Jackie Fare on Oskar.

Katie Hodson won the prix caprilli (dressage with jumping) on her Connemara pony, A Bouncing Star.

**** March dressage ****

The final dressage competition of the winter series will take place on March 20. The classes will be beginners prelim 4, open prelim 13, novice 30 and elementary 49. The competition will be a qualifier for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships - currently the only qualifier for the champs in this region.

**** Dressage Gala Day ****

The dressage committee have just announced that they will be holding a Dressage Gala Day on July 3rd.

Riders will have the chance to improve their dressage scores in clinics with British Dressage listed judge Jenny Johnson, followed by classes in the afternoon including lead rein, young horse, beginners and prix caprilli, plus prelim, novice and elementary classes.

The day will also have qualifiers for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships and the UK Riders dressage championships.

Details and entry forms are available on the Leigh and District website, http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk

Winter Dressage - February 13th

Yep, after some snow-induced confusion we are back with the second to last of our Winter Dressage series. December's tests have now become February's tests to keep the increase in difficulty as gentle as possible.

Tests are:

BEGINNERS: Prelim 1

OPEN: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49

PLUS! Prix Caprilli 2 (dressage with jumping)

There are several Prix Caprilli tests floating around on the internet. The CORRECT Prix Caprilli 2 is available to download and print off from the Leigh and District website.More details and entry forms are available from http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 10th. Please ring between 8 and 10pm on Friday, February 12th for times.

We are also thinking about holding adressage day in July with qualifiers for VHS dressage and possibly the Fearns Farm Dressage Championships, plus two dressage clinics and potentially a chance to try your hand at medium level. If you like the idea of this and it could potentially be something you would be interested in, or you have any other ideas of what you would like to see included in a dressage day, please message me or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Show clinics and dressage

There are no more places left for the January clinic with Julie Templetone. If you have paid for a place but haven't heard about what time your slot is yet, please email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk

Places for the February clinic are also going fast! You can download a booking form from the Leigh and District website but if you are an M&M owner I would recommend texting first to check there are spaces available. Absolutely no calls before 6pm on weekdays please!

We are also now taking entries for the next dressage competition on February 13. Again, you can find more details from the Leigh and District website. It's a great chance to come and try your hand at dressage, and we have classes for everyone, from beginners to elementary.

For the March competition and the dressage day in July (details yet to be announced) I am considering holding a VHS dressage champs qualifier if enough people are interested. Please comment below to let me know your thoughts.

I am also thinking of organising two one-hour clinics at the July event if there is enough interest - again, comments below please!

Important notice - dressage cancelled

IMPORTANT NOTICE - DRESSAGE CANCELLED

Due to the frozen and icy conditions we have decided to cancel the dressage on Saturday, January 9.

An extra dressage competition will be held on Saturday, March 20.

This means there will be some changes to next month's tests

2010 tests will now be:

FEBRUARY: Beginners: Prelim 1, Op...en: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49, Prix Caprilli 2

MARCH: Beginners: Prelim 4; Open: Prelim 13, Novice 30, Elementary 49

The results are in!

And the results from this weekend's dressage are in! Congratulations to everyone who took part - and here are the top fours. Not all the classes were as full as last time due to the decidedly inclement weather, but hopefully we will have some qualifiers in the Novice and Elementary sections next time (fingers crossed!)

Intro A

Juniors

1st - Holly Watson - Carrwood Goldleaf - 70%

2nd - Lilly Hall - Stockley Minuet - 63.47%

Seniors

1st - Lesley Cooper - Sticky Bob - 79.13%

2nd - Penelope Hannibal - Pernod - 68.26%

3rd - Melanie Snape - My Gentleman - 67.39% (Collective mark of 70)

4th - Debbie Beresford - Bobbin’ Along - 67.39% (Collective mark of 68)

Prelim. 12

Juniors

1st - Abi Lilley - Euphoria Queen - 70.4%

2nd = - Holly Watson - Carrwood Goldleaf - 60.4% (Collective mark of 48)

2nd = - Lilly Hall - Stockley Minuet - 60.4% (Collective mark of 48)

4th - Katie Hodson - Bouncin’ Along - 57.6%

Seniors

1st - Claire Hamer - Vamos - 64.8% (Collective mark of 52)

2nd - Lesley Cooper - Sticky Bob - 64.8% (Collective mark of 50)

3rd - Erin Rowan - Orkney Mist - 63.2%

4th - Emma Bracegirdle - Bouncin’ Star - 62.4%

Novice 25

Juniors

1st - Abi Lilly - Euphoria Queen - 67.2%

2nd - Savannah McMullen - Pennal Champagne Charlie - 59.2%

Seniors

1st - Julia Dean - Derwen Torrent - 63.2%

2nd - Judith Sulway - Moonraker - 61.2%

Elementary 44 – Open Age

1st - Jackie Fare - Oskar - 58.8%

2nd - Judith Sulway - Moonraker - 56.4%

Congratulations to everyone and don't forget the next dressage competition is on January 9th. For more information, click here to visit our website

Dressage photos & suppleness tips

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the dressage on Saturday - results will be posted here asap. Pity about the rain - but at least the lovely indoor meant the actual test riding was dry! Photos are now available to view from Tony Kay's website, click here

Meanwhile, I know one of the things I often see on my score sheet is "could be more supple". Meggie is 18 years old - but that's no excuse for me not to have her bending softly round my leg! Practical Horseman magazine has a good article online with suggestions of exercises you can use to make your horse more supple. Click here to read the article

The Art of Classical Riding also has an article with some suggestions for people who are just beginning to supple their horse - click here to read their article