A students life - Rosie at St P's

[Rosie Reynolds]

My new diary on what student life at St Piran's Stud, I will post here and let you know what it's like!
Rosie

[Rosie Reynolds]

Hey Everyone,

Ive been at St P's for about 4 months and im enjoying everyday!
When i applied for the Apprentiship i thought that it would be easy because ive worked with horses since i was 4.
After the first two weeks i had to do my first assessment which was a basic stable muck out and was one of the easy ones.
After that one it got harder as i struggled with the paper work and understanding the whole NVQ. Ive only just about got my head around the whole folder and understanding what the NVQ requires. Thanks to Rach and Paul they made me feel comfortable to be able to ask them for help. I don't know where i would be if i hadnt gone to St P's, i probably wouldnt of been able to do any of the work ive been doing.

Im really enjoying doing all the NVQ work at the stud, ive already learnt so much over these past few months.
Over these last few months as well as doing loads of college work i have also had the opportunity to have dressage lessons with Peter Maddison which has made me a different rider, im looking forward to more clinics to come. I have now improved my riding and i am now riding 4 horses and not forgetting Jazz  at the stud on a daily basis.

I have now got to work on my Health and Safety folder which Rach went through with me this afternoon because when i looked at it, it completely confuffled me but with the help i understand it alot better. I also have to complete write ups on feeding and loading for my next assessor visit. For each write up you need to also have Photo evidence which can be difficult to get, but as long as Rach is around there is no problem on missing out on a single photo! 

[St Piran's - Rachel]

Rosie - you have fitted into St P's life so well and your NVQ work is superb.  Few students can get to grips with NVQ write ups and cross referencing in 4 months and have 2 units signed off with 3 more just about complete - so hats off to you for your dedication to your studies - choosing to train and qualify on the job is, in my opinion, not the easy choice.  After 8 hours of hard work it takes discipline and drive to get back to study.  Keep up the good work and you will get great results.

I am looking forward to hearing all about what happens over the days when I am trapped at Treliske wondering what you guys are all up to back at the stud.

Glad you are enjoying the training with me and with Peter and I am looking forward to watching your development over the period of your NVQ2 and 3.

Keep us all posted on daily life!  Not long now until foaling - a magical time which always brings a smile to our faces, I think you will love it to

[Rosie Reynolds]

Hey Everyone 

Life at the stud just gets better and better...

On Tuesday gone it was a tidy up day at St P's! I got there early to do Coco and done some stretches in her stable bacause the yard was very slipperly. I started to muck out all the back stables (trying to warm up, it was FREEZING) and then when Kirsty arrived we mucked out all horses.

Once all the horses were mucked out we started to ride because the weather was cold and wet. I rode Inta and Intensa, it was helpful because Kirsty was there to help me out with riding them. When i was unsure of something whilst riding i asked Kirsty what i could do to improve. Kirsty really helped me out and gave me advice on what to do. They both went really well for me and i really enjoyed riding them. Once the horses were ridden we then tidied the barn, it looked spotless after 
We had to also poo pick the front paddock, it was so funny watching Kirsty try and push the wheelbarrow through the thick mud. We had a right laugh!! 

I also had to ride Jazz outside which i love doing, she so FUN!
I asked Rach if i can take her down the beach on my days off and Rach said im more than welcome so im really looking forward to doing that. Not sure if she is thou hehe  .


Yesterday i went to work to do Coco and i was able to ride her indoors and do half hour work on her, its really amazing having your own horse down there, I see her everday yiiiippeeeeee!!

Another day off today and i was unable to go down and see Coco as the snow is that thick i cant drive off my drive. Thanks to Kirsty she said it was no problem for her to do her for me. Thanks Kirsty!!

Now going to have a CUPPA !

Rosie - CUPPA X

[Peter Maddison-Greenwell]

Well done Rosie. Rachel is right! it is not easy. So much work and never enough time. I know some of us oldies give the youngsters a hard time and so we should. Some seriously think the world owes them a living and would not know a hard days work if it it bit them in the A**e!

However, it is pleasing to see AND to be able to say WELL DONE. I love to teach all people who want to learn and teaching someone young enough to take it to the next generation is a real bonus.

Keep up the good work and be seeing you soon for even more 'Hard Work'.

Regards Peter

[Rosie Reynolds]

Hellooooooo...

Today at work it was to icy to ride the horses around the back stables so me and kirsty didint have alot to ride.
In the little bit of spare time we had before lunch i had to ride Jazz but we thought we would have a bash at jumping her. I jumped on first and warmed her up whilst kirsty put up a little cross pole. I started off with trotting up to it and she was such a good girlie and took her time up to it and cleared it by far hehe 

Kirsty then made the jump bigger and bigger until it was a fairly sized straight pole, which was quite scary to jump on such a little pony.
Well...... She absolutely loved it! She was flying over them and wanted to just keep going. Once i had jumped a few times kirsty jumped on and gave it a go, she done really well jazz was popping over these jumps with great ease. Me and kirsty nearly fell off thou hehe, but only because jazz's saddle slipped really far forward and we both nearly went straight over her head.
It was soo funny she really enjoyed it as well as me and kirsty. It was great fun!!

I also rode boo today and she was good as gold. I done quite alot walk trot work with her and she was a good girlie.
I was unable to ride any of the others because it was too dangerous to lead  them over the yard, its was like an ice rink 
But me and kirsty managed to clean most of the bridles and a saddle, they were looking good as new!!


Depending on the weather tommorrow hopefully i will be at work and be able to ride more of the horses including Coco!!
Speak Soon
Cuppa x

[St Piran's - Rachel]

thanks to both you and Kirsty for making the effort to get in today and over this last few days - it has been tough going for everyone.  Here's to hoping this weather is over soon and we can get back to normal work.

[St Piran's - Rachel]

Fianlly the end of a busy weekend, we had a task this weekend changing rugs on the colts here are a few shots of Rosie at work


I love this picture, all the sticky beaks trying to help!


climb through that fence with care 

[Rosie Reynolds]

PMG CLINIC, January 15th-17th.

The First Day Of The Clinic...
Today i rode Inta and Bohonera.

Firstly i rode Inta, she needs to concentrate on staying relaxed and not to rush anything.
As soon as i was up and on her she wanted to rush off straight into work. Peter said just stand her still for a few minutes and get her relaxed then ask her to walk on. I got her still and she started to calm down but as soon as i moved the slightest bit in the saddle she would want to walk on.
I just let her walk out on a loose rein with hardly any contact at all, after changing direction a few times and doing different sized circles etc, she started to relax and strectch her neck down and enjoy the work. I had to do really light flexes to the inside. I kept doing this intil she was flexing well on both reins. Once she was calm and relaxed whilst flexing i took her into trot, at first we was doing a fast trot not too worried about the speed, just concentrating on keeping her flexed and on a circle. I asked Peter did it matter how big or small the circle is, he said don't worry about the circle just concentrate on keeping her flexed and relaxed.
Inta started to rush and because she was increasing the speed i was sitting and rising alot faster which made us keep at a faster pace. I had to slow down my trotting pace to slow down Intas trot. We then started to have a relaxed steady trot and Inta was staying calm.

I then picked up the contact and kept a firm hold on the outside rein and little flexes to the inside to get her on the bit. By doing the loose flexes and keeping Inta calm helped me get her onto the bit and made her light in the hand. I felt that i rode Inta really well and i helped keep her relaxed and calm throughout the session.

More to come...
I rode boo after Inta and started off doing the same with the loose flexes and keeping her calm and relaxed in walk. Boo settled alot more quickly than Inta.
Once boo was relaxed in wlk and flexing with ease on both reins i took her into tro and repeated just what i did with Inta. Once boo had settled i asked her forward to canter but she didint get it straight away as i wasnt guiding her with  enough leg. Peter said use more inside leg and outside rein. Once i felt comfortable i asked her to canter and she made the transition. Then i went back down to trot. Peter wanted me to repeat this so that boo got the hang of it.
Once boo was settled on the bit and going really calmly, we left it at that, and i slowly walked her out on a long rfein to cool her off. I was happy with me and boos session and looking forward to tommorows sessions...
Thanks Peter
Cuppa x

[Peter Maddison-Greenwell]

Well done Cuppa, Boo and Inta,

Good to see to have picked up the work from the last clinic and progressed dramatically. Your seat is straighter and more with the horse as you turn.

What I particularly like about you with these young horses is your calmness and kindness. It shows that you neither fluster nor blame them when it doesn't go right straight away. You just quietly get on with it and calmly put it right.

Well done see you later for day two.
Peter

[Debbie Survila]

good to follow your progress and that of the horses rosie so please do keep posting

[Rosie Reynolds]

Hey Everyone ...

Since the PMG clinic i have been riding the girlies by myself and they are all improving alot.
Boo...
With Boo i have been trying to get her to stand still and relxed once im on her, she tends to run off in a hurry once im in the saddle. Ive been getting on her slowly and steady and then just sitting on her making her stand still until im ready to start work. (I normally just sing along to the BEYONCE cd at work hehe ) If im relaxed and doing ym own thing then it helps Boo to relax and she just stands still until i ask her forward into walk. I remember when i first got on Boo, it was difficult to get on her without her walking off and getting her to stand still. These past few weeks she has improved a lot., she stands still still while i out my foot in the stirrup and she stands quietly and relaxes once im on her. Its just shows that after i have repeated this over and over again shes already got the right idea.
I have just recently started to work her on the bit at the start of the session and then by the end start to give more and more rein, so she starts to work long and low and gets more and more relaxed by the end of the session.

Inta...
With Inta i have been working her alot in walk, getting her to relax alot until i ask her forward to trot, if shes not relaxed and ready and i ask her to trot she gets teasy and then she gets stressed out and your back at the beginning again. I find it best with her if you take your time and just work on gettin her calm and then asking for a little bit more each time. I have been letting her walk out on a loose rein for 5 mins and then picking up more contact gradually. Then starting off with a steady pace sitting trot making sure shes not rushing and then start rising trot. After you have done this slowly and calmly and she has settled you start asking for a more forward going trot. Once she has settled i then bring her back down to walk and start getting her relaxed again to finich the session on a good note. She is improving alot and im happy with  the way shes working with me. She is also another amazing horse to ride.

Intensa...
I love this horse!!
Intensa has improved the most over these last few weeks. She is settled in herself alot more and calm and enjoyable to ride. Intensa also always wanted to rush off once i got on her, she doesnt do it as bad anymore but she still tries it, i just have to sit deep and hold her still and then relax. I have been doing alot of canter work with intensa and she has been doing Great, staying calm throughout the transitions.!!

Since the PMG clinic i have learnt how to use draw reins, i now use them on all the horses im working. These have helped me concentrate on my body posture and it has already improved. If i had a video taken of me riding when i first arrived at the stud, and look at a video of my riding now, it would be amazing to notic the dramatic difference in my riding. Thanking Rachel and Peter for my training. Cant wait for the next PMG clinic

Cuppa x

[Peter Maddison-Greenwell]

Well done "Rosie Lee".,

What you are saying is so good. You are grasping the importance of all these things that so many people do not even think about. Standing Still calmly, Not walking away, relaxing. All so important to get early in the training.

Just  to clarify for the "horrified purist". The draw reins are for the riders education and understanding as well as for the horses that have some minor issues that need to be ironed out. For various reason: Young horses with very little work before they came to the UK. Time off because of the snow. Coming back from having foals etc. are all understandable reasons to have tension and difficulties relaxing the neck down.

I don't want Rosie to have to fight with the mouths the get submission. Whilst she does so extremely well for any rider she is still young and inexperienced and so willing to be patient.

I have suggested she draw reins use for a few weeks, the way I believe they should be used, as "an auxillary aid".
To be held in a way and with enough length of rein that the horse is discouraged from lifting the head into a position that makes the back hollow but not used to force the head down or in. Because less of the riders strength is required the rider does not struggle for a a good seat and can release the rein more often when the neck does goes down.

The horse can get stronger in the back, encouraged to go forward with the neck lower on a loose rein and not get stronger under the neck fighting the rein trying to keep the head up when tense.

Draw reins can be a useful tool when used correctly and can be preferable to a horse continuing to go above the bit.
They have a sliding action and so are less harsh than other devises and you can let go easily if something goes wrong.

Well done Rosie! You got the idea and treated the horses with real care and consideration.
Peter

[St Piran's - Rachel]

Hi Peter

Thanks for that.  I watched Rosie riding Buhonera this weekend and really the draw reins were doing nothing - Boo is now taking herself into self carraige, arching up and over with relaxed underside neck muscles, her stride pattern is rhtymical and she is looking fabulous.  Rosie is able to focus on her position and her messags are being delivered accurately - the whole picture was really pleasing.

Similarly the other mares are relaxed and working exceptionally well with the draw rein rarely coming into play.  We will be ready for the next step in a few weeks time.

Rach

[Peter Maddison-Greenwell]

Hi Rachel and Rosie,

Fantastic! That's show she really has understood and applied the lesson well. That fact is you don't need to use the draw reins all the time. The idea is to use them as the auxilary aid in the moments it goes wrong and release them instantly it goes right. This you can do with the sliding action available to you. IF YOU USE THEM and don't ABUSE THEM. This is the same about so much that we do.

All the best Peter