Dressage: Peter Tomlinson
Tuesday 1st November 2011
Our dressage star Peter Tomlinson reflects on an eventful trip to Holland and his brief flirtation with rap music …
My trip to Holland in October to look at potential competition horses was eventful, to say the least! I saw some beautiful horses and found a really nice youngster that was jet black and ideal for my client Lara.
Unfortunately, when we arrived home on the Sunday evening, Lara felt unwell and on the Tuesday morning was rushed into hospital with blood poisoning! There had been some complication with an operation she’d had before our trip, so it was nothing to do with the Dutch hospitality! Sadly, because of her ordeal, she missed out on a lovely horse.
Retirement of Madison County
You might recall me telling you that I’d retired my Grand Prix horse Madison County, and the other week I took him to his new home. He is going to be based with long time friend and fellow professional Stephen Thompson for Stephen to compete at Advanced and Prix St George.
You may be thinking to yourselves that that’s not much of a retirement, but these horses are so used to a work routine and the best care that for me it is cruel just to chuck them out in a field. The horse is a herd animal and a creature of habit, so if you take away that, you take away their life.
I think Stephen is going to do a great job and with the care and attention of Kate Curwen-Reed, the former head girl at Talland, I’m sure he’ll live out the rest of his days happily.
That’s one expensive Hat!
My Mother Helen has always been obsessed with protective headgear and even more so since I had my freak accident back in 2008, when a young horse put me in intensive care for two weeks with a brain injury.
It’s understandable, then, she’s extra-cautious now but when we were at Vale View Equestrian Centre in Leicestershire the other day she spotted this amazing £300 hat that she said I desperately needed.
I was thinking to myself that for £300 I could go with the lads to Amsterdam and still have change to go window shopping! As usual, she won and reluctantly I brought the wonder hat. On the plus side, though, it does look smart.
BYRDS Camp Rap!
Me and an old friend and mentor, Sonia Baines (Webster), held a BYRDS camp for the Northern region recently. It was open to everybody under the age of 25 who were looking to advance their Dressage knowledge and become a member of a squad. It was also attended by those competing at Novice, Medium and Elementary levels.
They all seemed to really enjoy it and in the evening myself, Sonia and Leanne, a BYRDS committee member, did a demonstration on the scales of training. Sonia was riding a client’s PSG horse while we explained the scales, which, for the record, are: Rhythm, Loosness (Suppleness), Contact, Impulsion, Straightness and Collection.
For the younger ones I came up with something more inventive – a rap to help them learn the scales, and now no one can say Pete ain’t down with the kids Yahll!!
My sensitive youngster
I’ve been taking my youngster Britannia out recently and he’s been a little spooky, but a good boy considering he’s only five. He’s still very green and tends to hold his tension in a test, so its going to take a while until he gains the confidence to move like he can and relax.
I don’t like waiting at the best of times, and I do get a little frustrated going out and not doing well, but I have a feeling he’s worth waiting for. As they say, good things come to those who wait.
Britannia is very sweet with a kind temperament and very sensitive, but it’s that sensitivity that will hopefully make him a special horse.