Team GBR

Equestrian stars of the future attend British Eventing training clinic at Bishop Burton College

A group of young eventing stars of the future gathered at Bishop Burton College recently to attend a clinic with British Eventing (BE) coach and Derby House Pony Eventing Squad trainer Jonquil Hemming.

The purpose of the clinics is to prepare the youngsters for the standard of riding expected by the FEI European Pony Championships which are being held at Bishop Burton College in July.

All eight of the riders attending the session are aiming for squad selection for the Championships.

“The idea behind the training is to give the riders tips and advice to help them get on and prepare for this standard of competition,” said Jonquil.

“The most fundamental thing I find when taking these clinics is that the riders are not always aware of how crucial their position and posture is and how this can affect how their horse goes.”

Similar training sessions are held throughout the year in different venues across the UK and often involve experts such as BE accredited trainer Richard Carruthers, who has been involved in the redevelopment of Bishop Burton’s four cross country courses over the past five years.

The clinics are open to those riders who have applied to go through the Pony Trials process in order to be available for squad selection, although there is no obligation for any rider who attends a clinic to go onto to take part in any Pony Trials.

East Yorkshire rider Annabel Gray (16) is aiming for squad selection in 2010, her last year in ponies.

Annabel said: “I’m putting everything I have into it this year to get selected. I’m having lessons with Camilla Parsonage and these clinics are great.

“Jonquil is a great trainer and I’ve learned a lot – I got the pony much looser in his back and softer in his frame, which will really help when we’re competing.”

Alice Walker (15) of Witley in South Yorkshire is also hoping to be selected. She found the clinic very useful.

“Jonquil has given us some really good advice. In canter the pony gets very tense and she showed me how to correct my position to help him relax.”

Emily Ryder (15) travelled to the College from central Scotland to attend the clinic – she was very impressed by the facilities.

Emily said: “I rode the pony class at the College in October and it’s a really nice course.

“It’s the right length – perfect for the end of the season, with some big fences but it all rode really well. Bishop Burton will be great venue for the Championships.”

The group also included Philippa Hill of North Yorkshire, an ‘A’ Squad rider who enjoyed good results last year and only narrowly missed out on squad selection for the 2009 European Pony Championships.

As Derby House Pony Eventing Squad trainer, Jonquil is aiming to beat the silver gained by the eventing team at the 2009 championships and has the German team firmly in her sights.

She said: “Of course we are aiming for gold this year but the Germans are always difficult to beat – particularly in dressage as they have such high-quality animals.

“It would be fantastic to take gold at a home competition and Bishop Burton College – the facilities are great.”