Reaseheath College’s equine students made an impression at the 2024 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), helping to celebrate the event’s 75th anniversary and gaining valuable experience for their careers.
Reaseheath College equine students were riding high after winning a hotly contested inter college team competition. Katie Gibbins, Lucy Lloyd-Brown, Nieve Dillon, Lucy Lunt-Bell, Emily Hassell and Cerys Calcutt, who are studying for their Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management at the Nantwich college, competed against teams from four other leading land-based colleges.
Reaseheath College horse care apprentices were introduced to three very different equine activities during a day which celebrated National Apprenticeships Week (March 6 – 10).
International event rider Michael Owen gave top tips on how best to prepare for the coming eventing season during an informative training demonstration at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre.
Reaseheath’s equine department hosted a free public event last week at its Equestrian Centre as part of National Anti-Bullying Week. The event was aimed at raising awareness about the #NotOnMyYard campaign – an equine-specific anti-bullying initiative launched earlier this year by Tudor Rose Equines.
Equine undergraduates and Level 3 Diploma students attended the prestigious finale of the British flat racing season at Ascot Racecourse.
Reaseheath’s equine department is delighted to be supporting the #NotOnMyYard anti-bullying campaign.
Reaseheath College equine students and staff have again been under the spotlight at the world’s most famous horse show, the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), by providing the arena party for the sixth consecutive year.
Renowned Horse Behaviourist Richard Maxwell gave audiences at Reaseheath Equestrian Centre a fascinating insight into his training methods and philosophies.
Richard, who is a qualified Masterson Method Practitioner, combines a unique blend of natural and traditional horsemanship in order to help horses and their owners. His many clients hail from all equestrian disciplines and include international event rider Sharon Hunt and dressage star Matt Frost.
Richard began his career as a riding instructor in the Household Cavalry where his own introduction to ‘natural horsemanship’ came through a chance meeting with the legendary Monty Roberts.
Said Richard: “In 1988, Monty came to the UK to give a demonstration for the Queen. I gleaned so much from his knowledge and found it interesting how you could take something from a different style of equitation, such as western or rodeo, and introduce this into ‘mainstream’ training.”
Richard’s holistic approach has also been inspired by experts in the field of equine physiology such as Andy Andrews and Jim Masterson – founder of the ‘Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork’ system.
Richard explained: “Andy Andrews helped me to appreciate how physiological problems can contribute heavily to behavioural issues. On meeting Jim Masterson, I was able to put a few more pieces into the jigsaw puzzle and I now feel that I have a fuller picture. I can now help horses physiologically as well as through behavioural training.”
In front of a packed house, Richard worked with three very different types of horses ranging from a dressage horse with ‘stage-fright’ to a Welsh cob with loading problems.
Said Richard: “Any demo is only a snapshot and the answer to behavioural problems is never a quick fix. If I can get just one thing right that might help a horse, then the peripheral problems surrounding an issue may start to lessen.”
Read more about Richard’s demonstration here.