Reaseheath audience enjoys top tips from eventer Lucinda Fredericks

Competitors, students and staff were privileged to gain training insights from international three day event rider, trainer and businesswoman Lucinda Fredericks during a lecture demonstration at Reaseheath’s Equestrian Centre.

Lucinda, who formerly competed for Great Britain and now represents Australia, shared her tips for training horses from advanced eventers to children’s ponies.

She drew on successes which include winning three of the world’s six four star FEI events – Burghley, Badminton and Rolex Kentucky – and team silver at the Beijing Olympics 2008 with the charismatic little mare Headley Britannia. She also competed at the 2012 London Olympics with another of her top rides, Flying Finish, and was coach of the bronze medal winning Hong Kong team at the 2014 Asian Games.

Ably assisted by her 12 year-old daughter Ellie and the team from her livery and training yard in Wiltshire, Lucinda demonstrated training methods which could be used at home to prepare for the coming competition season.

Telling her Reaseheath audience that ‘riding is all about timing, feel and balance’, Lucinda used ground poles to shorten and lengthen the trot and canter strides of novice ride Frankie.

She then moved on to promising eventer EFS Rambo, a six year-old  approaching his second season after successfully completing four pre-novice and three one star events. Flatwork focusing on rhythm in all paces was followed by jumping a small course of fences.

It was then the turn of Moorland Oscar, an eye-catching six year-old Dartmoor x Apaloosa, ridden by Ellie and being produced for sale. Lucinda first demonstrated lunging techniques which adults could use to prepare ponies when their young jockeys were unavailable. Ellie then popped Oscar over single fences, culminating in an impressively narrow, single upright barrel which earned them a round of applause.

Grand finale was delivered by Lucinda and her eight-year old stallion Britannia’s Mail (Marley), first son by embryo transfer of Headley Britannia by premier eventing stallion Jaguar Mail. This stunning horse completed nine intermediate events last year with Lucinda alongside his stud duties – a fantastic testament to his temperament and ability.

The event, judged by many visitors as one of the best yet, is one of a regular schedule of informative demonstrations, courses and competitions offered at Reaseheath’s Equestrian Centre.

For more details see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/reaseheath-equestrian-centre