Equestrian Life September 2016 Edition

DRESSAGE
LARA DYSON
Loving Life and
Back Competing
Well, having thought that I
wouldn’t be ready for the
Regional Championship with
Annabelle being over-due, I am pleased
to report that Felix loved being back in
work. I was feeling far better than I
thought I would as I had been out of
the saddle for a few weeks.
We had our lesson with Rhett at
the beginning of the month and
although I had planned for it to
be just a half hour lesson I felt we
could have gone on longer and it
was then that I thought “you know
what, these regionals are more than
do-able!”
So it was all systems go, after test riding
practise for a week we were all set.
I would normally have taken Felix to a
couple of competitions in the run up to
a championship but I just didn’t have
the time for this so I knew he would
maybe be a bit fresh but we were up for a
challenge!
My time was 7.58pm and the arena walks
were early in the morning so I made
the decision we couldn’t really do those
either as it would have involved getting
up too early with Annabelle and being at
the competition all day.
So, we set off as a full family my mum,
dad, Gary and Jess to help with Felix - oh
and of course Annabelle! Enjoying her
ride in the lorry we arrived in time to
Annabelle joing Lara for the prize
giving at The Regional Championships
at Port Royal.
feed her, then I jumped on board.
Felix felt great although I slightly over
cooked the warm up given both of our
lack of fitness, I couldn’t have been more
pleased with him. He entered the arena
with his eyes on stalks and piaffing for
a few strides. The more the test went on
the more rideable he became and scored
a very creditable 71.38% putting me in
fourth place, the only down side was
the top three qualified for the National
Championships, so I am really hoping for
a wild card entry but we will see.
I am pleased to say I have been back to
Dixi and her foal.
Felix back in action at the
Regional Championships.
work snagging lots of lovely Cyden
homes ready for completions at the
end of this month and next. It will be
a busy few months at work for me in
the run up to our year end at the end of
October. I am very lucky that Annabelle
is able to come with me and we can carry
on almost as normal.
We have just brought our other foal and
broodmare home from South Grange
Stud. It is lovely to finally welcome a colt,
this is one special boy by Bodyguard and
my mare, Dixi is by de Niro X Landgraf,
so hopefully there is an exciting future
ahead for him.
As I do have a little bit more family time
now, Annabelle and I joined my brother
and his family for a few days holiday at
Sandilands to watch my talented nieces
and nephew win both of their respective
age groups at the tennis tournament and
catch a few days of sunshine.
We will be starting our homebred threeyear-olds
very soon so I look forward to
reporting on those too.
For further information contact Lara Dyson
on 07920 452739, visit www.cydendressage.
com or ‘Like’ the Cyden Dressage Facebook
page for news of all three Cyden Stallions
and other horses and ponies for sale.
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 31