Equestrian Life August 2016 Edition

DRESSAGE
LARA DYSON
Welcome Annabelle
Rose Edwards
This month has been an exciting month for Lara, giving birth to
her first child and getting back on board Felix just one week later.
Well, where do I begin, our little
bundle of joy aka Annabelle
Rose Edwards joined the
world on Tuesday 28th June at 1.51pm
weighing 8lbs. 4.5 ounces and what a
delight she has been.
I cannot believe what a joy she has
brought to both Gary and my life. She is a
very good girl enjoying her feed but also
her sleep, I was very pleased that at her
five day check-up she had not lost any of
her birth weight, as is usually the case.
Clearly taking after her daddy in this
department, keep her well fed and you
don’t hear anything from her!
Annabelle has already had her first
sit on our little Welsh section A pony,
Willow and didn’t seem too bothered, so
I just need to wait until she can support
her own head and then basket saddle
shopping will be necessary!
Back on board Felix
After an eight week rest and living out on
the grass, I have also been back on board
Felix. As soon as I had given birth I text
Jess, my yard manager, to say “please can
you start lunging Felix to bring him back
into work slowly as I will be back on as
soon as I can.”
Seven days after giving birth I was back
in the saddle and what a feeling he gave
me. The time off has done him the world
of good, his body has matured as well as
his brain. He seems to have taken to the
break very well and is now pleased to be
back in work.
Although I am taking it easy and not
rushing things with him and myself,
I have made the difficult decision to
concentrate on the Winter Regional
Championships now, having decided not
to compete in the Regional’s at the end
of July.
I wouldn’t have been prepared physically
and Felix would have needed a few
outings before, which given Annabelle
was 10 days late just didn’t give me
enough time to do this, and I didn’t want
to miss any of these precious early days
with Annabelle, as I will never get the
time back.
It has been a busy month for my nieces
and nephews too, from show jumping at
the Brocklesby Country Fair to Pony Club
One Day Events and finally the junior
area dressage.
This was one of the first times I have
been able to watch my sisters’ two
children, Pippa and Alice compete and
it was fantastic watching them complete
their dressage tests and then two lovely
show jumping rounds with both of them
Left to right - Alice Marshall riding Dolly
and Pippa Marshall riding Nemo
finishing in the top five.
My brothers’ two children Jessica and
Tom also had success after a week of
intense training. Jessica came fourth
in her section at junior area dressage
with 68.75% and Tom won his section
by over five percent on 74.3%, with the
team then also winning and qualifying
for the National Championships. I really
couldn’t be more proud!
This month Prada and Leia have come
back home from South Grange Stud and
are loving life in the field. It is lovely
to have them home and have my own
cuddles but I can’t thank the Milner’s
enough for the safe delivery of Leia and
for looking after them so well.
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.
Prada and Leia enjoying life in the field
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 31