Equestrian Life November 2016 Edition

DRESSAGE
LARA DYSON
Welcome Home Bodyguard
This month has seen Lara
compete at the Summer
National Championships
as well as welcoming her
stallion, Bodyguard, back
home after his holiday at
stud and his training with
Rhett Bird during the final
months of Lara’s pregnancy.
So, what has been a quieter month for
me and all the horses has also been
an exciting one, competing at the
Nationals and Bodyguard coming back
home.
Earlier in the month I ran a British
Dressage ‘Have a Go Day’ at the lovely
Manor Grange Stud. This is opportunity
for any non-members to come and chat
about British Dressage, ask any questions,
have a lesson and run through a practice
test of their choice.
I was pleased to join lots of new members
at one of my last events as a British
Dressage Northern Region committee
member, as I come to the end of my time
allowed at the end of the year.
Annabelle had her first stay in the lorry
as we packed it up for five night’s away
training with Rhett Bird before heading
to the Nationals. As always Annabelle
was amazing, loving her ‘glamping’ and
meeting Bodyguard for the first time.
We travelled down to Rhett’s with Felix
for a few days training prior to the
Championships, giving me the chance to
run through the test in a different arena
as Felix can be spooky. Any opportunity
to get him used to a change of venue,
the better. He was brilliant with lots of
improvements made over the few days
and leaving us feeling prepared for the
Nationals.
I also had lessons on Bodyguard, having
not sat on him since the end of April. It
felt amazing to be back on board although
he is definitely the one who gave me my
flat stomach prior to Annabelle coming
along, as it’s the first time ever I’ve had
to ask for a walk break in a lesson as my
stomach muscles, (or lack of them), were
burning! Sitting trot and holding him
with my core was killing!
Trying to cheat and go rising, Rhett clearly
noticed saying, “Now back sitting.”
Bodyguard felt amazing and I couldn’t
believe how much I had missed riding him
while he’s been at stud and while I was
having Annabelle. He is now back at home
in full work and I am hoping to bring him
out at Inter 2 level early next year.
We arrived at the Nationals on the
Saturday, before competing Sunday
morning. On the Saturday I just stretched
Felix out and showed him the warm up
arena. He was a star, taking it all in his
stride and actually giving me some of his
best trot I’ve ever felt, even though we
were aiming just to stretch, we had a little
collected play before letting him down
again as he felt so good.
Sunday morning we were up early for the
arena walk, leaving Annabelle in the lorry
with mum having a lie in.
Around 10 o’clock I got on and headed
down to the warm up. Felix worked in
brilliantly and I felt so proud having
Annabelle there at the side of the arena
watching me as well as Gary, mum and
dad. I also have to say thanks to Georgia
who came with me for the whole trip so
I could get on and off without having
to worry about Felix and was able to
concentrate on Annabelle.
We entered the arena on a high, and
Lara and Felix warm up
at the Summer National
Championships.
although he became a little tight in the
atmosphere he gave me some of his best
work. I was initially disappointed with our
score of 70.49%, but it was the Nationals
and any score above 70% I have to be
pleased with.
If only I could have been 1% higher I
would have been in 3rd not 13th place
but I can’t be disappointed with a threemonth-old
baby born during training, it
was an achievement getting there!
Back at home we have just brought our
homebred three-year-olds in from the
field ready to start backing, so hopefully
I will have lots of exciting news to report
next month.
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.
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