In The Saddle
The mum of a Chipping Pony Club member reports on the day her daughter spent with legendary cross-country rider Lucinda Green MBE. Photography by Shutter Bugz
One of Chipping Pony Club members, Sarah, had a fantastic opportunity recently to have a cross-country lesson from the six-time Badminton winner, World Champion and double-European Champion, Lucinda Green MBE.
Sarah herself described it as ‘the best day of the year so far’ and was ecstatic to be given the lesson of a lifetime to aid both herself and her Irish sports horse, Ellie, in their journey and partnership.
A series of canter exercises served as a way for Lucinda to check out rider partnerships, followed by a walk-only exercise that saw the riders travel up, across and down a bank maintaining a consistent speed, an activity requiring control and discipline. Sarah described the instruction as forthright yet refreshing, served with a side order of praise! There was attention to detail with sound reasoning, patiently explained in support of why such care and preparation should occur in this fast-paced, competitive sport. Lucinda’s care and love for these four-legged friends is, in itself, inspirational, as she went round adjusting tack and getting to know each horse.
One piece of advice is remembered as ‘cuddle rather than hug with your legs’, with Sarah going onto relate that this provides a constant awareness to the horse to give them confidence.
Lucinda never refrained from wanting to support these riders and educate them, providing a range of top tips all the time they were riding. Some of the most notable include:
• Hold the reins with a lightness of hand, but be ready to go from concrete to feathers in a split second.
• Ride at a jump as if you were going to refuse.
• Go uphill on the diagonal, down in a straight line.
The jumping challenges were varied, zig zagging over ditches, logs, roll tops and a water complex, making the most of the undulating grassroots’ field in front of the splendid Kelsall Hill facilities. Opportunities were offered to ride a route again if it didn’t quite go right the first time, nothing was too much trouble. Towards the end, the riders were encouraged to choose their own jumps and lines, but with the ever-present enthusiasm and guidance from this stalwart of the eventing world.
A warm-down and final chat, allowing the horses to cool off, enabled further stories to be woven and questions to be answered, a message of faith in upholding eventing’s most daring of phases, to an audience of believers who drank in her words. Being told you should be ‘proud of your daughter, and tell her so,’ by this hugely-admired icon was beyond words.
Well done Sarah, your mum is very proud!
If you’d like to know more about Pony Club, and in particular Chipping Branch, please contact the District Commissioner Joanne Conlon 01200 445143 or email: chipping@pcuk.org
