Read Susi Rogers Hartley’s latest diary in Central Horse News’ Dec issue -

I have had an exciting month, continuing with my flatwork and jumping training, and keeping Seamus fit and happy. He’s a very sensitive horse and has been rather spooky lately – it can be a challenge when horses are feeling well and fit to keep them level-headed – however I have started him on a supplementary calmer, which I hope may help to keep him more relaxed. (I am never sure how much of these products have a placebo affect, for the owner – in that if we think the horse is calmer, we are less tense – but I don’t mind, as long as it collectively helps us!)

Recently I made the journey from Oxford to Kent, as Seamus and I are starring in a TV advert for Horse and Country TV for my sponsor, the RS-tor rider safety aid. Daniel Griffiths, who is competition groom for Joss Gray, acted as my groom for the two day trip and helped me devour a steady supply of chocolate and snacks on the journey – well, you have to keep your strength up! I think chocolate is the staple diet of most horse riders.

We were based at my coach Simon Travis’ yard at Honnington Equestrian in Kent, and despite the weather being chilly and foggy, had a good time riding over a series of jumps while we were filmed. I also did a to-camera interview, although my electric wheelchair managed to strand itself in the sand arena! The trials and tribulations of technology…. Look out for the TV adverts in early 2012!

In exciting news, I am in talks with some key influencers in the Para-equestrian dressage discipline in Hong Kong, as they are interested in me representing Hong Kong internationally as a para dressage rider, due to my family heritage. Hong Kong is an administrative region of the People’s Republic of China and was a colony of the British Empire until 1997; it has a different political system and legal framework from mainland China, and also an independent Olympic and Paralympic team. Hong Kong has won a total of 92 Paralympic medals, notably in athletics, fencing and table tennis, and I would love to add to their tally by representing them in equestrianism. Because I need to apply for a dual citizenship passport, the process will not be a straightforward one, but it is very flattering that the ‘powers that be’ over there are interested in me! I haven’t been focusing on dressage for very long, but I am really enjoying the challenges it brings, and also the positive affects it has on my show jumping. I will keep you posted on my progress!

A high accolade

Lee Pearson CBE is the world’s most successful Paralympic dressage rider, and has amassed a total of 24 gold medals since starting Paralympic dressage competitions in 1998, including six at Paralympic Games competitions (2000, 2004 and 2008). Lee does not have mobility in his ankles or knees, and has restricted movement in all of his other limbs, yet is one of the UK’s most respected dressage riders and trainers; he is a widely renowned and respected horseman. Lee says of Susi: “I have been training Susi for a short time to help her develop her flatwork, and have already been impressed with her talent, dedication and passion for equestrianism. Susi has a wonderful relationship with her horse Seamus, and is a very driven lady – she does not let the fact she is paraplegic get in the way of achieving her riding goals, and in fact most people watching her ride would never realise she has a disability, as it is not relevant – she is simply a very good rider and a great inspiration for anyone wanting to get more from their riding and their relationship with their horse.”

www.rstor.co.uk

A grand achievement
My pupil Emily Cousins, who won a gold medal at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympics, has just completed her second Grand Prix class, with a score of 67%. She will now be aiming for the Under 25s International Grand Prix Classes, which are held at CDI shows – what a great concept in our sport. The competitions allow younger riders to compete at Grand Prix level without having to face their older, more experienced senior rivals during their first steps at the highest levels of dressage.

Managing the crèche
Now that the nights have drawn in and the competitive season is over, it is time to take stock of the horses’ development this year, and assess how they have progressed, and what our plans for next year may be. Winter is a great time to work on the young horses, but one aspect to understand is that they are still growing; you must be careful not to overdo it and keep and eye on their physique and also changing conformation. I am a firm believer in taking things slowly and adapting a training regime to the horse in question! We have lots of youngsters on the yard at the moment – it is an equine crèche! – and I find winter an exciting time, as there’s no pressure. You can really have fun with the young horses and see their personalities and talent develop.

Safe in the saddle
Naturally, our team keeps their RS-tor rider safety aids to hand, especially when we are hacking around the tracks on our property. The device is great for helping to prevent falls and also aiding balance when you are riding a young or unpredictable horse. I am undertaking some filming work for the RS-tor soon, for some exciting, upcoming projects – watch this space for more news! (Visit www.rstor.co.uk for more info on the product.)

First published in Local Rider magazine

Since the clocks changed, it has been trickier to coordinate our winter riding – not least because of the reduced daylight and slippery conditions. However, it is possible to maintain equine fitness by adapting our schooling programmes to include careful hacking, lungeing and slow manege work. Here are my top five tips for riding in the winter:

(1) If your problem is simply one of time, now it is dark earlier, consider lungeing to maintain equine fitness – it is especially useful when time is limited, and may even be a safer choice than riding if the manege is badly lit. Build up from five minutes on each rein if you don’t lunge regularly, to 20-30 mins in total.

(2) If your school is flooded, treat hacking out as a training session and school as you ride; for example, riding lateral movements along a bridle path. Always wear high visibility gear, and avoid the end of the day when it becomes dusky. Consider also riding with an RS-tor rider security aid – the RS-tor is an innovative product for horse riders that helps develop rider balance, and allows the rider to stay safer in the saddle during any discipline or activity. For a horse that is treading carefully due to wet or icy ground conditions, it gives the rider an arm’s length of security in the event of a trip. It consists of a light, webbing strap that attaches to the saddle stirrup bars and includes an elasticated element that absorbs movement. The RS-tor may even help prevent a horse from falling itself, because as the horse stumbles, the rider may have time to ‘pick the horse up’, rather than losing their reins.

(3) It is important to keep the horse’s muscles warm in winter – as the horse exercises, oxygen-carrying blood is released into the bloodstream and subsequently into the working muscles. The muscles warm up as they contract, allowing the horse to stretch and loosen up; however, this process takes longer in cold weather. A well fitting exercise sheet will therefore help to keep the muscles warm, and may also help prevent the horse stumbling due to tense, tight muscles.

(4) Don’t neglect the importance of your horse’s balance this winter – reduced training caused by inclement weather may result in equine laziness, a lack of coordination and increased trips and stumbles, which can of course result in a fall. If you have a lazy horse, you may find that further training will help focus his attention. You could try working with ground poles to help him develop some spatial awareness, and regain some interest in his workload and where he is putting his feet. If your horse is unfit and uncoordinated, you may find that as he develops in fitness, the tripping reduces. Of course, there are several reasons why a horse may stumble and it is advisable to get the horse checked by a hoofcare professional and / or vet, if the problem is ongoing.

(5) If you have access to a manege but are unable to do fast work or jumping due to wet conditions, go back to the beginning and work on your position and the horse’s outline in walk and trot. It will prove beneficial to both your flatwork and jumping. Leading dressage trainer Sarah Millis suggests working on a 20 metre circle, which is also useful if your manege is not very well-lit, and taking things slowly. She recommends working on a good rhythm and focusing on your position, even if you only stay in walk. Also, don’t forget that clipped horses may be a little fresher and sharper; no doubt feeling those wintry, windy gusts under their tails a little bit more! Be safety conscious and don’t forget to ride with an RS-tor rider security aid – visit www.rstor.co.uk for information.

He’s coming along very nicely and is still only six, so we are introducing everything gradually and making sure he enjoys it. With Bertie (Dispol Bertie), Wendy Barke’s talented ex racehorse, I had a lovely first outing at Ascott Under Wychwood. We competed in the Retraining of Racehorses BE90 qualifier; Bertie produced a lovely dressage test and had two unfortunate poles down in the show jumping. In the XC, we just had a slight misunderstanding at a combination! But overall, we were very pleased with his first event, and he just needs more competition experience. My spirited loan horse Skywatch and I recently took part in the BE100 open at Stockland Lovell – he did a lovely test, although it was a little harshly marked, in my opinion! He was a bit rocket-like in the show jumping, taking a few poles down, but made up for it with a quick, careful clear XC round – although we got time penalties for going too fast! Oops. However, it was a good experience and he learned lots. Soon after we competed at West Wilts, this time in the BE100 open class, coming a very respectable fifteenth. I continue to use my RS-tor rider safety aid when schooling or competing in unaffiliated XC events – I feel so anchored to the saddle, especially with a spirited horse like Sky! See www.rstor.co.uk

For more information about Polly visit http://prteventing.weebly.com

I am also pleased to report that Blue and I have qualified for the Pony Club National Championships in the Open class, which take place in Derbyshire. I am so excited about the PC Championships, our first time in the Open class; I will let you know how we get on in next month’s column!

In other news, I have a new loan horse – Skywatch, or Sky to his friends, a former three star / advanced event horse. Sky was previously evented to this level with four star rider Joe Meyer, and our first month together has already seen us come equal sixth in the high-performance Badminton dressage qualifier at Burrows Court.

Recently, at Wilton Horse Trials, I competed both Blue and Sky in the Open Novice class, and gained qualification on both horses to The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe – very exciting!

Sky is definitely finding his feet, but also becoming quite headstrong in the show jumping – I may even try a stronger bit, so we have the accuracy that is required. Finding Sky was wonderful and definitely ‘meant to be’, as in early 2011 I lost my top event horse, Awesome, to heart problems.

I am pleased to be sponsored by the RS-tor rider safety aid, which attaches to the saddle stirrup bars; it is great when you are schooling at home or competing in unaffiliated cross country events to feel so anchored in the saddle. It could stop a rider having a very nasty fall. See http://www.rstor.co.uk. To read more visit http://prteventing.weebly.com

Head first into safety

We all know horse riding is dangerous – but for most of us, we simply balance dangerous activities against the risk factors present. For example, we wear a seat belt in a car, and check the road before crossing as a pedestrian.

Where horse riding is concerned, there are of course many safety precautions that can be taken – however, falls and accidents still occur.

At Badminton Horse Trials, this year, three riders fell badly, despite being highly experienced – Elizabeth Power, Camilla Spiers and German rider Ingrid Klimke were all taken to the local hospital, whose staff are presumably used to seeing riding boot-clad people pacing the wards each April.

Fast-paced sports have a high correlation with injury rates, in any sector. Unfortunately, it is difficult to fully assess the amount of horse riding accidents that occur on a large scale; and to date, there is no formal register for equestrian injuries. However, Kathryn Doodson, a student at Leeds Metropolitan University, is currently collating data for a web-based Major Independent Study (MIS) called the Equestrian Injury Knowledge Mobilization Database.

Visit – www.equestrianinjuries.org. In addition, British Horse Society has an Accident Reporting Website at www.horseaccidents.org.uk that invites people to report equestrian related incidents. With the resulting data, the charity aims to “lobby those who can make changes”.

Many studies point to the fact that head injury is the most common reason for equestrian-related admittance to hospitals; famously, American dressage rider Courtney King-Dye fractured her skull after a fall from a horse in early 2010, when she was not wearing a helmet. Wearing approved helmets has been shown to reduce the rate of injury, and American dressage guru Michael Barisone, a member of USEF’s High Performance Dressage Committee, has stated that: “Wearing a helmet… should be implemented anytime when mounted, all over the world.” Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace ‘declined to comment’ after her majesty the Queen was pictured on a horse wearing a headscarf and no helmet earlier this year.

Aside from wearing helmets, there are of course other safety products that are widely used by riders, such as body protectors and air jackets. In addition, there are specially-padded jackets, safety stirrups, high visibility wear and lighting products that all help reduce the risk factors for accidents, or reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of a fall.

Showjumper Susi Rogers Hartley, who competes in able-bodied showjumping classes and also Para jumping classes, as she is paraplegic, advocates riding with an RS-tor rider safety aid – the product may be used in all show jumping competitions by all riders. At the recent RDA National Championships, Susi won the Grade 1 show jumping section (70cms), and says the RS-tor rider proved invaluable. “It enables me to stay sitting up, no matter what direction my horse Seamus, who is a real spinner and spooker, goes in. At the RDA Championships, I could nip in and out on the sharp turns without coming out of the ‘side door’,” she states.

Oxfordshire-based Susi is fronting a photo competition to raise funds for a new electric wheelchair for her. Winning photos will be used on a 2012 equestrian calendar that will be available for sale in due course. Susi is inviting people to submit a high resolution photo that shows themselves safety enjoying their horse-riding; any discipline / activity applies! Images can be emailed to: rstorfacebook@gmail.com, together with a caption for the photo, and your name and contact details. Closing date is 31st October. “Professional and amateur images are welcome,” Susi explains.

Visit www.rstor.co.uk for info.

Absolute Horse magazine’s Nov issue reports on our new video – have you seen it? Watch it below and leave a comment on You Tube to tell us your thoughts… or visit www.rstor.co.uk for more info…

We are delighted to be featured in this month’s ETN magazine, the industry’s trade title – here’s what the magazine says in their ‘assistance products’ feature-

The RS-tor rider safety aid is widely used by riders of all disciplines to aid safety and stability in the saddle, and saw a redesign in 2011 that included a new ergonomic end-piece, plus adjustable fixing straps to the saddle D-bars.

According to Lee Buck of manufacturer Polypads, the RS-tor packaging clearly displays the ergonomic end-piece. “Customers can see and feel the item without having to take it out of its packaging, and see if it meets their dexterity needs,” he states.

The product, designed to arrest a rider’s fall or allow them to fall in a more controlled manner, is held in the hand like a riding crop – the RS-tor’s fall prevention aspect does not come into effect unless the horse spooks, bucks, rears, cat-leaps or stumbles, although its confidence-boosting benefits are always experienced.

Highly-regarded rider Susi Rogers Hartley sustained a spinal injury thirteen years ago that caused paraplegia; she competes within British Show Jumping and British Para Show Jumping Association competitions, and does not ride without her RS-tor. “The product always comes in handy during my horses’ frolics,” Susi says.

“It is invaluable and enables me to stay sitting up, no matter what direction my horse goes in; I have still had a few falls, but they’ve been drastically reduced, which I put solely down to the RS-tor. It is great, especially with my sharp horse Seamus, a real spooker and spinner.”

The RS-tor may be used in affiliated British Show Jumping competitions but may only be used in the warm-up sections of affiliated British Dressage and British Eventing contests. It does not contravene Pony Club equipment rules and may generally be used within BSPS Heritage and Tiny Tots showing classes.

The RS-tor is available in three sizes, Childs, S and M/L, with adults over 5ft usually selecting M/L. Visit www.rstor.co.uk for info. Priced £44.99.

We have had yet another busy month, with lots of young horses on the yard, and the tail end of the summer’s competitions to attend – although one of the most exciting events as a trainer has surely been my pupil Mel Beer’s trip to Broholm, Denmark, for the 2011 Junior and Young Rider European Championships.

Mel was one of two riders, along with Sophie Wells, competing individually for Britain in the Under 21 category. With her horse Celestial King, or CK, Mel finished in 20^th place individually; an outstanding achievement against an international field. CK performed exactly as Mel and I would have liked him to. “He gave me everything he had, I honestly could not have asked for any more from him, what a super-star!” Mel said after the contest. “He may not be the most impressive or expressive, but we squeezed every mark we could out of the judges by being correct and as accurate as possible.”

There’s a lot of pressure to be had at an event like the Europeans, and Mel and Sophie, as well as the junior teams, did well to stay calm and focussed and do Britain proud. (Especially as Mel’s lorry broke down in Germany, on the way to the event – the trials and tribulations of international travel! Junior Rider Emma Corbett’s family thankfully provided a rescue operation).

Brits abroad

Talking of the best of British, I have to give a mention to the fabulous first place win for Britain at the recent Senior European Championships in Rotterdam. The British team secured our county’s first ever team gold medal in able-bodied dressage on the world stage, with Germany and the Netherlands taking the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Carl Hester’s ride Uthopia, co-owned by Sasha Stewart, was particularly impressive and Carl is a rider who has worked tirelessly to achieve this level of success. I know he was emotional on the day, especially as his pupil Charlotte Dujardin was on the team, in only her sixth International Grand Prix test with Valegro; an amazing horse co-owned by Carl and Roly Luard.

Carl and Laura Bechtolsheimer also went on to win silver and bronze respectively in the event’s grand prix special, with Dutch rider Adelinde Cornilessen and her unstoppable ride Parzival taking gold. Britain is truly a contender against leading nations Germany and the Netherlands, and there’s little to chose between the world’s top horses when they are at their best. It is a very promising time for dressage and Britain.

Could you volunteer?

Did you know that British Dressage is looking for volunteers? The sport simply couldn’t happen without them. Here are some fast facts:

• All British Dressage judges are unpaid volunteers – even the ones at Grand prix level.

• The nine Board Directors of British Dressage are voluntary, as are all 56 of the regional committee staff.

• At competitions, all scorers, stewards, runners (who collect test sheets from the judges and take them to the secretary’s office), writers (who write down the judge’s comments) and many of the show secretaries do it for the love of the sport.

BD is also looking for writers (to write for the judges) for the Winter Championship – applications close on the 31st January 2012. The application form can be downloaded from www.britishdressage.co.uk. Writing for judges is a great way to get to know what they are looking for, and watch and learn from other riders.

An RS-ting development

I advocate the use of the RS-tor rider safety aid, and was interested to hear that a customer as far afield as Japan has been in touch with the company to explain that he is conducting an informal study into how the heart beat is affected by fear when riding – he plans to use the RS-tor as part of his studies with a sport psychologist into how to physiologically calm an anxious rider. How enterprising! Visit www.rstor.co.uk for product info.

Article first published in Local Rider magazine.