Page 178 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Equestrian

By Staff Sergeant Jo Evans
After being a member of the Corps Equestrian
Team for a few years now, I had the honour of
taking up the role as Secretary on my return from
deployment at the end of last year.

Eventing

I’ve owned my horse Ronnie for nearly 18
months now, although almost immediately
after getting him I was deployed out on
Operation Cabrit for nine months, so we only
really started out together at the start of this
year. It’s been a eventful year so far for the
team, which kicked off with team training at

Larkhill Saddle Club on 22nd of March, swiftly

followed by the first Military event of the season,
The Eventers Grand Prix, which was held at the
Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray the
following day. This competition comprised of
a Show Jumping round, immediately followed
by Cross Country then back in for another
course of Show Jumps. Three of our members,
myself included made the trip up for the event,
although challenging, a lot was taken away
and points to work on early in the season
gained.

Next Event
The next big event in the Military calendar was
the United Kingdom Armed Forces Equestrian
Championships at Addington between the 21st
and 22nd of April. This was two days of Show
Jumping and Dressage, where competitors
from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and
the Civilian Police Force compete against each
other.
Bovington
at the Defence Animal Centre between the 19th and 22nd Equestrian Championships at Addington. Following
The One Day Event on the 3rd of June saw a of June, another week of the Army competing against the the session with Pammy, I pushed the boat out and
number of team members competing. The One Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the Civilian Police. entered much higher level tests with some really
Day Event consists of a Dressage test, followed good results. Monty tried his heart out in a very busy
by a Show Jumping round, after which a Cross Dressage environment and I was over the moon with his progress.
Country round is ridden. This is the ultimate We came home with lots of rosettes and a goody bag
test for both horse and rider as you need to By Major Bella Mayo from the great competition sponsors.
show precision and obedience during the
dressage phase. This is followed by accuracy And her horse General Montgomery (Monty) Opportunities
over coloured fences, in the show jumping

phase, which fall if they are hit. The horse needs This year I have been really lucky to benefit from great The training opportunities this year have continued
stamina and speed around a course of natural opportunities with the Corps Equestrian team and to roll in. In May we had a fabulously sunny two days

fences that defiantly don’t fall if the horse hits the Army Equestrian Association’s increased focus on training at Larkhill with Di Burgess; we were all pushed a
them, so a massive dose of bravery in both dressage. I started the season with an amazing lesson little out of our comfort zone with a variety of exercises

horse and rider is required to get round in the with the renowned dressage trainer Pammy Hutton at on the flat and over jumps. The training catered for all
time given. Larkhill. I was really shocked when this great legend abilities and with lots of club horses available to hire,
of the dressage world sized up my knobbly wobbly ex everyone was able to get involved. Our next focus was
Training and Competing racehorse General Montgomery (Monty to his friends) the Re-training of Racehorses Dressage Championships
and proclaimed him to be something really quite special. at Blenheim in September and then the Armed Forces

More training at Larkhill followed on 21st to It was such a boost to experience her excellent training Dressage Championships to finish the season. It has

22nd of May, where we saw a few new faces. and it paid huge dividends a few weeks later at our first been great to ride with the team again this year and to
Followed by Royal Tournament, again held up big competition, the United Kingdom Armed Forces see everyone making such good progress.

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