EYE OPENER
Kiki's blog for November 2009
November 2009
Relaxation, fun and fitness via the niche western sport of Reining: This is a very exciting and compelling sport (a form of western dressage). It’s brilliant for keeping at bay the ageing process (!) especially I have early onset osteo-arthritis so this sport really challenges me to keep fit… and it works.
During the course of the year my horse Ché (Snippers Soul Rebel) and I have been thrilled to attend training sessions delivered by top international reining clinicians (and some judges) including Jan Booghaerts, Alain Kronshagen, Ilan Rosenberg, Doug Allen our own British Reining (BR) national team member, and Bob Mayhew who has done so much to establish western riding and reining in this country.
I also participated in a British Reining top rider development programme held on 2 scorching days on 1st and 2nd June run by US trainer Brad Gisbrecht at Court Lodge, Bodiam. The temperature was a blasting 83º but the training very cool and beneficial.
My sure fire way of unwinding this year was to attend 8 shows around the country, including the 5 days Bodiam International, and finish in 2nd place nationally in the BR rookie rankings. I also won some money (gasp!) which was a fantastic and rather unexpected bonus.