JAS training with Caroline Moore

When I saw that Mrs Iveson was organising a rallye at Vale View with Caroline jumping all sorts of cross country fences indoors (what more do you need when the weather is rubbish outside and the eventing season is round the corner), I could not wait to get booked in for it.  As places were said to be at a premium, good old Dad hand delivered the cheque and rallye slip so that I could have a place.

You see I did this training last year with Eric as part of our preparation for The Burghley Event Pony qualifiers and it was so fab that I wanted to be part of it again. I also knew that the pone (as Shadow is known at home because of his Australian background) would be mega. It was also nice to see people I had not seen for a while as rallies are not as numerous in the winter.

We arrived at Vale View and all got ready to ride. The pone was chilled and just wanted to get on with it. It is such a great centre as there are 2 outdoor schools with fantastic surfaces where you can warm up and catch up with your mates before the real work starts! Dad was supplying the ladies and Robbie with tea and coffee. It was not long before Caroline opened the doors to the indoor school and in we went. The course was made up of roll tops, barrels, corners, arrow heads with show jumping jumps as well.  We all warmed up so that Caroline could get to know all the riders and the ponies/horses. Then we tackled the course in sections and ended up jumping it all. The hour just flew by. It was just such great fun.  Being four in a group also works very well as we can have a corner each when the jumping starts. Not that we do a lot of standing around as the pace is very brisk and Caroline does not let you daydream.

I have done a few of these and I recommend them to anybody. Caroline is one of the great coaches in this country. She prepared me really well last year with Eric for the Burghley Event Pony final and continues to teach me on a weekly basis with my new boys.there are some more dates coming up during half term so nag your parents to get you in and join the fun !

Here are some photos taken on the day.

See you all soon

Constance Copestake

Tips; if you come and school at the rallye, you can enter the Eventer Trial there the next day. It’s the same course!!