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Posts by Wiola

Norway Adventure Part 2: The Training

To read Part 1 click HERE.

28/01/2011

Once every rider had ridden on Friday we all met up in the Clubhouse to watch the videos and discuss the performances. We also got some yummy pizza delivered that was the size of tables and I haven’t seen such large servings ever! It was really tasty too :)
Initially we were just going to have a quick glance at the videos and have a proper video analysis session on Saturday but everybody was so eager to learn and find out what they need to work on that we ended up having a really great, couple of hours long discussion on various training matters! All the riders took part in assessing each other videos so we got a rather fantastic brain storm session going on :)
This is something I would love to do more of especially that there wasn’t a rider who didn’t improve on the next day and they all walked into the arena with superb enthusiasm and somewhat changed!

It was late night on Friday when Kari and I sat down to discuss all the riders and their issues, what we thought was going on and how we were going to work on the problems. I re-watched all 30 odd videos we had of the riders to decide what should I teach them and what they will likely stumble upon during our Saturday session. This is much easier done with riders I teach on regular basis as I know what they might do or how they might respond to certain suggestions or instructions.
The late evenings videos were particularly difficult to watch as it was dark and riders wore massive coats and jackets. Not great to see what their backs/necks and seat were doing!

This is how it looked. It was about -20C and I could barely move for the amount of coats I was wearing! I was still shivering under all the layers ;)

The indoor arena was much easier as it was a little warmer and obviously much lighter :)

I told all the riders that Saturday would be a correction time…I admit I did a long mental list of what I didn’t like as well as what I did like and hoped to keep in each rider despite the changes I was planning.
I knew there were a few things that would be very difficult to improve in a very short time as some require a lot of trust in what a trainer/instructor is saying. It’s not easy to just show up and say, look this isn’t taking you anywhere, stop this, try that.
For example – Camilla, riding indoors on a big bay mare in draw-reins did so due to fear as she was bucked off badly not long ago. I couldn’t just say, I don’t want to see you in draw-reins tomorrow. Instead we had a long conversation about why she uses them and what are the benefits and [mostly] negative influence this aid has on dressage horses. In the end she actually asked if she should come without them. Hurray! Camilla did an amazing job throughout the weekend and I hope her confidence will keep coming back as once she relaxes a bit she has a lovely feel for her mare and good skills to build up on.

29/01/2011

Saturday starts early. I woke up all of a sudden but couldn’t figure out why. Knock Knock.

5 February 2011 at 17:44 - Comments

My meeting with Memotion Ltd – could equestrian world have finally found an affordable way to professional filming system?

A few weeks ago I received an email from the owners of a new, exciting start up company – Memotionsports Ltd. They wrote to introduce their product and we arranged for a meeting a week later.How I wish I had a venue of my own to get Memotionsports involved in straight away! The product is potentially excellent and I thought they deserve some additional publicity so here we go.

I will let Memotionsports tell you first what they are all about:
memories…in motion…emotion
memotionsports™ is a video recording and editing service aimed broadly to the world of sports people and in this case, the hot spot being the scope of Equine and dressage.
Our system records the relationship of a rider to their horse, focusing on the movement and posture of the event. The recording is achieved through multiple cameras located around the arena, capturing all the important actions and this footage can be replayed and benefited from at a later stage or be used for training purposes. memotionsports™ captures the equestrian experience of you and your horse rather than focusing on close-ups of the rider so that your skills in handling the animal can be enjoyed.

We understand that impulsion, suppleness and rhythm are important factors within this sport and hence provide a mechanism for those performance criteria to be recorded and viewed in a user friendly way.
It is a straightforward and simple process to create a professional quality video. This can be viewed instantaneously for immediate feedback or we offer a post production editing service. This service will extract the key sections of your riding session; enhance the relevant aids through creative techniques and produce a professional film that you can be proud of. This is for you to keep and can be used for seeking further training or as a souvenir for your special event.

Small Print

Users seek our service in order to have a nice memory of them performing at sports. We take data protection and privacy issues very seriously and memotionsports™ have secure processes in place to protect that. We guarantee that the recordings will not be made available outside of your specified network without your permission.
All recorded footage is stored securely on our computer servers and we do not disclose the content to anyone who are not memotionsports™ approved organisations. From time to time we may use some recorded films as promotional material but only after we have received written confirmation from the owner that we can do so. For your added peace of mind, we are legally bound by the Data Protection Act which sets out specific controls for the handling of your personal data.
For and on behalf of memotion™ Ltd.
info@memotionsports.com

If this information intrigued you enough I suggest you email memotionsports and ask for a nice little PowerPoint presentation they have :) It has a lot more insights into how the system works including photos of proposed set up and the way the revenue can be raised.
I am looking forward to further working with the company to help them build more contacts in the industry. I think the concept is fantastic and exactly what our sport is missing on at the lower levels (and higher ones too actually).The TV coverage of Equestrian Sports is very unlikely to improve any time soon and in my opinion there are a few things we need now:
1) A way to provide the coaches, riders, training centre owners, parents of young riders and competitors with a long lasting, visual record of training sessions, lessons, clinics. Such records are not only highly informative but are also a powerful motivational tool. They are also a relatively inexpensive way to learn the skills.

2) A way to extend the exposure of the sponsors of equestrian events. I don’t know the statistics but it’s safe to assume the exposure is low and the attraction even lower. Companies in general don’t see the benefits of sponsoring equestrian events unless they have national or international rank. The thing is the horse sports need the keen sponsors at lower levels to pump the energy into the industry. Having banners around the arena on the day of an event is great but they are gone the day after. If there were videos of such events made for rider’s families, friends, fans(?), breeders of the horses taking part etc and certainly for riders themselves so they can post them on their websites (as many amateur riders now have some great ones) the exposure is immediately extended and immortalized.
3) A tool for coaches to monitor the progress of their riders. As I’m sure many of my riders know I am a big fan of video feedback. There is no question about the benefits and educational value for the rider. The videos are, however, also a very useful tool for the coaches. If I see a rider every week for 3 years a lot of the things that shout at me in the first few months become less and less noticeable. You start making allowances for the rider and perhaps close an eye on this and that. Looking through video footage over months’ time is very helpful in making sure what I teach is helpful to that particular rider. Is the rider improving or is he/she still at the same level as a few months ago? It’s much easier to assess performance in competition riders where the judges give their feedback or where you have more double clears etc In a non-competitive, training environment the stagnation in the progress is much more likely.
4) A way for trainers to monitor the horses they school. How many times did you think: I wish I had someone to film me today? Perhaps you wanted to show your horse’s owners how great he/she is schooling. Yes, you can have a great feel on the day and be sure the horse is getting better but you have no visual reference, no way of appraising your own riding, seat, horse’s way of going from the place the judge will later look at you. Lessons are expensive but if you are serious about improving you must have “eyes on the ground”. Good video system can give you the opportunity to monitor your training, sharpen your training skills and an eye for detail. You ride the horse so you know how it feels. If you can “see the feel” you not only getting better as a trainer but as a teacher/coach too.
I think it would help enormously with planning the training. For example if I could monitor my own progress by myself on day-to-day basis and attend a few days long intensive training with a pro (like those organised by Anna Ross-Davies at Altogether Equestrian ) every two-three months or so, it would create a way more affordable training system.
5) A tool for trainers/coaches to show their methods to wider public. If you move to an area you don’t know, yard full of riders you don’t know and you have to find an instructor what do you do? It’s easy to say you would go with “word of mouth” but this still pretty much means blind testing. Top names in the area are likely to be known but not everyone wants and needs to have lessons with a “top rider” or “top trainer”. If local instructors have web videos showing their clinics/lessons etc you could watch them and decide who is likely to suit you and your horse.
6) A tool for BHS Training Centres to monitor progress of trainee instructors and help them progress. Many young people I have taught for Preliminary Teaching Test exams in London, Surrey and Berkshire have two main problems a) they are worried about what to say and when and how will they sound, will they be heard by their riders b) confidence in the arena whilst teaching. If you can see what you do and how you sound you can correct many things way quicker than by doing guess work.
7) A tool for Virtual Coaching. Part of Aspire Equestrian Riding Academy training plans is a service whereby a rider can submit an unlimited amount of riding videos from when they ride at home for instructor’s feedback. It means that if they only come for lessons/training once every two weeks they can still stay on top of the training plan and monitor their progress. Everybody loves the idea but many have one primary problem: no one to film them! Not everybody has a non-working parent or a ever present helper who can come with a camera and film every time they ride. I want them to be able to submit those videos! :)
8) A tool for Riding Centres, Riding Schools, Competition Centres and Livery Yards to promote their sponsors, services, shows, riders, horses you name it!
9) A memory, something tangible to take with you after you had a time of your life and mum, dad, friend, BBC wasn’t there!
There are probably more points I could come up with but I don’t want to make this post too long ;) Come on riding centres – contact memotionsports and set the wheels in motion!
I am hoping for some exciting collaboration in between Aspire Equestrian Academy and memotionsports in the near future. I have now agreed a feature for the Academy in a top selling monthly equestrian magazine and it will require video footage so watch this space…! :)

19 December 2010 at 10:35 - Comments

Insight into a novice rider’s personalised training plan

Beth contacted me enquiring about Academy’s coaching Programmes because she felt she wanted a motivational, continuous training to help achieve her riding goals. She started riding 9 months ago and has managed to learn a few naughty bad habits but is a rather fearless and jolly rider with very quiet manner in the saddle :)

After her Assessment Day we decided that the best option for Beth would be to base her lessons on both Start & Foundation Programmes which gives her a fun mix of balance and seat education on the lunge as well as some influence training on the flat. Beth adores her current riding school and would like to continue riding there which of course is not a problem.

The option we went for for Beth was to schedule regular Intensive Training Days at Hall-Place Equestrian Centre where she gets a bit of a boot camp! She then works on the exercises and skills we introduce at Training Days during her weekly lessons at her current stables.

Here you can see one of the issues we are working on and that are quite common in riders who either don’t have lunge lessons or have only a few of them at the very beginning of their riding education. The focus with Beth now is re-educating the mechanics of her rising trot as Beth has some interesting technique under her belt :) She pushes upwards from her stirrups which immediately disturbs her balance. As a result she is having to work really hard to lift herself out of the saddle!

First Balance, then Position, then Influence.
Beth is determined, committed and fun to teach!

This is a screen shot of Beth’s Video Feedback session. Beth is practicing standing in the stirrups to find her vertical balance and feeling of symmetrical weight distribution. It’s one of my favorite balance exercises, you can do it both with and without the stirrups (for more advanced riders). I use it both with long, medium and very short stirrups to train body and weight awareness. I am yet to see a rider who doesn’t find it beneficial in one way or another.

Beth’s long term goal is to take BHS Stage 1 exam. I will keep you updated on Beth’s progress :)

All the best,

Wiola

18 December 2010 at 03:12 - Comments

The walks in the workless week

To be nobody but yourself–in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else– means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

- EE Cummings
Spent a few days walking through London parks with Ricky. The winter plays with the world. Pretty and cruel.
Pic. The way I see it…

Pic. The way I see it…

Pic. The way I see it…


Pic. The way I see it…

4 December 2010 at 14:58 - Comments

Taking Chances

Look at that cheeky fox, barely visible on the dark surface of the arena, daring me with his little foxy eyes, playfully strolling around during my 4pm lesson today. It was so cold I put a hot water bottle on top of my boots to stop my toes from freezing off. The walking helps a little but the chill from the surface bites right through the soles and into the flesh. And it’s only as many hours that I am willing to trek a day.
The fox, seemingly cozy in his winter coat, danced around the arena for good 30 minutes, popping into the corners, laughing at my rider trying not to run him over, then having even more fun when we decided to chase him.

The cold, the scent of frost in the air, reminds me of home where the air can be so crisp and sharp that it almost hurts to take a deeper breath.
There are mornings and nights to the days now, no afternoons to speak of.

Taking chances in the dark is very much my full-time occupation right now. Several weeks ago I got contacted by someone interested in incorporating the Academy’s assessment system and programmes into their riding club. We met a few times to discuss the ins and outs and although I wasn’t sure at first whether it would work well, we decided it would indeed. It’s funny as the more we thought about it the more we realised what a fabulous join up it could be for both parties.
There is this saying I really like: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. I thought it could be one of those lucky moments you get in life.

But then I heard nothing for a long time so I assumed they gave up on the idea.
A few more serious enquiries from riders wanting to train on my programmes kept me occupied; we arranged for assessment days, the riders loved them so I am over the moon. They also decided to continue with the training straight away which will keep me rather busy over the next month.

I have also taken on another chance of a potentially fantastically challenging and interesting part-time job that would gel well with the Academy teaching but I won’t know anything about this one until December.

Then the club came back to me.
Some details are still to be talked over but looks like we will go into some form of co-operation whereabouts they get my training whilst Academy gets their clients…
Once it definitely goes ahead I will post more about the club as I think they have a superb idea in place, together with Academy services it might get even better ;)

Still green in West London on a morning in late November…

….and the milky, frosty mist on my way to work that soon travelled from the Common over to the arena, hiding the riders and horses like a secret.

28 November 2010 at 13:02 - Comments
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