Winning Events Before You Arrive | The Andrew Hoy Interview

Team Hoy: "Competitions Are Won Before You Get There"

A few weeks ago I spent some time with Andrew Hoy with the intention of interviewing him about the US coaching job that's been hitting the headlines, and that he applied for. We, (well I), got a little distracted so we ended up talking about some of his philosophies, riding tactics etc., which I'm sure pleased Andrew, as he was probably bored stiff being interrogated about the US job by this stage, and he hasn't even interviewed for it yet.

The Nick Turner Interview | Team Coaching & The Brazilian Job

Nick Turner | Brazilian Team Coach

I became 'acutely' aware of Nick Turner a year or so ago. For those of you who don't know him, Nick is the Eventing Team Coach for Brazil (I know, dream job - sun, sea & sand!), he's also on the UK panel of selectors for eventing, has a string of letters after his name that leaves you in no doubt about his credentials as an equestrian coach, and has been round Badminton & Burghley on horses he has produced, so he knows a thing or two about talent.

Spring Cleaning & Ringing the Changes

Great White Charger

It's mid February, a little early for spring cleaning perhaps, and I know I should already be in the thick of getting the Great White Charger fit for what is likely to be his last season (or two). I have to confess to handing over that responsibility to the yard staff due to work commitments, although I did manage to go galloping for some film work last week. Although I haven't had a great deal of time to ride I have managed to keep myself fit by cycling and walking a fair bit, both at home and whilst away on trips abroad.

I'm clearly not alone in all of this as I notice a number of google search terms bringing people to my blog along the lines of "getting an event horse fit" popping up, and indeed, as you might expect a few articles across the web touching on the same subject.

Crocuses Are Out - Spring is a-coming

There has been the odd day so far this year where Spring is clearly in the air and it's this that gets me all fired up and excited! The crocuses are out, the UK eventing season is just around the corner, the media is full of Badminton first timer blogs (which this year I have to say "good luck on getting in", the entry list is bound to be littered with WEG Medalists and no end of championship level talent!), and there is generally an air of "all change please, all change".

Logan Rawlings : Crossing The Pond

Logan Rawlings is a 24 year-old Californian eventer who many might describe as lucky, on account she managed to wangle a job with eventing super-maestro, William Fox-Pitt. Having recently gone solo, based here in the UK, I thought I'd find out a little more about Logan's time with William and her experience of the British circuit. Here's a short interview I had with logan a few weeks ago:



You can follow Logan's progress on her blog at: http://sidelinesnews.com/blogs/onward-upward/
including news of her recent move to the new yard set up by Charlotte Martin

Team Success: It's All About The Horses

Eric Smiley | Another Coach On The Transfer List

I'm off to train the Barbados Eventing Team! Eric might be all smiles after getting a call inviting him to cross the world's busiest sea lane to train the Belgian eventers, but I recon you can have the best trainers in the world from the Roycrofts & Woffords to the Bartles and Breisners, but if you haven't got the horse power you're a dead duck!

So after careful reflection [at least 5 mins], my best chances of success with the Barbados team is just a matter of hanging out in some of the playgrounds of the rich and famous, like Palm Beach, Dubai, Monte Carlo, and my favourite - Garrisons Savannah, and then chatting up the uber wealthy to assist in purchasing some of the world's best event horses.

If recent ownership disputes are anything to go by it should just be a matter of how many zero's you can pen on the cheque (US: check). Armed with a Battalion of 4* 4-legged talent I should be able to wage war, and lay siege to the London 2012 Olympics.

Fences 19-20: Keep It Together

Back to my Hyde Park Cross Country Course now with Fences 19 & 20, and the theme here is "dry dock". London sits on the river Thames, which is a tidal river, and home to the famous Cutty Sark (that's in dry dock).

Here we have a relatively simple combination, nothing to physically testing or mentally taxing. It's just a question of 'can you still keep it together'? How straightforward or physically demanding this combination is to ride is all down to how you use the angles to your advantage. It's all about the angles!