Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
This year is bolting off to a great start, the BREEF Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation Show Jumping Committee has invited all to the 1st BREEF Dressage Championship to be held on Saturday, January 26, at Saar Stables.
The event will feature three classes; the British Dressage Introductory A, the British Dressage Preliminary No 10, and the British Dressage No 21. Each class will be held in two sections; one for juniors – aged 21 and under – and the other for seniors.
This will be a fantastic opportunity for all dressage riders to show off themselves and their horses. All entries should be submitted to the BREEF by January 19.
Also, as reported last week, Ian Wright is returning to Bahrain to conduct his equestrian training. He will be available for lessons at Twin Palms Riding Centre from January 27 to February 8. His lessons will be 30-minute one-to-one sessions, at a cost of BD25 per lesson.
If you would like to book a place email me at twin.Palms.Riding.Centre@hotmail.com or call/text 39087724.
Ian is a well-respected and sought-after riding instructor based in the English county of Devon. He completed his BHS qualifications at Porlock Vale, but the foundations of his riding and training techniques were learned from years spent alongside the greatest horseman of our time, Olympic three-day eventing gold medallist, champion jockey and Olympic team trainer Bertie Hill.
As well as successfully competing whilst at Bertie’s, Ian gained valuable experience under the master’s watchful eye producing eventers, showjumpers, show horses and racehorses.
One particular racehorse Bonanza Boy, gave Ian his first winner at Cheltenham, during a period of time when he was a professional national hunt jockey based with Phillip Hobbs.
Ian then moved to Germany, snapping up an opportunity to ride for Andreas Krieg, producing top quality showjumpers in Stuttgart.
Riding these high-quality warm-blood horses, learning advanced showjumping training techniques and travelling on the national circuit proved to be invaluable experience for Ian when he moved onto a full time training career after an injury forced him to retire from riding.
He has acquired a wealth of equestrian knowledge from over 30 years of working with top trainers, riders and horses. He has successfully trained horses in eventing, show jumping, dressage and high level showing, he has trained riders from novice up to national team level.
Ian’s work has taken him far and wide. He regularly travels in Europe and, as many of you know, he also regularly visits us in Bahrain, amongst his many other ports of call.
The instructor is renowned for being an empathic equestrian trainer, for his deep knowledge of equestrian experience, for his honesty, his in-depth gift of understanding horse psychology, what makes them tick and what the horse needs from a rider.
The Englishman is often required to provide a service to solve problems – trouble shooting for Ian is enjoyable and rewarding.
Knowing that training should be enjoyable and rewarding for both horse and rider, when Ian first meets clients, he will discuss the rider’s objectives and goals, which typically range from riding for pleasure, through to advanced competition work; he will then assess the situation and proceed with a training programme to suit the individual partnership.
So don’t miss out on this opportunity to drain the brain of this top trainer. Lessons will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and they are going fast.
To finish I am led to understand there will be another BREEF Show Jumping Event, to be held later this month, however, the schedule for this event has not yet been published. Hopefully I can give you more information and details next week.
Until then get practising for the dressage, and don’t forget to book your Ian Wright lesson.
Ian’s approach to training
Keep it simple and positive
Create strong foundations and consolidate at every stage
Understanding that there is always a reason behind a problem
Knowledge and training builds confidence and ability
Building trust between horse and rider
Identifying where each individual horse and rider’s strengths and weaknesses are
Teaching riders to see the world through the eyes and natural instincts of their horse
Learning assertion not aggression
