This month we welcome our brand new blogger and BE rider David Britnell, courtesy of Timothy Foxx, to our team of Bloggers. David will join ex racehorse re-trainer, Victoria Bax who is also an BE rider, along with Everything Horse sponsored riders, Daisy Jackson, Stephen Hayes and Steph Gumn.
David, who is based in Chesham in Bucks, is an international event rider, UKCC Level 2 training coach and a registered BHSII.
We look forward to David blogging on his eventing results, teaching news and updates over the coming year.
Read David’s first blog below.
A HOLIDAY AND HORSES
‘Hi everyone, my name is David Britnell. I am a BHSII so I earn my keep and fund my ‘eventing addiction’ by teaching and riding freelance seven days a week. I am currently touring Europe with my Dad in his vintage Sunbeam, we have so far racked up 1600 miles in 10 days and traveled through eight countries. (Haven’t been on a holiday for about four years so it’s nice to have a little break!!)
This trip comes just after returning from winning the CIC2* section C at Rockingham International where I was able to finish on my dressage score of 44.2 ! This was my 1st international win and such a big moment for me, my 12-year-old ride, Continuity, and my home team. Continuity was bought by us as a 5-year-old from a family friend as a failed show jumper, so that’s always been the discipline needing the most work for both of us. Dressage has come naturally but, we have to make sure we keep pushing ourselves. The cross-country has always been very organic and natural to ride so we’ve not had much help in that area. I was cheered on round the cross country by loads of Pony Club members, that I teach, who were there doing the pony club show jumping competition which was great. The terrain, scenery, officials, atmosphere and commentary always make it an amazing place to ride, the new combinations mostly riding on five and six strides were very smooth, and the newer water seemed more readable for the horses. There are a couple of good rider frighteners which just require bold, positive riding. I will always ride in a forward rhythm making any gear changes in plenty of time so I can just close my leg on and let the horse concentrate and it certainly worked at Rockingham!
Previous to this success I completed my first Advanced at Withington Manor. The day was awesome and the fences were definitely a step up from Intermediate. It felt gladiatorial during the cross-country warm up as the course was put on hold for another fallen rider. I was super pleased to complete with a reasonable dressage, just a pole down in the showjumping and just a hesitation at the bounce.
I will be running at Nunney International 2* for our next outing and I am really looking forward to our first visit. Will send another update soon but sunshine and the open road await for now…
Thanks for reading my blog and looking forward to sharing my news with you again next month!
Crack on!
David”
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.