Diane demonstrated the same in-hand work with Milreis - but this time with Marcia in the saddle

It was then Marcia's turn to show us Milreis, a 6-year-old black Lusitano stallion. Marcia was wearing Portuguese spurs, which are designed to work more underneath the horse than the conventional variety, and their purpose is to achieve greater accuracy - not speed! Milreis showed us half pass and other movements which he had originally learned in-hand without a rider, and which enabled him to learn to carry himself effectively, coping with a rider's weight and balance.

Diane then brought in the delightful Lucca, a Connemara x Lusitano. Lucca is now 8 years old but he has already worked his way up through the various dressage levels to the point where he won his first freestyle Grand Prix - having only begun competitive dressage in 1998! He has also been highly successful in the show ring, his wins including the Championship at Royal Windsor in 1999 (see The Joy of Horses June 1999) and being 'Champion of Champions' at the Lusitano Breed Society Show.

Diane showed flying changes on Lucca and explained that a well-trained horse must be able to strike off any leg, anywhere, any time. She was able to demonstrate the ridden Piaffe from rein back with Lucca and the Spanish Walk - which is a very good exercise for opening up the shoulders. Lucca was also able to show the Spanish Trot, which involves the hind legs moving underneath the body while the fore leg extends - and this is seen rather less often, especially in the UK!

We were then treated to a short performance by 9-year-old Lauren on Castico, before the first session concluded with a Pas de Deux by Diane and Marcia on two black stallions, Milreis and Destinado. Destinado is an Andalusian as opposed to a Lusitano, but the two are very similar. Destinado has been at Turville Valley for seven months for training and it was the first time that the two had appeared in public, despite which they gave the crowd a delightful and polished performance.

Two year old Jo-Jo in all her finery!

After the break for a wander around the stables we had the 'finale'. This comprised a ride to music by the children whose ages ranged from nine - to just two years old! Billed to come into the arena as a lighthearted conclusion to the day's events apparently they could contain their excitement no longer and thus were moved up in the schedule. The diminutive Jo-Jo, it has to be said, did rather steal the show and unsurprisingly won the hearts of everyone - especially when it was considered judicious to make her stand with her pony in the centre while the other children performed that musical ride - a decision that provoked floods of tears as the self-appointed star of the whole show made plain her feelings about such restriction!

Diverting she may have been, but the children showed how well they had been taught the basic principles of riding with admirable 'independent seats' as they moved their ponies round with their bodies for a while with no hands on the reins. Lucky children! All of whom will no doubt soon be accomplished riders.

Photographs © Sue Wingate

Continues........

Click Here or send an email to nextissue@thejoyofhorses.com to be notified when the next issue of the magazine is published