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Unfortunately I wasn't able to see all the riders, but I did catch Vicki Gowland on her 13 y.o. TBxStockhorse, 'Whistler'. Vicki has had this horse for 12 months and they are still in the 'getting-to-know-you' stage. This is Vicki's 7th clinic with Brett and she worked on trot and canter half-passes, interspersed with leg yield on the diagonal. They also worked on changes the tempo within the trot and relaxation of the horse. Next up was Fiona Williams on Glencoe Milan. This horse is a full brother to Nicole's 'Milo' (by Medallion out of Mona Lisa by Monopol). Milan is graded med/adv and Brett worked on getting more bend and roundness, especially in the canter pirouettes. He got Fiona to do a lot of half halts while still maintaining the activity from behind. Milan is certainly a handsome horse, in fact Fiona does hack classes with him and he was recently awarded Supreme Show Hunter.
Fiona is one busy lady, besides working as a school teacher, she has 3 kids, numerous horses and also has a horse-mad husband, Tim who was next to ride on his 6 y.o. stallion, Glencoe Lost m'Sock (by Salute out of a Dom Edin/Aachimedes mare) with whom Tim events with. Brett helped Tim on getting the horse more through, off the leg and supple. Libby Welch took over her daughter, Tori's lesson as her 3 y.o. had knocked himself in the paddock and therefore stayed at home. Libby seems to have a plethora of beautiful horses and today she brought the talented and stunning 6 y.o. black mare, E.M. Remi World Vision (by Wolkenstein II out of Remi Winter Solstice). Libby has a seat and lower leg position that many riders would kill for and this mare's canter is truly mouth-watering! The mare uses herself so well and maintains the jump and rhythm that will stand her in good stead for, no doubt, a very successful competition career. I also caught up with Nicole riding her lovely young chestnut mare, Glencoe Catwalk (by Cool Cat out of Mona Lisa by Monopol). Unfortunately 'Milo' had also knocked himself in the paddock and was given a few days off. Nicole and Brett worked on throughness and submission with this super mare. Qld Young Rider Squad Member, Shannan Makauskas on Ricard, the 13 y.o. Anglo followed Libby. Shannan is a pupil of Nicole's and she has come up through the grades to where this young rider will soon be competing at FEI level. Qld B Squad member Tracey Round brought along her stunning 3 y.o. 'Jive Talking' (by Jazz out of a Gullit mare) for Brett and Jayden Brown to have a ride on. This clever youngster has not long been broken in and because Tracey has her A-string horse, 'Beluga' entering the realms of FEI along with a full time job and a 4 y.o. daughter (not to mention a husband!), she reluctantly finds herself having to part with JT. If anyone is in the market for a 'wunderkind', check out Tracey's ad in The Virtual Saleyard. Alyssa and 'Gilbert' warming up at home Other combinations that I wasn't able to watch included another Qld YR Squad member and pupil of Nicole's, Alyssa Webb on the talented UQ Galahad (Gilbert), Qld YR Squad member Jayden Brown on Aubaine Cossack, Jennifer Sterling, Tanya Seymour and a young rider on Jaybee Comet. I would like to thank Nicole for her incredible hospitality. I have been to many, many clinics over the years and I've never been so well looked after! Nicole was certainly the "hostess with the mostess" and was busy running around with trays of sandwiches and yummy home-baked cookies for her visitors. I don't know how she finds the time or the energy to do everything she does - well done Nicole! Ms Claudia Williams, champion horse handler of Mum's Glencoe Milan
© Cyberhorse 2006 Tracy Mayhew
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