(READER STORY )
At this time, I had also started university studying for my law degree and I was struggling to the point of dropping out. I spoke to Val about this and after a long discussion with her, then university it was suggested that I should be tested for dyslexia. Then in 2018, due to Val’s fascination in the way I learnt, I was
diagnosed with severe dyslexia and dyspraxia, which finally explained all the issues in our training. Since, Beans has really shone, and with us working
I then decided in 2017 that it was time to start his basic schooling, I had been riding since I was young and had worked and ridden ex-racers before, I thought that this would be simple and straightforward, how naive I was, and wrong! Beans turned out to be a more complicated ride than I expected, and with not having the experience of fully retraining, I found myself on the floor more often than I did in the saddle. Feeling very disheartened and not good enough, I decided it was time to look for some professional help, and in mid 2017, I found a fiery but totally mesmerizing lady named Val Smyth. Val is a Grand prix dressage rider and list 2 British dressage judge, and has also been a 4-star event rider in her time, so she had the experience and the knowledge we needed so much, we decided to start having lessons.
When we first met, Beans had only ever
completed one
dressage test before and we were eliminated within the first five minutes due to going the wrong way multiple times, this fascinated Val and she soon found that it wasn’t Beans, it was in fact me who was very complicated, and although poor Beans would try his hardest I couldn’t ride and listen, and at the age of 19 I didn’t know my left and rights and I was confusing him.
with Val, and her new training plan which includes a 4- step training method which is specific for people with dyslexia. We have gained a much needed confidence boost and have attended an active rider camp, cross country training, fun rides and beach rides and we have now joined the charity, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), and have attended their spring camp this year, where he showed his potential for future show jumping and eventing. We have also been competing at local dressage competitions since December at intro and prelim. We always bring home some Rosettes, and this year he proved his talent for dressage and has qualified for the ROR National Championships and the Outlanda Dressage Championships at Aintree.
I can’t wait to see what we achieve together as we have some plans to do some showing, and will be attending his first show at Flint and Denbigh, and we are now working on our goals towards our elementary and novice tests, and starting to work on medium movements at home, and are looking to affiliate next year. Myself and Beans have also been chosen to be the case study for Val Smyth’s UKCC Level 4, which will hopefully help other riders with learning difficulties (and even those who don’t) have the best chance of succeeding in their riding.
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JULY/AUGUST 2019
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