Something in my profession I thankfully don’t have too often and when I do I know exactly how to deal with the situation. I have always described myself as a confidence giving and sympathetic instructor but how I felt on that Monday morning, I feel I can really relate to my pupils that struggle with their nerves, feel they really can’t do something and that they lack control. Following my lesson with the basics firmly installed, I was full of confidence and the feeling that I could actually do this! I pulled myself together, cruising the blue runs and trying to take in the impressive views in amongst some nervous moments, wobbles, slips, and some near face plants! Regaining my composure to put in the parallel turns and give the legs a break from the continuous snow plough, I was certainly making friends with and building trust in my skis!


Every time I go out of the XC start box I have the trust and relationship with my horse, I know their ability, their stamina, any fences they are likely to look at and how they will react to different ground and atmosphere.


At first the trust and relationship with my skis was definitely invalid! But like with eventing and riding in general, practice makes perfect, time in the saddle or on the skis is what is needed. Most importantly it takes time to build that trust and relationship in order to have the confidence.


From my ski adventure, I think there are many things you can relate to riding and competing.Firstly, you cannot just be good at something straight away, it takes time, patience, perseverance and a lot of hard work! Secondly, there are always good days and bad days. Embrace the good days and learn from the not so good days. Conditions can change everything; it’s how you adapt yourself to accommodate the change. A snow blizzard at the top of a red run... far from ideal with extremely poor visibility which we experienced on our final ski day, meaning the others skied more slowly and put in extra turns, whereas I swiftly removed my skis and walked down the mountain! Safety first! I hear you ask, “how can that relate to riding or eventing?” Well, with the not so beautiful English weather as it is right now and the event season fast approaching, it is important to remember that you must adjust the way you ride dependant on the conditions. For example, you may need to sacrifice a not so perfect halt when the 20 plus horses before you have all halted in the same place; taking a wider or shallower turn in the SJ to avoid the one track/line that most other people have been on; You may need to take it steadier on the XC if the ground is particularly deep and take the few extra time faults.


When I removed my skis this was not ‘giving up’, It was ‘knowing my limits’. No different to deciding to pull up on the XC if things have not been going your way. Remember there is always another day!


I hope you have enjoyed reading my slightly different blog, and now on to the event season 2020 with some very exciting horses! Now sky please stop raining!!


For more information on Ginny Howe Eventing, horses for sale & livery opportunities visit: www.ginnyhowe-eventing.co.uk


Photo by www.1stclassimages.com Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements THE SPRING SPECIAL 2020 49


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