Get set to event
Part one: Dressage
Whether you harbour a dream of entering a one-day event or are keen to improve your scores, coach and international eventer Gilles Serbource is here to help
In this feature. . . ➤ What the judge is looking for ➤ Improve your horse’s balance ➤ Seven dressage top tips
To many people, eventing is the pinnacle of equestrian sport. The discipline of dressage, the precision and care of showjumping and the bravery and technicality of crosscountry require plenty of preparation at home, as well as organisation on the day. But anyone can have an exhilarating day out eventing, so long as you spend some time on the ground work. That’s where I’m here to help. In this series we’ll look at each discipline to help you get the best results possible, as well as demystifying everything from fitness to packing lists. Eventing is a jigsaw, but once you understand all the puzzle pieces you can put them together – let’s get started!
As told to Louise Kittle. Photos: Jon Stroud. Gilles runs GP Equestrian, facebook.com/GPEQU
TOP TIP
Talent isn’t a prerequisite for building a relationship with your horse and having fun.
The key to success
The key to good results is enjoying eventing, but you do need to commit enough time to training in order to safely complete on the day. That’s not to say that you can’t enjoy your training, or that it can’t be fun, but simply that in order to have a successful, safe, fun day there is work to put in – on a regular basis. The benefits of this daily work are wide-ranging and will boost your enjoyment of all your riding time, so it’s worth the effort. In fact, daily work builds skill, capacity, ability, technique and confidence for both horse and rider, ensuring a successful partnership.