Usually as the winter approaches things quieten down for us. We don’t have an indoor arena so if the weather is bad it usually means that lessons are transferred to the simulator. This can actually be quite useful as it enables us to try out new things or test out our technique on a horse which won’t run away with you, will always go in a straight line and will never get irritated as you try using your whips in the right way for the nth time! However, as I said in last month’s blog this year’s end seems to have been a relentless roller coaster with lots of exposure in the media. Following on from our two magazine articles we learned at the end of November that BBC Look North wanted to come and film as one of our volunteers had been shortlisted for the BBC Unsung Hero award in our region. It was very exciting as it came out of the blue. I nominated Liz as an example of the wonderful volunteers we have who enable us to do everything we do. Without them nothing would be possible but I never imagined my nominee would be chosen. So, on a very wet and cold morning Look North arrived and began filming and interviewing. It really was a miserable day which was such a shame as we had had some lovely blue sky days before, but that’s life! However, despite this everyone just got on with things and they were able to get some really nice moments on film of Liz doing what she does. Lou, one of Liz’s pupils, had her session on Fudge, one of our RDA ponies, and he looked fabulous. Karen had clipped him and he looked so sleek and well and he behaved beautifully as he was being filmed.  Rio as always thought it was all about him and was practically climbing over his stable door to get into every shot. When he was being noticed he was doing his usual head bobbing and laughing out loud as well as batting his eyelashes and generally saying “look at me… it should be all about me….” He’s a little monkey sometimes but as you can see he did get a place in the photo!

By the afternoon the weather really had set in and we have a pretty spectacular hail storm for about ten minutes. A good excuse to sit it out in the portakabin, drink tea and eat mince pies until things settled. The sky was black and it was even colder than the morning but as it abated the team asked us to come together as they wanted a photograph of everyone. As we jostled to get into position the journalist suddenly reached into his bag and produced a plaque announcing that Liz was in fact the regional winner for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It was a real “oh my word…!” moment as we were all stunned. We really believed that this process was to do with shortlisting and had no idea that Liz was to be crowned the winner for our region. What a wonderful end to the day; we were all so chuffed. The Look North team produced a lovely film about Liz which went out on Look North that same week and a shorter version was loaded onto their Facebook page and also on to the BBC Inspire website. Liz went to the final which was part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award but sadly didn’t get crowned the Unsung Heroe of Unsung Heroes. Nevertheless she still got to sashay up the red carpet and rub shoulders with some of the many sports personalities attending. She told us afterwards that it was a wonderful weekend where she met some really inspiring volunteers from other regions. Maybe next year?

When possible lessons outside have continued. I am still struggling a bit with my leg although I have been managing to do more trot this past couple of weeks. I had hoped to do a test with some trot in it but decided to wait until things improve so I am learning the Grade 1 Championship Test which although walk only is longer than those I have done to date and includes a few more half and full circles.  Having gone through all the individual elements we put the test together and Karen videoed me as a first run through. I do struggle with sitting back and looking at the video I could see that my tendency to lean forward makes me look a bit unstable even though I don’t feel it.  I rather look like I am trying to keep up with the train rather than being on time with it!  I also sometimes find that I can lose concentration when Rio does something really well and whilst thinking how wonderful he has been realise that I have gone off piste!  I found myself outside the white boards this week as I meandered through a long rein element and then forgot I had to gather him up and return to A! My reins remained far too long for the rest of the test!  Concentrate! Concentrate!

My final lesson for this year was on the simulator but it enabled me to learn some theory about when and how to use your legs. This was welcome as sometimes I struggle to instinctively do what’s required and there isn’t time to do a lot of talking when I’m actually up on Rio. With only one useable leg anyway it’s important that I can use what I have to the best effect. My wish for next year is that I can use my aides better,  strengthen my relationship with him and learn how to trust my own instincts more as well as not undermining my own efforts by self-doubt; not asking for much!

Whilst I was down in that dip called self-doubt a video popped up on my Facebook page about an amazing dressage rider in Australia which gave me food for thought. Bridget Murphy suffers from Multiple Pterygium Syndrome which causes muscle weakness and joint formations that restrict movement. Despite this her dream is to get to Tokyo in 2020 as a para dressage rider. What is so inspiring is how she manages, despite her difficulties, to centre herself in the saddle and complete the necessary elements of a test on her horse Sunny. I know how hard it can be to compensate for any off centre bend as I have suffered from a wonky spine having had scoliosis from birth and have had to work hard to develop my core so that I can stay centred and balanced. I felt really inspired reading her story and decided that I should take a leaf out of her book and be more positive about the successes in my lessons whilst learning from the bits that don’t go as well. There really is no room for self-doubt when riding an animal that is bigger and stronger than yourself!

Kesteven RiDeAbility. Sue’s Blog. Dec/Jan. 2018/19. www.kestevenrda.co.uk