Localrider Magazine
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More of your favourite Veterans March 2016 • VOLUME XVI NUMBER 2
Life after Drivetime:
March 2016
Plan your season with our Show Dates Guide
18 pages of listings!
PLUS:
Where to go Cross Country Schooling 03
We talk to Emily Baldwin
£3.00
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Left to right: Gabrielle Barrett, Business Manager for Horsezone, Louise Hacker, Shane Breen and Toby Bevins
Horsezone.co.uk Masterclass with Shane Breen Horsezone.co.uk, premium equine classified site from Tattersalls, Europe’s leading Bloodstock Auctioneers, ran an inspirational Masterclass with international Irish Showjumper Shane Breen and British Para Showjumpers, Toby Bevins and Louise Hacker.
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Toby Bevins Toby who rode first suffers from hemiplegia, which is also known as onesidedness, and co-ordination problems. These arise from a large area of mal-formed brain, which leads him to have severe epilepsy. Epilepsy itself is not classifiable in para riding, that said during his session Toby suffered a small fit. His horse stood rooted to the spot as Toby put his arms around him. His fit lasted a few seconds and then following a quick sip of water it was on with the jumping exercise. Annie Bevins, Toby’s mother, was quick to highlight: “Toby has multiple fits every day and so it is just something the horses have to get used to. In particular we are training his new horse Bal to become accustomed to this, and he is taking everything in his stride. Bal is an
established Silver League horse with results at 1.30m and the plan is that he should be a schoolmaster for Toby to move up a level.”
Louise Hacker Next up was Louise on her new horse, a very flashy bay six-year-old called VIP, whom she had owned for just three weeks. Louise has paralysis of one of her legs caused by an accident ten years ago and is only able to walk with the aid of a leg brace, and can often not feel her leg when she rides. It is however almost impossible to see Louise’s disability when she rides, because she makes it look absolutely effortless. Even though she has only owned her new horse for a few weeks, Louise already has a good partnership him and over the course of the session they started to look even more like a team.
Pics by ALM Photography
T
he Masterclass was held on Monday 8th February at Breen Equestrian at Hickstead. Shane who had been preparing for The Sunshine Tour, which he and his team were leaving for a few days later, took a break from his busy schedule to give one to one tutorials with para riders, Toby Bevins and Louise Hacker. Representatives from both British Showjumping and RDA also attended to watch the sessions. Rather ambitiously both riders chose to bring new horses for the masterclass, but it was Shane who looked more nervous before the sessions started. Toby and Louise both compete in able bodied classes as well as para jumping classes and they both won British Showjumping National Para Club Championship titles at the National Championships, held at Stoneleigh last August.
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Shane discusses his lesson plan with Toby
Toby’s horse, Askan, was a great favourite with the audience, the pair clearly had a strong bond.
Louise riding her new horse, VIP
Louise is only able to walk and ride with the aid of the leg brace shown in the picture. Louise’s new mare was showing lots of scope and potential for the future.
Louise was elated after the session saying: “Today has been simply fantastic! I’ve learnt such a lot from Shane and loved every second. I haven’t done much jumping since before christmas when sadly my mare, whom I competed at the National Para club championships, had to be put down. my horse is quite green, but I am feeling very excited and optimistic about the season ahead.”
Dispelling preconceptions The sessions really highlighted to the audience looking on just how talented these para riders are. One spectator said: “The sessions have been eye opening. I freely admit I did not know much about para jumping and assumed they would be sitting upon kick along plods jumping 2’3”. These riders are fiercely determined and outstandingly talented, they have overcome such adversity and yet they ride fearlessly. more should be done to promote the sport because there is bound to be many young
Shane looks on as Toby jumps his new horse, Bal.
disabled riders who would like to get involved at a higher level in para jumping.” Shane spoke of the sessions afterwards, saying: “I am hugely impressed at both riders, they took on board my instructions well and I could see a real improvement. I was concerned that their disabilities would impact on my training, but most of the time I hardly noticed, they were like any other ambitious showjumpers. They are two very talented riders and I look forward to seeing them compete at Bolesworth.”
Support from Horsezone horsezone.co.uk Business manager Gabrielle Barrett was delighted with the sessions, saying: “We hope that running this masterclass has not only been beneficial for Toby and Louise, but has also raises awareness for this fantastic sport. Para Dressage is well publicised in equestrian media and horsezone hope to support British Showjumping Para Jumping to not only raise its profile, but
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to provide additional classes and training over the coming season. horsezone will be sponsoring a number of British Showjumping Para classes this year including the National Para club champs for a second year running. We knew Shane would be a fantastic rider to give a masterclass, he is very experienced and has plenty of Irish charm, which makes him a great horsezone ambassador, as well as a top trainer. Shane clicked with both riders really quickly, assessed their strengths and weakness and really helped them improve in a very short space of time. We want to say a big thank you to both Breen Equestrian and Shane for his help to run this fantastic masterclass, we could not have done it without him.” Horsezone hope to run a number of other Masterclasses throughout the season with some of their other sponsored riders including Olympic Eventer Sharon Hunt and Britannia League winner Jodie Amos. march 2016 Localrider 27
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