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May 2015
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May 2015 • VOLUME XV NUMBER 4 www.localrider.co.uk
Ten Minutes with Lissa Green
Badminton Preview: who to cheer this year 05
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FEATURE Lissa Green and Malin Head Clover
Lissa Green and Boleybawn Free, who is known at home as Raffa, named after Raffa Nadal
10 minutes
with event rider
Lissa Green Tell us a little bit about yourself. How has your riding career developed so far, who has influenced you along the way and what have been the main highlights, the low points, both previously and in the 2014 season? I only turned to riding and competing full time in the last couple of years, but I always had one horse to event in the summer holidays between term time at school and university. My biggest highlight would be as first reserve for Team GB in the 2007 Junior European Championships; I remember being more than ecstatic when I got that phone call. There are always low points with horses, sadly it comes with the territory, most notably when a horse is injured. When they hurt themselves it is truly horrible. Secondly would be when I get injured, as I did last August when I had quite a nasty fall, as my then new ride Malin Head Clover misjudged the smallest fence on the course. Luckily he had a soft landing on me so was absolutely fine, but I came off a little
worse with four fractured ribs, a broken collarbone, damaged rotator cuffs in my shoulder, multiple fractures to my jaw joint and my chin bone was split into two bits at the front. I had my chin plated and spent a week in hospital and hoped my collarbone would mend. Five weeks later an X-ray revealed it hadn’t and needed to be operated on, but I wanted to finish the season and although I was sore, it was worth it. The horse I fell on did two Intermediates and was placed seventh with a double clear on our last run. My younger horse, Boleybawn Free, did three competitions and unbelievably won on her last outing – a massive high point as we have had her since the beginning of her career. I always wondered if she would make Novice as she is so careful, but after taking her really slowly she is now as brave as they can be and definitely deserved her win, superstar. I then had my operation and straight away my collarbone was so much more comfortable – with the bonus that I didn’t have to spend a winter perhaps worrying
Lissa Green has a family background in eventing that would be the envy of most riders, with her mother Lucinda Green a six-times Badminton winner and her Australian father David Green a dual gold medallist, but until fairly recently, riding was more of a hobby, not a full time occupation. We caught up with Lissa at the start of the new eventing season… about how my nerves would be when I got back on Malin Head Clover. To top it off we managed three top 10 placings out of those last five competitions, so maybe I should fall off more often. I have to say my parents have been a huge influence; they both treat me as an individual and always help when I need it, but don’t interfere too much. I have taken inspiration from so many amazing horsemen, it is such a privilege to be constantly around the calibre of rider that is competing today.
Tell us about some of the horses you’ll be riding in 2015. I have six horses to campaign this season. Malin Head Clover (Ali) is a 15.3hh 13-year-old dark brown gelding currently at three star level and aiming for Blenheim CCI***. He is like a wise old man, never startled by anything and takes everything in his stride. The ultimate Mr Cool. Glencrue Destiny (Destiny) is a 16.3hh 12-year-old bay mare currently at two star level, but also aiming for Blenheim CCI***.
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She finds dressage very difficult so we try to turn a blind eye, but she more than makes up for it in the jumping phases. Boleybawn Free (Raffa) is my secret weapon – I named her after Raffa Nadal (even though she is a girl!) whom I admire hugely. She is a 16hh eight-year-old bay mare who is turning into a super star. I have never been lucky enough to ride a horse who is good enough to get prizes consistently and it’s an amazing feeling. She will embark on her international career this year and aim for the CCI* at Houghton Hall and perhaps be two star by the end of the season. Daisyonfire (Daisy) is the funniest horse we have; a 15.3hh nine-year-old bright bay and extremely cheeky mare. There is never a dull moment when she is around, she is currently at PN/Novice level. Corraggio Z (Snoop) is a five-year-old 16.3hh gelding and like a dog - if he could sit in your lap he would. He has one of the most remarkable temperaments I have worked with, so I have high hopes for him in the Burghley Young Event Horse Five Year Old Championships. Boleybawn Identity (Jay) is a just broken four-year-old gelding. He has a super attitude and a kind heart, but he will just be coming in and out of work this year as I like them to do very little at four whilst they are still growing.
Lissa has high hopes for Corraggio Z (Snoop), who has a remarkable temperament
Lissa hopes to compete Glencrue Destiny at Blenheim in September
Lissa says there is never a dull moment with Daisyonfire around
What is a typical day on your yard like? All my horses live out as much as possible as I like them to be as natural as they can, with the option to roam and graze. So we bring them in for breakfast at 7:30am, then start grooming and tacking up to be on the first horse by 9am. Depending on their schedule some may hack out/work together, or if they are all schooling/jumping then they will quickly follow one after the other. Once the horses have been ridden they then go back into their field which leaves some of the afternoon to do odd jobs and make the yard look tidy again. I have also started this crazy DVD workout programme that I do after riding too, exhausting! The horses will then be fed in their fields at about 4:30pm in winter and 5:30pm in summer.
Glencrue Destiny is very bold across country
Explain a little about how you ensure your horses are fit, healthy and well-prepared for the demands of eventing. I have a very strict fitness schedule. All the horses do interval cantering on the hills every four days, starting at three lots of two minutes with one minute in between and slowly increasing until they are fit enough for their required level. I also think plenty of road work is very important to keep hardening up the tendons on their legs, so that is incorporated for 10 minutes before and after doing anything in the arena, as well as having a day a week dedicated to it when in full work. At the beginning of the season we also do three weeks of only road work, up and down hills getting them slowly fit whilst helping to harden up their legs for the coming season. I think feed is hugely important, as what you put into your horse has a massive impact
on helping them perform at their best. I also have a good digestion supplement which helps prevent ulcers and I think this is very useful for horses in hard work. In addition, I rely on a brilliant little microcurrent unit called an ArcEquine - for both my horses and myself. It is ideal to have around if any horses acquire an injury as it helps to heal more efficiently and in a fraction of the time; I love it. I used it on myself when recovering from my recent operations; I have just been back to the physio’s and they can’t believe how good my shoulder is and how far ahead my recovery is. Definitely thanks to this super machine!
Lissa has found benefits from using the ArcEquine on both herself and her horses and highly recommends it MAY 2015 Localrider 55
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