Local riders from across Wiltshire are to get the chance to learn about the skill of cross country from former world champion Lucinda Green. She’ll be holding a cross country training clinic at the Downlands Equestrian centre, Warminster on April 12.
As well as being a world champion, Lucinda Green MBE was also European champion and an Olympic silver medallist, and she is the only rider to have won Badminton six times. This is one of a programme of clinics organised across the country by Lucinda Green in association with Petplan Equine, the specialist provider of equine insurance.
This year she is a member of the selection committee for the British eventing team. The keynote of the clinics is to help riders at all levels enjoy their sport safely.
Lucinda Green explains the aim of her clinics: “The important message that I try to impart in these clinics is thacross country riding isn’t about sitting on a horse, going flat out. There is a science to it, and as a rider your job is to do three things – keep the horses’ engine going, keep a good line into a fence and keep both your and your horse’s balance. A horse that thinks for himself and, in equal measure, listens to his rider is going to be a safe cross country horse.”
The 2012 series of clinics is taking place at 13 venues across the country between February 29 and September 5. In order to reduce fuel and stabling costs for participants three of the two-day clinics have been condensed into more extensive one day sessions with a lesson on technique taking place in an arena or field in the morning followed by training over a cross country course in the afternoon.
The clinics are tailored to suit riders at different levels, from those preparing for their first event to those aiming for Badminton. To start, horse and rider should be confident jumping a course of at least 2’6” – 2’9” fences.
Further details can be found here.