Astrid Bolton and Geoff Billington Masterclass

Astrid Bolton and Geoff Billington Masterclass

Astrid Bolton and Geoff Billington Masterclass

Astrid Bolton and Geoff Billington Masterclass

Friday November 2nd promises to provide an informative (and no doubt comical) evening at Myerscough College, in the form of a Masterclass, with Astrid Bolton and Geoff Billington.  Astrid will be advising on what to look for and how to produce a sports horse and Geoff Billington will be doing a demonstration.  The evening will be sponsored by Day, Son and Hewitt who provide a full range of great supplements for your horse.  Click the link to book tickets and get in early to avoid disapointment, as it will be a really good night.http://www.daysonhewitt.co.uk/billington-masterclass.htm

KWPN UK Inspections Merecourt Stud, Blackpool

KWPN UK Inspections Merecourt Stud, Blackpool

His Highness top KWPN UK foal

His Highness top KWPN UK foal

Saturday 8th September 2012, saw the northern leg of the KWPN gradings, at Astrid Bolton Sport Horses, Merecourt Stud, Blackpool.

The KWPN organises inspections, where mares can be presented for studbook acceptance or higher predicate. Also foals, yearlings and 2 year old fillies may be presented for judging. Please see KWPN website for further information.

Champion foal at the Merecourt Stud inspections was a Sir Donnerhall filly out of a Udysee (Jazz) mare, bred by Julie Lockley of Bradford.

The top foal of the UK inspections tour was His Highness, bred by Cat Wood of Redditch. He is by Wynton (Jazz) out of a Fahrenheydt (Fabriano) mare.

Astrid Bolton featured dressage writer

Astrid Bolton featured dressage writer

Astrid has been riding and producing horses for over 35 years, having bought her first dealing horse aged 14. She still has a passion to find, breed,  produce and sell young horses. Having completed at County Level, HOYS and Royal International Horse Show in both show-jumping and show/working hunters, she then sold the horses on and soon it became a full time operation that now includes buying and selling of sport horses worldwide. Having been one of the first producers to import Warmbloods over 20 years ago she has gone from show-jumpers and show horses to include top class eventers and dressage horses, many of which have been extremely successful. In 2010 alone Astrid had 6 young event horses at Badminton, including the winner ShadowBoxer, HOYS Foxhunter finalist Del Fuego, HOYS & RIHS workers winner Thor, 6 year old finalist Two Mills Valencia, top Heavy-Weight Hunter Avalanche, RIHS winner Lanson, riding horses Eclipse and champion 4 year old dressage in Florida USA Casu, Shearwater Young Dressage Finalist Furst Kiss and many ,many more ! Having recently moved to larger purpose built premises, Astrid continues to breed, source and produce top quality sport horses for all disciplines and for 2011 is very excited about young dressage prospects Zidaane and stallion Furst Kiss. Check out Astrid’s website www.astridbolton.com or call on 07966 443207.
Dressage for Beginners

Dressage for Beginners

Astrid Bolton Sport Horses

Astrid Bolton Sport Horses

Dressage is an excellent foundation, whatever your discipline.  Its all about control and obedience which is necessary whether you are jumping a course of fences or in the show ring.  Its one thing to walk trot and canter during schooling at home but will your horse canter at a certain marker ?

To some,  dressage sounds boring but once you start you will be suprised how addicitive it is when you start to get results.  There is also combined training, regularly held at myerscough, a dressage and showjumping competition.

Try a dressage training clinic (again, held at Myerscough) to get you started and then you get an indication of what the judge is looking for.  There is unafilliated dressage on at various venues, to be advised, and then if you decide it is for you, try some affiliated (to British Dressage (BD)).  Look out for prelim tests advertised, which are  basic novice tests.

If you win 2 of these and your mark is over 65% then you qualify for regional champs (as long as you are a registered member with BD) which are held at Myerscough (winter) and Somerford Park (summer).  You can then go on to qualify for the Nationals, held at Stoneleigh.

Why not download a test and have a look;  go to www.britishdressage.co.uk for further information.