Author: highborne@me.com

Do you want more from your sport?

Are you unsatisfied with your performances? Do you know you and your horse are BETTER than your current results, but you’re unsure how to improve?

Finding it difficult to fit regular lessons into your busy lifestyle? Are coaches in short supply in your region?

Maybe you got involved in eventing for the freedom and adrenaline that cross country riding can provide but lately you’re adrenaline rushes are for all of the wrong reasons!!!?

Perhaps you were attracted to the unique challenge of mastering three different disciplines in partnership with the same horse, but you’re finding it more difficult than first expected and you’re struggling to stay motivated?

Have you given up on your dream goal???

Whether you’re new to eventing, returning to the sport after time away, educating your first young horse, starting out with your first serious horse, stepping out of the junior ranks, moving up a level or just frustrated and feeling stuck, the Aim Higher program offers a unique approach to support you in pursuing your eventing goals.

There are limited spaces available to work closely with me through the 2018 eventing season. This program will not suit everyone. You MUST be a goal orientated individual as this is an intensive and progressive program. Mentoring riders who are committed to positive change is what motivates me. Although I offer an enormous amount of support both in training and competition, the aim of the program is to equip riders with the skill and knowledge to take back the reins on their riding whether eventing is their hobby or sport.

Be the event rider you always wanted to be and give your horse the best chance of the success you know they’re capable of!

When you join the Aim Higher program, you not only get access to the experience, insight and support of a 4* eventing competitor and trainer, but you also join an exclusive team of goal orientated riders, just like yourself, who will encourage you in your endeavours and push you to achieve your potential.

The next open Weekend Intensive is scheduled for during the July school holidays at Highborne Farm. It’s an excellent opportunity to see whether this  program is a good fit for you and your horse!

 

So if you’re ready to Aim Higher,

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for a FREE, no obligations chat about whether this Intensive is a suitable option for you and your horse.

Illustration courtesy of Emily Cole illustrations

Are you the parent of a budding eventer who’s shooting for the winners circle but falling short of their target?

 

Would you rather see them fulfilling their sporting potential or enjoying their hobby in partnership and harmony with their equine teammate?

 

Unfortunately, dedication and determination are not the only requirements for results in equestrian competition. Likewise, your child’s safety cannot be guaranteed by simply strapping on the latest approved or compulsory equipment.

All equestrian sports require interaction with, and cooperation from, an animal who’s intrinsic motivations quite often clash with their riders personal goals.

Risks can be minimised however, when knowledge of the horse as an ANIMAL first and an ATHLETE second meet with the skill and understanding of the rider as a TRAINER first and a COMPETITOR second. A clear understanding of these principles is the foundation for sustainable progress both in AND outside of the competition arena.

The focus of Highborne Equestrians Foundation program is to immerse young riders in both the theory and practice of these principles in a fun and educational group environment where friendships are made and the learning is interactive. Post camp debriefs are also offered to parents to maximise the continuation of progress at home.

If your young rider is between 10 and 17 years old and you’d like to help set them up for success, secure their position in the Foundation program today. Bookings are currently being taken for the Foundation camp scheduled for the July school holidays. Numbers are strictly limited to ensure the best experience for all participants. These are not your average pony camps!

For more information please

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for a FREE, no obligations chat about whether these camps are a suitable option for your child.

Illustration courtesy of Emily Cole illustrations

This month was all about pushing the boundaries of pre-existing comfort zones for Aim Higher Members. The July Weekend Intensive with cross country schooling at Warwick Horse Trials was a great preparation for the August Targeted events which included:

Tamborine Equestrian Group CNC:

Bridgette Dalmau & Swing Time Swift 4th Eva80

Alicia Dalmau & Mr Macquarie 5th EvA80

 

Toowoomba Dressage & Chicken Run:

Priscilla Welsh & Nandawar Kamet 5th EvA80 & 95 test

Brooke Dougall & Mount Barron 4th Novice 2.3 test

Nathaniel Phillis & Prophet 6th 95cm Hunter Trial

Laynee Saal & Beacon 3rd 65 – 75cm Hunter Trial

Piper Phillis & Jett 8th 65 – 75cm Hunter Trial

 

The Toowoomba Targeted event was selected specifically as a training event for students looking to test themselves at a new level before heading to their next official competitions. Aim Higher members must be commended for venturing outside of their usual comfort zones and for experimenting with some brand new mind set techniques.

From learning how to breath throughout an entire dressage test (harder than it sounds!) to taking a young horse for it’s first trip around a cross country course, it was a weekend of firsts! Special mention to Priscilla who completed her first 95cm cross country, Laynee who completed her first 80cm cross country and Brooke (pictured at top) who completed her first 1.15m showjumping course. Well done guys!

 

Norm and Judy Hindmarsh’s Southern Cross Draco also attended Toowoomba for his first taste of eventing and displayed a remarkable calm manner for such a young colt.

Highborne Captain, owned by Ian Robson spent some time training at Highborne Farm this month coming away with a 2nd placing in the EvA95 at TEG. We look forward to seeing Ian back in the saddle for his next start!

 

Kitara Veuve has been busy recently with an upgrade to 1* at TEG and a run around the CIC 1* at Tamworth. This horse shows so much ability and potential, however he still has much to learn in his transition from showjumping to eventing. Click here for a video of his latest cross country run.

 

This weekend sees Aim Higher members returning for the August Weekend Intensive which will include a final cross country schooling at Warwick Horse Trials before the course is closed for the upcoming Pryde’s EasiFeed International.

 

 

 

 

Aim Higher members braved some undesirable conditions over the past month to train at both the June Weekend Intensive and July Holiday Intensive in the lead up to Targeted events at Toowoomba Interschool State Showjumping Championships, Warwick Horse Trials CNC and Burpengary Interschool State Combined Training and Eventing Championships.

Riders were rewarded for their tenacity with some pleasing results and individual PB’s including:

Toowoomba IQ State Showjumping Championships:

Laynee Saal & A Little Sun – 11th Power & Speed and 19th overall in a huge 90cm class with 50 competitors.

Brooke Dougall & My Locky – 10th Power & Speed, 10th A2 and 8th overall in the 100cm class with 40 competitors.

Brooke Dougall & Mount Baron – 5th Power & Speed and 15th overall also in the 100cm class.

Warwick Horse Trials CNC:

Bridgette Dalmau & Swing Time Swift – 2nd EvA60

Laynee Saal & Beacon – 3rd EvA60

Harriet Collins & Wilton – 5th EvA80

Alicia Dalmau & Mr Macquarie – 8th EvA80

Priscilla Welsh & Nandawar Kamet – 9th EvA80

Paris Phillis & Carbeen Pablo – 9th EvA95

Brooke Dougall & Mount Baron – 4th EvA105

 

Burpengary IQ State Eventing & Combined Training Championships:

Brooke Dougall & Mount Baron – 105cm Combined Training State Champions

Laynee Saal & A Little Sun – 5th EvA60

Harriet Collins & Wistaria Atlanta – 6th EvA80

Brooke Dougall & Mount Baron – 3rd EvA105

Brooke’s Interschool results have qualified her to compete for QLD at the National Championships to be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in September, a goal she has been working towards all season.

Meanwhile, Kitara Veuve has also been progressing well towards his step back up to 1* at Tamborine next month showing improvement across all phases at the recent FTP State Championships and placing 2nd in both of his Novice tests at the recent Allora Dressage competition. He will head to Gatton World Showjumping this week as a final preparation.

Aim Higher members will return to Highborne Farm again this weekend for another Weekend Intensive in preparation for TEG CNC and TDSJC Hunter Trial in early August.

 

 

 

May was a very full month and it’s nice to now have some time to reflect back on recent competitions and look ahead to what’s in store for the second half of the season.

Aim Higher member, Brooke Dougall, kicked it all off at the South East Queensland Inter School Regionals, taking out Champion Combined Training 105cm riding My Locky (pictured above).

TDSJC CNC (targeted event # 4), at  the beginning of the month, was then attended by 8 Aim Higher members with results including:

Laynee Saal & A Little Sun 5th EvA60

Priscilla Welsh & Nandawar Kamet 6th EvA80

Paris Phillis & Carbeen Pablo 6th EvA95 Jnr

Brooke Dougall & Mount Barron 2nd EvA105 Jnr

These results each represented personal best performances and were extremely rewarding to witness.

Team Highborne then attended TEG CNC with Highborne Rocker, Kitara Veuve and Aces High for a preparatory run before heading to TIE CNC the following weekend. Both Veuve and Aces were consistent in their tests and continued their faultless showjumping performances at each event followed by solid clear cross country runs. Rocker improved his dressage score between TEG and TIE however didn’t produce his usual performance in the Tamworth showjumping ring. He redeemed himself though, with a confident trip around his first 3*** track since July 2015 to finish 6th in his class.

Rocker will now be aimed for a return to Tamworth in August to contest the CIC3*** and gain his final qualification necessary for a start in his first CCI3*** later in the year. Veuve will have a final run at EvA105 level at the upcoming State Championships before stepping up to 1* at TEG in August. Aces will continue to develop at EvA105 level before stepping up to 1* late in the season.

BEC CNC (targeted event #5) concluded last months event schedule and was targeted as a dress rehearsal opportunity for Aim Higher members looking to contest next months ISQ Eventing State Championships. Brooke Dougall & Mount Barron were rewarded for their recent consistency with purposeful improvement, finishing on their dressage score for a deserved win in the EvA105 Jnr class.

The next Weekend Intensive is scheduled for June 18th & 19th and will include cross country training at TDSJC as well as saddle fittings and information from WOW Saddles Australia. The next Holiday Camp is planned for July 4th to 8th in the lead up to WHT CNC (targeted event #6). For further information on any of the Aim Higher membership programs or to register your interest in a WOW Saddle Fit, please don’t hesitate to [button_1 text=”Click%20Here%20to%20Contact%20Me!” text_size=”32″ text_color=”#ffffff” text_bold=”Y” text_letter_spacing=”0″ subtext_panel=”N” text_shadow_panel=”Y” text_shadow_vertical=”1″ text_shadow_horizontal=”0″ text_shadow_color=”#21e012″ text_shadow_blur=”0″ styling_width=”30″ styling_height=”20″ styling_border_color=”#000000″ styling_border_size=”1″ styling_border_radius=”6″ styling_border_opacity=”100″ styling_shine=”Y” styling_gradient_start_color=”#2bcb22″ styling_gradient_end_color=”#2baa20″ drop_shadow_panel=”Y” drop_shadow_vertical=”1″ drop_shadow_horizontal=”0″ drop_shadow_blur=”1″ drop_shadow_spread=”0″ drop_shadow_color=”#000000″ drop_shadow_opacity=”50″ inset_shadow_panel=”Y” inset_shadow_vertical=”0″ inset_shadow_horizontal=”0″ inset_shadow_blur=”0″ inset_shadow_spread=”1″ inset_shadow_color=”#0fe606″ inset_shadow_opacity=”50″ align=”center” href=”http://highborneequestrian.com/contact-form” new_window=”Y”/]

 

 

 

 

It’s been a busy month already with Aim Higher members competing at the recent Inglewood Quarries WHT CNC Targeted Event and Team Highborne just returning home from Camden CIC.

A big congratulations must go to newest Aim Higher member Harriet Collins, who led from start to finish in the WHT Junior EvA80 class after attending her first Holiday Intensive at Highborne Farm in the lead up to the event.

Congratulations must also go to the WHT committee and their tireless volunteers. The event hosted their largest entries in many years and the recent work on course as well as improvements in the running of the event did not go unnoticed.

Camden Equestriad CIC is always a popular event in the lead up to Sydney International Three Day Event, and this year they managed to accommodate over 700 entries from NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and WA.

Highborne Rocker had the solid run that he needed in the CIC2** class in preparation for his step up to 3*** at Tamworth next month. Unfortunately despite producing some of his best work in the dressage warmup, he suffered some tense moments in his test to be placed mid field. Ironically, there were no signs of nerves that evening during his showjumping round which was one of only four clear and under time in a class of 44. He handled the unique atmosphere of the nighttime jumping under generator flood lights in front of a big screen and bustling crowd to produce a PB performance that saw him move up from 25th to 7th place. The CIC2** cross country track was the most challenging course we have contended since our return to competition. Rocker cruised around, tackling both water jumps with confidence and confirming he is again ready to compete at 3*** level. We were happy to suffer a few time faults, due to the firm ground, which left us in 10th place overall and eagerly awaiting Tamworth CNC.

Aces High continued his impeccable form by leading his EvA105 class after dressage and producing a lovely clear showjumping round. However, a snapped right rein mid way though cross country forced us to pull up and retire (after quite a few left circles!), and ultimately cost us the class.

Kitara Veuve added another EvA105 completion to his learner log book with a clear showjumping round and clear but slow cross country. He will gain further mileage in a few more EvA105 classes before stepping up to 1* in the second half of the season.

Next event for Team Highborne is Tamborine next month which will see a much anticipated return to competition for Highborne Night Shadows.

(Above photo credit to Geoff Mclean of Gone Riding Media – great action shots!)

Aim Higher members Kate Sexton, Brooke Dougall and Laynee Saal each achieved personal best performances over this past weekend and I’d just like to take a moment to acknowledge and congratulate them on their individual results.

On Saturday 2nd April I attended the much anticipated Magic Millions Triequithon at Doomben racetrack to assist Kate as she participated in this express eventing style competition riding her OTTB Ivy Bank Billionaire aka Billy. The biggest challenge for most competitors were the unfamiliar conditions associated with accomodating a mini One Day Event during the course of a busy raceday. Combinations needed to adapt quickly to a much reduced warmup area for all phases and cope with dismounting while races were run and remounting soon after to continue their warmup routine. The immediate crowd presence and general heightened atmosphere of the race day was unique to the event and most combinations would never have had the opportunity to experience this before.

Despite these challenges, all of the horses and riders coped remarkably well and the experience will be of benefit to those going on to compete in the future at Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide Three Day Events. The arena was beautifully presented and the day ran like clockwork and integrated extremely well with the regular race proceedings.

Kate was the youngest competitor in the field, being just 16 years old. Although we attempted to generate an atmosphere of noise and distraction during her final training here at Highborne Farm, she did succumb to some nerves during the shortened dressage phase. She made a quick recovery though and rode to plan in a confident and fast cross country round to move from equal 10th after dressage to 8th position coming into the final Showjumping phase. The Showjumping was run in reverse order and was proving to be a challenge for the majority of the field. Kate and Billy produced a personal best Showjumping round with a mature and focused attitude to be one of only four 4 fault rounds moving them into overall 5th place and earning her a decent bit of pocket money! Kate will now turn her focus to this weekends Inglewood Quarries CNC 1* at Warwick Horse Trials which is the next Aim Higher targeted event.

Brooke attended last weeks Intensive Holiday Camp at Highborne Farm with her usual partner in crime, Mount Barron aka Robbie, as well as a young OTTB that she is retraining for eventing. She benefited from the daily lessons on both her own and Highborne horses and also made some huge improvements in the effectiveness of her position after a session with resident Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor, Alex Newcombe.

Brooke then competed at the Emmaus College & The Springfield Anglican College Combined Traning on Saturday 2nd April for a personal best Novice dressage score of 66% and walked away the winner of her Secondary Combined Training class.

Brooke will also be heading to Warwick Horse Trials this weekend to compete in her third Eva105.

 

Laynee has been a very busy girl recently, competing at the PCAQ State Jumping Equitation & Showjumping Championships at Gatton Showgrounds from the 31st March to the 3rd April. Laynee is developing  a relatively new partnership with her horse ‘A Little Sun’ aka Glen and together they achieved an overall 3rd placing in the 9-12 year old division.

This combination are just getting a taste for eventing and will attend their first official One Day Event at Warwick Horse Trials this weekend in the EvA 60 class after a three day training camp at Highborne Farm as a final preparation.

I look forward to watching these three young riders as well as other Aim higher members compete at this weekends WHT Inglewood Quarries CNC,  Targeted Event #3 of the Aim Higher program.

Team Highborne has just returned from a big trip to NSW which included participation at National Squad School at SIEC followed by 2 events in the same week, a saddle fitting morning at WOW Saddles Australia’s base in Bowning and picking up an exciting young prospect from Southern Cross Warmbloods near Tamworth on the way home.

All horses performed well at SIEC with encouraging feedback from National Coaches for Highborne Rocker during the squad clinic. Rocker placed 2nd in the midweek 2** Combined Training but was unfortunately retired during the cross country phase on the weekend. There are some cobwebs to be dusted off after 6 months away from competition but we’re looking forward to Rocker’s next start at Scone Horse Trials which will host the NSW eventing championships next month.

Aces High performed consistently across the 2 events taking home 6th place in the Pre Novice at both the midweek and weekend competitions. He has really matured in his jumping technique and we look forward to his first 1* start later in the season. Kitara Veuve showed good improvement in his dressage at both events and is coping well with his transition from showjumping to eventing. We look forward to a 1* start with him in the near future as well.

Thanks must go to Equestrian Australia for the invitation to the Recognition Squad clinic, the Sydney Eventing Committee for running 2 high quality events in the same week, WOW Saddles Australia for their hospitality on Sunday evening and the professional fitting of 6 saddles on Monday morning, Southern Cross Warmbloods for their hospitality on Monday evening and for entrusting me with Southern Cross Draco and last but not least Hi Form for keeping the equine team in excellent condition throughout the entire trip.

Team Highborne now turns it focus to this weekends Aim Higher Weekend Intensive which will serve as a review for students who attended the first targeted event at Toowoomba as well as preparation for the next targeted event at Fig Tree Pocket in March.

If you too are interested in joining this dynamic coaching program, aimed at supporting you through your eventing season both in training and competition, then please register your interest by contacting me through the link below. There are only limited availabilities at this stage to take advantage of this progressive approach to coaching and mentoring event riders.

There are also limited places left in the Holiday Intensive program with the next QLD School Holiday camp planned for the 29th of March to the 1st of April in the lead up to Warwick Horse Trials CNC and the next NSW School Holiday camp planned for the 18th to the 22nd April.

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Team Highborne had a confident start to the 2016 season at the Tamborine Equestrian Group CNC over the weekend. This is a really well run event which is both horse and rider friendly. Despite some disruptive wet weather on the Saturday, the footing for all phases remained in excellent condition and provided that all important first run for the team.

4 horses travelled to Tamborine, with Eleanor competing Highborne Rocker in the CNC 1* and Aces High and Kitara Veuve in the EvA95, while Tammy competed Jessica Wabbit in the EvA95. Rocker and Aces performed well in the dressage to be leading their respective classes while Veuve and Jess were both a little tense relegating them to mid field. All horses jumped clear in the showjumping and cross country phases but added some time faults to their scores.

Aces held onto his dressage lead to win the EvA95 class and will step up to EvA105 at his next start in Sydney this month. Rocker finished 2nd in the CNC1* and will also step up at Sydney for the CNC2* class. Veuve will travel to Sydney this month for another EvA95 run followed by an upgrade to EvA105. Tammy will take Jess and 2 other horses to this weekends Toowoomba Chicken Run where Eleanor will be available to coach and mentor Aim Higher members at the first ‘targeted event’ of 2016.

The performances are a reflection of the consistent training and maintenance made possible with the generous support of our sponsors WOW Saddles Australia and Hi Form and we look forward to the continuing success of these partnerships.

Congratulations must also go to Aim Higher member Brooke Dougall for completing her very first EvA105 over the weekend and to her mother Trudy who made a successful return to EvA105. It was also great to see Aim Higher member Jodie Smith cruise comfortably around the EvA80 to consolidate before moving up to EvA95.

Thank you also to Belcam Stud for their hospitality during the event. It has definitely become our home away from home and we look forward to our next visit!