Lucinda Green morning classes

On the 01/10/2007 the college took 1,2,3rd year of our equestrian course to Colliemore, Newmore, Invergordon to watch Lucinda Green teach several people how to do cross country this clinic was organised by the bhs scotland. Lucinda Green is one of the most famous cross country riders winning badminton 6 times on 6 different horses won the tony colins trophy and has also competed in the european championships 7 times. At first 4 people came into the large in door arena on their horses these were the intro group so were only just starting to do cross country with there horses so she explained techniques with them and let them show her what they could do, this was so that when they had to go out onto the the cross country courses that they would be safe. All important things like position, where your legs/hands should be and what they should be doing. As this group were only beginners there jumps were not very big but they had to do a point 2 skinnies and a cross pole, then at the end do a strait line stop. Lucinda says that if you don't do that strait line stop it would have been a waste of time doing the whole course as it is one of the main points.

At 11:00 the next group came into the arena there was 3 people this time these were more experienced and are graded at intro - pn (pre novice) there jumps were higher and had to do 6 jumps to do a higher corner, 3 skinnies, the cross pole and a spread. Lucinda asked what their technique was and then just helped them perfect it.

12:00 the most experienced of the groups came in the pn - novice, their jumps were even higher and they had to do the same jumps as the 2nd group, although these were more experienced they had more trouble getting the horses over the jumps, although with Lucinda getting them to change some things at the end they all managed. She said that usually it is the more experience that find trouble doing some things as they are more cocky and don't push there horses on.

The most problems throughout the day were peoples martingales, the riders having them too short so that their horses cannot lift there heads high enough to see the jump and to lift their front legs.

We then went on lunch, after that we were out on the cross country course Hayley-anna will tell you all about that!!!!!