Last post :(

My trip has now been finished off with three days at Talland. As I got more comfortable around Pammy (who can be very daunting) I sat in on her lessons with high-level dressage and eventing riders, and it was refreshing to hear them talk through their problems with their horses and for them to get shouted at, because it makes you realise that the good riders aren't always untouchable and above everybody else.

During my time at Talland there was one particular horse I rode everyday called Jovie. She was trained to about Prix St George, which was perfect for me to learn on. She had to be ridden with a very soft contact and mainly from the seat, as if you had too much contact she just went faster and faster! 'Quick-releases' helped her come up in front and stop her leaning on the hand. She was truly awsome though, and on the last day I was the last one riding in the MASSIVE indoor arena and was having a lesson with Pammy. She let me go and have fun, so off I went; half-passing, flying changing, and canter pirouetting, and I really did have fun! It felt amazing to just go and pop out movement after movement.

The other horses I rode were also schoolmasters and also had to be ridden with lots of quick-releases. I requested a seat-lesson on the lunge, as the seat is of incredible importance and I wanted to know what exercises I should work on when I'm at home on the lunge. My goal is to have a seat that is an extension of the horses back, an upper body of steel, and hands of gold. When I get home my training program will consist of at least one seat-lesson a week, trail-riding on the weekends that I can (I did that before I left and Vinnie loved it!), lungeing once a week, and cavaletti and gridwork at least once a week. I struggled with gridwork at home because I didn't know how to jump, but now hopefully it shouldn't be a problem!

Pammy and her mother, Molly Sivewright, have been running Talland since 1958. Mrs Sivewright is so knowledgable, and is someone I would love to stay and talk to all day because she has so many stories about horses to tell and such good advice. I only spent half an hour with her on the side of the arena talking, and then I had to get my horse and ride. She was telling me about the times that she came out to Australia to judge (where she stayed at the Packer's property), and the first aid of riding is thought, and how powerful it was, so much that she could whisper to one of her horses to do a series of ones with a novice rider on top.

While I was sitting with Pammy, one of the girls was having trouble with the energy levels in her dutch-bred young horse. She always lunged it before a show, but it could get too tired sometimes and then if she didn't lunge it he went crazy. Pammy said that she must lunge the horse, even if for three circles because by then you would see if the horse needed it or not. Often when horses get lazy it is actually tightness, so even if you think your horse is tired just lunge it, and you might be surprised that if you crack the whip their head will blow off. Pammy also said that all day turnout (which this horse had) can make the horse less impressive in the arena. If they are kept in for most of the day the horse will appreciate going out to be worked, or even going on the truck, and will be up and ready to move their legs. I found that interesting as I always keep my horses out during the day and I absolutely hate it when they have to be kept in the stable, but when I look at it in that light I think it could work well.

On the day that I left (Friday), Pammy was off to Portugal that night to the European Young Rider Championships, where her son Charlie was competing, and her daughter Pippa is a reserve for the Juniors. Both of them are amazing riders!

We leave on Tuesday and I can't wait to get home and start applying my new found techniques to all of my ponies and horse! I also miss my dogs a lot, and seeing all of the english out with their dogs makes me so jealous! We have travelled 2500 miles around England, and it is very beautiful. I can't wait to come back here again!

Thankyou to everyone who has been following my trip through this blog and I hope I have given you an insight to what it's like to ride in faraway places. If you have any questions or anything feel free to comment me!