Scotts of Thrapston

What’s happening with Beasley Eventing?

Posted on 25. Nov, 2010 by Julia Berrie in Henry Beasley, Rider Development Programme

Henry Beasley has sent an update on what he has been doing since Carlton Horse Trials…

Another month into the dark and wet traits of winter, as everyone with horses understands winter is the dreaded time of year. However nothing has changed for me, the weather is merely a factor of life and with horses you need to make sure they are being properly exercised even if it means getting wet!!

Because I compete in the sport of Eventing it means I have a bigger job on over the winter months, the horses need constant work to make sure in March next year I am ready to compete competitively. You simply cannot wait until the season starts again to continue training; I have my work cut out making sure they are fully ready and constantly improving.

My pony Bobby is my main focus and I am currently working on improving the 5 German scales: Rhythm, Looseness, Contact acceptance of bit, Impulsion, Straightness and Collection. These will be the key to improving my dressage.

I also have benefited from a lesson with Nick Turner who we have come to know a lot more recently.

The time had come to start thinking of getting a horse for me to ride when Bobby becomes too small; so e-mails went out flying around the country. We decided a youngster would be a good horse to get for me to bring on from scratch, this would eliminate possibility of bad habits and behaviour.

I thought to e-mail Nick because he had worked with me before as part of the Development squad. He got straight back to me suggesting he had a horse suitable, although I had set out a very hard outline of what the horse needs to be and be able to do. It needs to be sane but also capable of reaching Intermediate 2* from what you can tell whilst it’s still this young.

The horse Nick had was a 3 yr old pure English Thoroughbred Bay Gelding ex-racehorse. Having only raced 5 times on the flat it was a perfect horse.

Nick had bought him from a trainer nearby who explained how he was just too slow to race! Nick liked the model of horse being a thoroughbred the shape and size at 16.1 and he bought him to do some work with. Nick also helps with the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) so he was a perfect person to get such a horse from.

I went to try the horse and much to my disbelief he was a quiet and gentle soul, the day became more and more exciting as I watched Henna (Nick’s yard manager) ride him it was clear the quality of horse in front of me. As I have never ridden anything this young I had no idea what to expect, but to my surprise he was a very responsive horse, only taking me 10 minutes to get the hang of the different aids. Nick helped me take full control and jump to complete a very successful day.

We then checked, checked and double checked with Nick that I was up for a challenge like this: with the full thumbs up we arranged a vetting which took place a week later. He passed with flying colours and we went to collect him that Saturday.

As we were travelling all the way in the horsebox we loaded up Bobby and took him for a lesson whilst there. Probably one of the most tiring days having two lessons on Bobby and the horse it is something I’m going to get used to!

The next day we schooled him in the school where he rose to the new environment and rider to perform some incredible flat work and a chilled hack out in the country.

This is a very exciting future prospect and I will hope to be competing in some BYEH classes next season and try and get to the final!! Who knows is he a future GB team contester?

I will keep you informed with the future steps of this exciting young horse Vinnie and my continued progress and next years major competition’s with my pony Bobby.

Henry Beasley

Tags: Eventing, Nick Turner, Scotts development squad