Excel Talent training camp day 2

The Aussie invasion of the stables, and
Julius looking very innocent!

After an amazing and comfortable sleep in the hotel, we woke to day two of the training camp. Poached eggs on toast for breakfast (a champion's breakfast) and we were ready to go. The boys were happy when we arrived and I took Julius for another little hand-graze despite risking being blown away by the wind.

At 10.30am my strength and conditioning group session started with Rob Norman, another EIS coach. I already do strength and conditioning sessions twice a week with my own trainer James Ellis and was glad to see that the training paid off. There are certain exercises concerning your core and pelvis that can help improve riding and we were tested with simple moves. Thanks to James, I can confidently say I didn't disgrace myself and passed the test on condition for riding!

Tess and I being posers in our new squad jackets!
Except for the fail that the words backwards!

My time to ride was 2pm, and I was with Gareth again. We continued on from yesterday working on his suppleness in self-carriage. Using leg-yields as a preparation for the canter half-pass change of hand, passage to get expression in the trot and more pirouette work, Julius' favourite. At the very end we threw in some tempi changes, and even went for five one-times. That finished off the two days nicely with a cherry on top!

Soon after riding I had my rider introduction with Beccy Moody, where we went through what I learned over the two days and what I can aim to improve on. It was really good to review and consolidate with a professional who knows which direction you should be heading in, and to look at the performance review sheets once a week is great to keep on track with training goals and improvements.

Straight after my mentor session the lorry was packed and ready to go, just loaded the horses and off we went back home. A lorry full of very tired aussies arrived back at Talland at just gone 7pm, and the boys were fed and put to bed and lorry unpacked. We did that very quickly, and I headed home to Cheltenham at 8.

Our survival kit home... :D obviously learnt a lot from the nutritionist!

What a satisfying and inspiring two days! Can't wait for the next camp, hopefully next time Seb will be fit and ready to go as he could really benefit from it too!