Live Every Sunrise To The Fullest

Here is a picture of Orion and I taking a walk around the track into the sunrise- most certainly the best way to start a day :-) 

I've had a couple requests for some insights to what my regular day looks like, so here is a general summary of a regular week. From monday to saturday I arrive at the barn at 7:15 am, this is of course if I don't have a horse show, during competition weekends the day can start as early as 4am. 

But during a regular training day I arrive at the barn at 7:15 and get my first horse ready to work and get a training session in before the team eats breakfast. 

 Then at 9:00am its off to breakfast! This is always a highlight because the whole team at the barn sits together and enjoys fresh baked buns from the baker with tea or coffee. Eating breakfast together is such a great way to start the day at the barn because it gives everyone a chance to touch base and make a plan with for the day. Breakfast conversations range from serious topics such as farrier and vet matters or competition planning, all the way to reading each others horoscopes from the newspaper and joking around about some ridiculous recent happening.  After breakfast, its back out to the barn to work the horses.

During my regular day I work my four horses, and if I have time I'll also ride one of Heike's horses. Then I make sure to take each of my horses out a second time in the day, often they go on the horse walker or I do some other form of condition work or therapy with them. Besides the riding and training there are so many other areas that you can help the horses be the best athletes that they can be. 

And not only are the horses expected to be the best athletes they can be the riders are also held up to the same standard.  For my general fitness I go to the gym 2-3 evenings a week, during my sessions at the gym I focus mostly on cardio. What I like best is they offer these cycling classes, and it really pushes you to you limit when you work out with a group and have a trainer encouraging you along. Last thursday I rode the bike for 2 hours! And let me tell you, was I ever a puddle of sweat by the end, but I can't expect my horse to give it their all if I am not willing to do the same, right :-)

Then for my balance and core strength Eckart Meyners (the seat Guru who invented the "Balimo") comes to the barn on a regular basis. The seat sessions with Eckart Meyners are always very insightful because he first watches you ride, and then you have to get off your horse and must perform a vast range of movement exercise on a mat in the arena which help with body awareness combined with balance and the coordination of your aids. Once you have completed the specific exercise to Meyners expectations than you get back on the horse to feel the difference. Which always amazes me every time, because we often forget how little changes in our balance make a tremendous influence on our horses.   

My favourite part of the training system here at Heike's is that as I ride my horses rather than standing on the ground and teaching, Heike rides her own horses and keeps a watchful eye on me. This allows me to build my own training routine and then Heike adds in corrections and advice as she sees fit. The reason why this works really well for me because I am a very visual learner. When some thing is not working either because, I, or my horse, or us both, are not understanding a concept, Heike is able to demonstrate what she is explaining on her own horse. My favourite is when Heike is riding Bonaparte (Heike's Olympic mount) because Heike trained Bonaparte right from A all the way to Grand Prix and it so inspiring to see the years of skill and talent Bonaparte carries with him. I had to laugh the first time Heike was helping me with Orion's piaffe and she strutted ahead with Bonaparte and laid down a perfect line of piaffe steps and she just simply turned to me and says- now ride it just like that! Right.... no problem :-) But what better way to learn than from the best right! 

My mother, Dagmar, often reminds me that Rome was not built in a day to encourage me to take a deep breathe and enjoy the journey. And I most certainly am really enjoying the balance in my daily training. I have really benefited from the coaching as well as management advice from Heike. I've also had the chance to attend some of Heike's training sessions with Jonny Hilberath (The German Team Trainer) which has also been very enlightening. Further, Heike's Kemmer’s Bereiter, Mayke Liebregts, has also been a very knowledgeable support for me, Mayke is exceptionally good at explaining the technical details and this has been a tremendous help for me. And finally, Leonie comes to Heike's once a week, to train Heike, Mayke and I on our various competition horses. So basically I am surrounded my an abundance of knowledge and I am doing my best to soak it all up!