VIDEO VENTURE: Equine Development Academy Training Day

You may have listened to the recent series of podcast interviews with coaches and riders involved with the Equine Development Academy founded by Penny Sangster. Penny’s vision was to set up a support network for coaches, who often work in isolation, while also recognising the hard work put in by riders, who may not be regularly competing or, if there are, they may not be in the ribbons, despite their best efforts.

Count the poles…! Donald Kear started his lessons with a line of 21 poles on the ground, which were then built up into a grid.

Penny’s initiative came to fruition on Saturday, November 16, when she held a training day to reward coaches and their nominated riders at Danescroft, Lisburn. Penny had organised BHS Performance Coach, Donald Kear (who is renowned for his gridwork lessons!) to come over from England to give lessons to the coaches and riders; Clare Maria Campbell of CMC Physiotherapy to give rider pilates sessions; Lynette McKeown of Tamlaght Equestrian Care to talk about saddle fitting and equine vet, Esther Skelly Smith to give an equine welfare talk.

Karen Jeffrey pictured with Donald Kear at the EDA Training Day at Danescroft.

It was such an entertaining and educational day, everyone enjoyed their day out and there were lots of big smiles!

Lynette McKeown of Tamlaght Equestrian Care gave insightful talks on saddles and saddle fitting during the EDA Training Day.

I hadn’t met many of the coaches and riders before, so I took the opportunity to have a brief chat with each of them to get their impressions of the day.

Clare Maria Campbell of CMC Physiotherapy held rider pilates session during the day and also demonstrated ‘the mobiliser’ (with the help of Grainne Flavin)!

With the help of my technical executive (son!), I have put together a little montage of clips to mark the occasion of the first EDA training day and, like the coaches and riders, hope this will be the first of many!

EDA founder and coach Penny Sangster, pictured with her nominated rider, Karen Jeffrey, at the EDA Training Day at Danescroft.

Well done, Penny!