22/05/2025
6 months of progress in 2 weeks!
Monday
A clinic at my house with Ema Baxter (Bitting Specialist) and Ian Hastilow (Master Saddler).
Today was the day Walnut and I got to ride in our new saddle made by Ian’s skilled hands. Straight away both Walnut and I absolutely loved it. I was a bit apprehensive, what if I didn’t like it? I didn’t have anything to worry about as it fit both of us perfectly. I am over the moon with my new saddle, thank you Ian Hastilow, you really are a Master of your trade! My saddle is very much back to basics with a perfect balance. No air, no memory foam, no thigh blocks, just symmetry and skilful craftsmanship. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel, it’s already round! Now with Walnut’s double bridle bits sorted and his new saddle, Walnut feels lighter in my hand and more active behind. I felt the difference immediately in
his piaffe and passage (see video).
Tuesday and Wednesday I travelled down to Manor Farm with all three of my horses to train with Goncalo Carvalho. Goncalo saw a massive difference immediately in all of my horses! It’s a combination of the efforts of a whole team of people around me. Ema Baxter, you are a genius! I finally feel, after 2 years, we have the bit and bridle to unlock JC’s mind away from his mouth and into his work. I think this is the most talented horse on my yard and I’m so excited to see what we can now try to achieve. How could he concentrate when he’s not happy in his mouth? He’s my favourite horse, he’s the one who always has time for cuddles and isn’t just interested in what’s in your pocket. When I was congratulating him for working well with Goncalo, you could feel his happiness and self pride brim, I swear he’s human. Now with a new saddle fitted which balances me so well to help JC’s in his balance, we can look forward to good times. He even hacked out on his own around Manor Farms new hacking track, get this….on a long rein too!
Epa always tries to achieve anything asked of him. We worked on piaffe and made some great headway. We also touched on 1 time changes which he finds so hard to do but every day we school he achieves a few 1’s. Slowly slowly catch the monkey. He’s the first horse I ride of my 3 at any clinic as he’s the easiest and my best friend. Thanks to Simon Constable for helping unlock the mystery behind EPA’s hives, another feel good factor to improve Epa’s performance.
Think we can sum up the last 2 weeks with Goncalo’s final comment, as he left for the airport “Tori I’m so proud of you. Big difference ”
After many years, of swapping and changing to find the best…..here’s my team I can’t recommend them highly enough. They have all had some input into improving my horses over the last 2 weeks, it’s been expensive but worth it.
🔴Angela Holland (Top Vet Osteopath)
🔴Jo Andrews (Equine Physio)
🔴Joanna Jackson (friend and eyes on the ground)
🔴Richard Johnson (seriously brilliant farrier)
🔴Mark Andrews (a vet I call a friend, holding my hand for last 20 years)
🔴Ian Hastilow (the master of master saddlers in a league of his own)
🔴Ema Baxter (voodoo bit specialist as she just “knows”)
🔴Simon Constable (there when ever I need him)
🔴Goncalo Carvalho (classical master driving me to be better)
But these two people are the most important Dan Shackleton and Jodie Jackson, my home team.
