Shelly Smit Dressage

25/06/2024

𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕗𝕗 𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕠𝕗! 🥰

What an absolutely fantastic weekend of competing at Chard British Dressage Festival this past weekend with fabulous friends and their horses!

From the moment I saw Sharp back in 2010, I knew he was a special Thoroughbred and I believed in him.... but the sad reality is that I haven't always believed in myself, and it's baffled many people as to why..

Many years ago I remember being at a dressage show with Sharp and it didn't go too well however a comment someone made as I came out of my tests is something that has not only stuck in my mind... its buried itself deep down and taken root... the comment was
"You should sell him as you aren't a good enough rider to produce him!"

At the time I shed many a tear but those who know me well know just how stubborn I am and so I decided I would prove the unbelievers wrong!

It's amazing just how powerful a tool the mind is! I had totally forgotten the comment and interaction above.. and my goal had always been to get Sharp to PSG... in the UK we have to gain qualifying scores at Advanced level to show we are capable of riding at the higher levels.. and it wasn't until the final centreline of my last Advanced Test that my mind allowed me to remember this comment!

Looking back that comment has held me back & has been that niggling little voice telling me I'm not a good enough rider... gaining that final qualifying mark proved I was good enough to not only ride at a higher level but also that I was good enough to produce my quirky horse to the higher levels too.. and actually my whole mindset has been changed and I finally believe in myself!

This past Friday Sharp and I rode down the centreline at Chard in our FIRST EVER PSG test, watched by friends and the BRS family who supported and encouraged us every step of the way... we scored over 60% which means we officially are a PSG combination & have a point at the level.... As I said this horse is the stuff MY dreams are made of!

Huge thanks go to Fiona for all her belief & unwavering support these past 2 years.. we wouldn't be here without you!

05/02/2024

Anyone else's horse absolutely adore their farrier?

Sharp absolutely loves Luke, and enjoys giving Luke a lick and a hug whilst he enjoys his pedicure... since Sharp has been in the UK hes had 3 farriers including Luke, and the other 2 certainly didn't get his love and attention... im not sure what Luke has done to deserve Sharps love.. but whatever it is I hope he keeps it up as it really is very sweet to see... especially when i catch Luke giving Sharp a little kiss back! 🤣

18/11/2023

These residents just happened to be getting ready to work at the same time today. They’re all thoroughbreds and began their working lives in racing - each in a different country, one in England, one in Ireland and one in South Africa!
Sari (on the left) is 7yrs and has just started her dressage career. Houdini (on the right) is 12yrs and hoping to make a career in showjumping - although dressage will feature in his future too 😉 - and Sharp (in the middle) is 19yrs and is an advanced dressage horse.

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11/11/2023

Soooo yesterday a dream came true for me... ever since I went to view the quirky racehorse in South Africa, I knew he was something special and have believed in him through all the ups and downs over the years...

But yesterday was the day we finally cantered down that centreline in Tails!

This quirky little ex racehorse tried his absolute heart out and certainly was an over achiever! We had some silly mistakes, but soooo many good parts.. with scores ranging from 2 right up to 7.5.. overall we had 8 7s which for our first attempt at Advanced 102 is amazing... the mistakes are definitely fixable and i truly can't wait to don my tails again soon!

Huge thanks to our amazing trainer Fiona, as without her support, guidance and belief (even when I have lost mine)we wouldn't be where we are with exviting goals for 2024.. Sharp and i couldn't do this without you and we can't thank you enough 😘 also huge thanks to for rescuing us on the journey home after a long afternoon competing her amazing Cob (& Sharps best friend) Amigo well done on your amazing results too!

I am super excited for next month and to crack on again with Sharp and continue on this amazing journey with him.. so stay tuned to see more of what we get up to!

Have a fab weekend all! 😘

19/10/2023

Happy gotcha day Sharp!

13 years we have been together, and I wouldn't change any of it for the world... You are my Quirky little Racehorse who could!

What a journey we are on, with plenty of miles left to travel and explore.. there's no other horse I'd have as my dance partner in crime!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

19/09/2023

I actually can't quite believe it... never in a million years did I expect that call from today!

19 years young and we are off to the championship at

Huge thanks to for believing in Sharp and I and instilling that self belief in us... I truly can't put into words just how much your support means to me 🥰

My mindset going into this is just to go, have fun and enjoy the experience... as I never ever thought my little quirky from South Africa would ever get this... its just goes to show that having the right people behind you, encouraging and supporting you really does make a difference! Plus lots of hard work, sweat and tears!

Thank you... I can't wait!

16/09/2023

✨️19 YEARS YOUNG TODAY!✨️

Couldn't have asked for a better dance partner, confident, hugger, and listener than you!

You truly do make my dreams come true! ✨️ Happy birthday Mr Sharp! ❤️🎈

Here's to many more years together, and making so many more memories and dreams!

07/09/2023

Had an amazing lesson this morning, trying to beat the heat... we actually ran they Advanced 102 and 105 so we know exactly what we need to work on in the coming weeks... Tailcoat debut coming soon! 😝💃

Thank you for a very hot sweaty session... Sharp and I enjoyed a refreshing hose down afterwards!

Picture from the other day, as not sure there is any from this morning as doing lines of 4 time changes and 3 time changes and half pirouettes was rather fun and exciting.. lol!

21/08/2023

Soooo.. Sharp and i did a thing this weekend! 🌟🌟

If you had asked me back in June whether we would be out competing again by August, my honest answer would have been that we wouldn't. Let alone at a Petplan Area Festival.

However, Sharp has been feeling amazing and we decided that we would enter and just use it as a chance to get out between the white boards and see what 3 judges thought.

We didn't have the best prep leading up to it at all... what with me being struck down with a nasty cold and so not able to ride much at all... in fact I still wasn't 100% when riding, and the last time Sharp went to a comp was back on the 28th April.

Sharp was a true star 🌟 he was so chilled and rideable the whole day... he felt fabulous and produced an amazing test even with a rider who made 2 mistakes during the test.. which was such a shame as they more than likely cost us the win! But we weren't there for that.. we were there to just get out and have some fun and the 5th place rosette was a bonus!

Thanks to everyone who has helped get us here and back on Track... roll on to some more outings and a possible wearing of a Tailcoat in the not too distant future! 🥰😘 stay tuned!



animalfeeds


Oh an special thanks to for our beautiful "well done" in our stable as we arrived home... made my day just that little bit more special 💕

10/08/2023

Sharp would like to thank his bestest stable buddy Amigo () for the party cup this afternoon... you can't tell from his face but he also wishes him a very happy birthday and huge congratulations to him and his hooman on their pet plan win yesterday!

06/08/2023

Fun In the sun in the school this morning.. both worked hard and both loved every minute of it!

This horse makes my heart ❤️ sing!
Hes too cool!

21/07/2023

🎶 Watch me Dance... 🎶

I'm not gonna lie, 11 weeks ago I feared the absolute worst, when a day after we had been working on Advanced 102, Sharp felt very very strange. I couldn't explain it properly at all, and it was definitely the feel he gave me In the canter that told me he was uncomfortable and unhappy... skip forward 11 weeks, 2 vets visits, a possibility that he may have done something to the vital ligaments in his hoof, the possibility of an mri, remedial shoeing, lots of tears and worries.. to yesterday.. the day we had our first lesson back!

He felt amazing, and truly enjoyed every minute of it... he is sound in both body and mind and although he has lost a little bit of his strength (to be expected after time off and hacking) he gave me everything.. so much more than I asked for - which brought a huge smile to my face and confirmed he is back!

The video clip is definitely not perfect.. but its a starting point, and as always I will continue to listen and give Sharp all the time he needs to get back to full strength and fitness.. at almost 19 years old I am just happy that he is happy and feeling well... 😊

14/07/2023

I think my face in this photo says it all! I have really struggled with posting this as I am fully aware that we still have a long way to go and as always there is that little black cloud in the back of my mind that something will still go wrong...

HOWEVER....

We are back in the arena after a long break, and he is feeling well with new shoes and pads.. now to slowly build up his fitness and strength again.

It's early days but so far so good!

17/06/2023

I think someone enjoyed his night out a little too much last night, not sure he was very happy about having his sleep disturbed by having his picture taken though! Swipe ➡️ to the last photo to see his face!

Thanks Lauren Sweetland Dressage for the photos 📸

17/06/2023

21/05/2023

So I've been rather quiet on here lately as I have been battling a little with Sharp and what appears to be a stone bruise to his hoof, which then resulted in him needing physio as he had soreness from compensating in his movement.

Coming up to work 3 and slowly we are getting there.. so at the moment he's javing lots of love and gentle hacking.. which has scuppered our competition plans recently 😩

There will always be another competition on another day, but there isn't another Sharp!

We will be back between the white boards soon I am sure.. until then we are taking things a day at a time!

What's everyone been up to this weekend?

01/05/2023

28/04/2023

With a combined age of 38, these two were absolutely mega today... a fab Friday outing with to debut our Advanced Medium Freestyle!

We won our section in both classes and places 2nd overall in both classes... I loved riding to my music 🎶 as did Sharp I think.

Thank you so much for being their to warm us up and support us as well as a cheeky glass of wine between tests... looking back on where Sharp and I have come from just over a year ago.. you have truly worked wonders with us and given us soooo much confidence.. thank you!

Well done to Jess who had a very spritely ride on Wizard and still smiled all the way through it.. thank you for such a lovely day and a delicious lunch... I do enjoy our outings together ❤️

At 18 years old, Sharp is just the best horse in my eyes... he owes me nothing yet gives me everything! He is my heart horse!

27/04/2023

24/04/2023

After getting soaked and hailed on, on our hack yesterday afternoon, I seemed to time it just right this afternoon to ride in the dry sunny spell between showers! 🙂 I think Sharp was very pleased about that!

We hope everyone had a lovely weekend and avoided the rain as best you could... heres hoping summer arrives soon! 🙏

01/04/2023

How handsome is he?! 😍