Vikki Weaver Dressage

02/07/2024

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻🎄🦄

06/10/2023

I have discussed this with vets and clients. This is especially needed if the horse is to be ridden direct from the stable, as they will have been standing rather than mooching in the field. Walk is an important pace and not one to be skipped through to get to the more exciting/ interesting paces.

There is a lot you can do at walk in 10 mins to supple your horse and prepare not just the tendons and ligaments but help relax, stretch and supple the muscles too. Would you get up from the sofa and launch straight into exercise without stretching or easing in gently? No and nor should our horses.

Everything we do with our horses has an impact physically and mentally, please try to make sure it’s all positive and helpful 😊🥰

02/08/2023

⚠️ LAMINITIS WARNING ⚠️

🌦️ The continued rainfall and warm conditions promote the ideal environment for grass growth 🌱

🐎 Laminitis can cause extreme pain, lameness and permanent damage to the hooves. Being aware of the more subtle signs of laminitis can help you act faster, resulting in more efficient diagnosis and treatment.

👀 Be extra vigilant with horses and ponies with metabolic conditions and those who are overweight, as this puts them at a greater risk of laminitis.

🔎 Just because a horse hasn’t had laminitis before doesn’t mean they can’t get it.

For more information visit 👉 https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/health-care-management/horse-health/equine-diseases/laminitis/

30/06/2023

Why can exercising your horse on hard ground cause a problem?

Riding your horse on hard ground can cause concussion-related issues and negatively affect the structures in the horse’s hoof and leg. When the horse’s hoof meets the ground, it’s subjected to a great deal of concussive force. When the ground is softer, it absorbs some of the impact and provides cushioning to the foot - but the harder the ground, the less force is absorbed and the more stress on the horse.

As well as potential injuries to tendons and ligaments, working or jumping your horse on hard ground can also cause inflammation to the sensitive laminae in the foot and trigger a bout of concussive laminitis. Hard ground also increases concussion to joints so horses with known osteoarthritis may struggle and show lameness.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk:
🐴 Be aware of the ground you’re working your horse on and try to avoid working them on hard ground day in, day out and let your horse’s legs recover in between sessions
🐴 Try and choose a softer surface, such as an arena, for your harder ridden or jumping work during the summer months
🐴 Apply cold water or ice therapy to your horse’s legs after working on hard ground
🐴 Maintaining your horse’s overall fitness and strength will help prevent injuries. Injuries are more likely when a horse is asked to work at a higher level than that to which it has been conditioned to
🐴 Know your individual horse - some cope much better with firm ground; some prefer not to be exercised on it at all

If you need advice on how to help your horse cope with the hard ground or if you’re worried your horse has sustained an injury, call us for advice on 01564 783404 📞

📸 Pictured is client Felix out eventing this summer at Moreton Morrell. The ground had been well prepared with adequate grass coverage to help provide some cushioning!

14/02/2023

Happy birthday to Flash aka My Charming Valentine, 30 years old today! 🦄 🥳 🎂 🥂 🍾

13/02/2023

Due to ever-rising energy costs, fuel costs and food costs, I am offering 25% off any training or test riding sessions to try and help people keep riding & training during this difficult time (B90 1PG)…

Ex international Grand Prix rider, BD List 1 judge & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach 👩🏼‍🎓🏅

⭐️ ALL levels welcome from Prelim to GP 😊

22 x 63 outdoor arena, fully fenced and complete with white boards

11/02/2023

Due to ever-rising energy costs, fuel costs and food costs, I am offering 25% off any training or test riding sessions to try and help people keep riding & training during this difficult time (B90 1PG).

Ex international Grand Prix rider, BD List 1 judge & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach 👩🏼‍🎓🏅

⭐️ ALL levels welcome from Prelim to GP 😊

22 x 63 outdoor arena, fully fenced and complete with white boards

21/01/2023

07/01/2023

🦄 I have spaces on the weekends of 14th/15th January and 21st/22nd January (at B90) for test riding or training towards the BD Area Festivals 🦄

Ex Grand Prix rider, BD List 1 judge & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach 👩🏼‍🎓🏅

⭐️ ALL levels welcome from Prelim to GP 😊

31/12/2022

🦄 Happy new year to one and all 🦄

26/11/2022

Amen 🙏🏻

23/11/2022

🎉 20% OFF Any training sessions, test riding sessions or lessons paid for by bacs before midnight on Black Friday 25/11/22 🎉

*Maximum of 4 sessions to be booked per person & to be used by mutual arrangement by 31/12/22.
PM for further details.

To be held at B90 with ex Grand Prix rider, BD List 1 judge & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄 👩🏼‍🎓🏅

⭐️ ALL levels welcome from Prelim to GP 😊

09/10/2022

Training/lesson/Test-riding availability next weekend *15th/16th October* at B90 with ex Grand Prix rider, BD List 1 judge & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄 👩🏼‍🎓🏅

⭐️ ALL levels welcome from Prelim to GP 😊

30/08/2022

Great week for clients last week with Becky winning the novice retraining of racehorses champ and Jess Winning the novice at Swallowfield 🦄🦄🦄🥂🥂🥂🎉🎉🎉

13/07/2022

☀️ Here are our top tips on how to look after your horse during the hot weather! ☀️

🐎 Exercise your horse during the cooler times of the day where possible. Consider your individual horse’s overall health and fitness and how they are likely to cope when being ridden in the hot weather.

💦 Cool your horse down using cold water. For the most effective cooling, start at the poll and work your way backwards, focusing on long cooling of the gluteals.

🚿 The most recent research suggests that there is no need to scrape the water off your horse when hosing down - leaving water on a horse will not cause them to be warmer. Continuous application of cold water is the most effective and efficient way to reduce body temperature quickly.

🪣 Make sure your horse always has access to clean, fresh drinking water. If your horse isn’t a big drinker, flavour their water with molasses or apple juice to encourage them, or give them a sloppy mash 😋

🚛 If you need to travel your horse, consider soaking your hay to keep up their water intake. Check the traffic before you leave and open all windows.

🌡 Watch out for signs of heatstroke, including high respiratory and heart rates, and an increased body temperature - a horse’s normal body temperature should be between 37.5 - 38.5.

🧂 Add salt to your horse’s diet, particularly if they are sweating - this can be via a salt lick, table salt added to their normal feed or electrolytes.

🌳 If your horse is out, make sure they have access to natural shade or field shelters where possible.

📞 If you need any advice, give us a call on 01564 783404.

11/07/2022

An expert in equine thermoregulation is attempting to bust some of the myths spread about cooling horses. Although most people seem to agree that water is key in reducing temperature, many still say, incorrectly, that the water must be scraped off – with many often insisting that leaving a horse w...

17/06/2022

🦄🦄🦄

⚠️HIGH TEMP and HIGH POLLEN⚠️ With temperatures soaring today please ensure your animals have plenty of water, access to shade, good ventilation and cooling if necessary. Give us a call if you need any advice. 01564783404 ☀️

06/06/2022

Lesson availability this weekend 11th/12th June if anyone would like a polish up before the BD Regionals and Area Festivals start? 1 month to go & counting! 🦄🦄🦄

List 1 BD judge
ex Grand Prix rider &
UKCC level 3 dressage specific coach 👩🏼‍🎓 ☀️

04/05/2022

🎉 Finally the BD judge upgrades are published 🎉

🎓 Lesson availability this weekend at B90 1PG:
✍️ Test riding 20x60 or 20x40 Intro to Grand Prix
👩🏼‍🎓 OR general training

List 1 BD judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄 ☀️

29/04/2022

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

I know I’ve done a few posts on this but I keep seeing people posting about horses coming up short, uncomfortable or lame and they’re assuming it’s an injury but it’s more likely to be grass right now.

The grass in the UK is currently lethal and horses need to be managed very carefully if they’re on grass. The reason it is so deadly at the moment is the days are sunny, which activates photosynthesis and then the temperatures overnight drop to below 6 degrees which means the grass is storing the sugar rather than using it to grow. This is a trigger combination.

Until the temperatures overnight reach 6 degrees consistently we will stay in this cycle.

Think about adding salt and magnesium oxide (magox) to your horses’ feed to help counteract the effect of the grass.

11/04/2022

🎓 Lesson availability this Easter weekend at B90 1PG:
✍️ Test riding 20x60 or 20x40 Intro to Grand Prix
👩🏼‍🎓 OR general training

List 1 BD judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄 ☀️

05/04/2022

Amen 🙏🏻 🦄

“It’s absolutely mind boggling if you think about it.

Your horse gets absolutely nothing out of being competitive for you. Not a darn thing. Of course horses are bred for specific jobs, or they’re bred to be athletic to a certain degree. However, horses don’t wake up thinking about chasing cans, or cows, or flying over jumps.

They have no idea how much money is added to the pot.

They have no idea that this is a qualifier. They have no idea that this is the short go.

And DESPITE us... DESPITE our nerves, our flaws, our incorrect ques, our huge emotions, they get the job done to their very best ability. Even when we fail them by letting our emotions get in the way, they come back and they try again. For US. Whoa. Let that sink in. If only we could all be so understanding.

To think of an animal that is forgiving and flexible enough to put up with the repetition of practice, the intense nerves of the rider, the stress of hauling and still meet you at the gate for scratches is MIND. BLOWING.

If you haven’t done so lately. Thank your horse.

If you’re successful, thank the horses that put you there and made you. Thank the horses that gave everything they had for you simply because you ASKED them to.

If you’re still on the journey to success, thank the horses that made you fall in love with your sport and who have helped give you the confidence to want to learn more and be better.

We can never stop learning as horsemen and horsewomen, and by continuing our education every horse in our future will be better off.

Next time you head to the arena leave your ego at the door and thank your horse!”

~Samantha Roffers

21/03/2022

🦄🦄🦄

Improve your dressage scores with less effort than you might think, with these tips from top international judge Isobel Wessels

17/03/2022

🎓 Lesson availability this weekend at B90 1PG:
✍️ Test riding 20x60 or 20x40 Intro to Grand Prix
👩🏼‍🎓 OR general training

List 1 BD judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄 ☀️

10/03/2022

🎓 Lesson availability this weekend at B90 1PG

List 1 BD judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC level 3 dressage specific coach 🦄

01/03/2022

💫 Looking sunny for the weekend ☀️☀️☀️

Last few lesson spaces available for this Saturday 5th March - at my yard B90 1PG (West Midlands) 🎉🎉🎉

BD List 1 Judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach.

Pm for details 🦄🦄

25/02/2022

💫 Friyayyyy & the sun is shining! ☀️☀️☀️

Last minute lesson availability for tomorrow Saturday - at my yard B90 1PG 🎉🎉🎉 BD List 1 Judge, ex Grand Prix rider & UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach.

Pm for details 🦄🦄