PALACE TRIP AND A STUDENTS' PERSPECTIVE
"Hi everyone! Sorry it’s been a while since the last bit of news. We’ve been very busy and had lots going on, but let’s go for the most exciting news first – the trip to the Palace!
After all the trials and tribulations we faced regarding clothes, hair, make-up, jewellery, etc. we finally made it to Buckingham Palace for my mother to be awarded her MBE. She was allowed three guests, who were myself, Paul and Zak. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were very lucky in that the Queen herself carried out the investiture ceremony. I think my mother’s main concern was the fear of falling over during her courtesy, which luckily she didn’t do! We got to see the inside of
Buckingham Palace in all its grandeur and Zak really enjoyed seeing all the guards and soldiers. Everything went very smoothly and my only disappointment was the lack of cucumber sandwiches, especially as my nephew works there as a chef!
After the ceremony we stayed in London for a family luncheon at The Orrery, where we celebrated in style with bottles of champagne. The chauffeur driven car returned us home at the end of our exciting and exhilarating day. It was a really wonderful and memorable day and we had some lovely photographs taken that will help us to remember it for a long, long time.
Okay, going right back to May. We had a great Bank Holiday Monday holding a Show Jumping clinic with Sarah and a Western Pony Day with Crystal. The following week, we were busy with an Unaffiliated Dressage Competition and a Pony Club Badges rally. Well done to all competitors and all those who took and achieved their badges. Well done also to all our NVQ students who have been busy taking their riding and stable management assessments in preparation for the course finishing in a couple of weeks.
More successful John Adams and John Bowen clinics were followed by a busy half term of Pony Days every day. This summer, we are looking forward to more competitions, day courses, our Children’s Summer Party, Summer Show plus lots more - hopefully with continued good weather!
Welcome to Emily, who has joined us from York as our new Working Pupil. Perhaps in the next blog she can let you all know how she found her first couple of weeks. For now, I’ll leave you with another perspective of Contessa life from Madeleine. But just to give you a little history on Madeleine, we were at school together at Chantry Mount in Bishops Stortford. She was a couple of years older than me but we built up a friendship that has lasted a long time, although there were a few years where we were not in contact. Then it all started up again and the rest is below! Madeleine owns Harry, who was with us until April this year on a working livery.
'New friends, new figure and new horizons! My three months spent as a working pupil at Contessa, from September to December 2009 were the greatest fun and the hardest work; as day one wore on, I could barely place one foot in front of the other let alone push a broom or lift a barrow. While the girls in the house micro-waved suppers and prepared to go out, I slumped in a chair, semi-comatose... But it got better.
Gradually, with the best teaching I have ever had, my riding improved. Whereas at home, cantering over the moor requires you to lift your weight off the horse's back, lean forward and go, cantering in the school is completely different and I couldn't do it! Try as I might, attempting to sit to a long-striding trot, even for a couple of paces, while maintaining any sort of dignity and move into canter just didn't happen. Within seconds I slumped and slipped like a complete beginner; galling after having ridden for most of my life – I remember parking my pony in a stable at Tina's during our school holiday, when Contessa was a dream of the future and the only sheep munching grass in the meadow was an enormously fat pet named Pod.
Within a fortnight Detsky, with his dry sense of humour, had shown me just how unfit and unbalanced I was; Charmer, the vaulting stalwart, had a successful stab at showing me how much and how quickly I needed to improve and a little black Arab helped me develop 'feeling' and the first steps to improvement.
Every day the learning curve extended, speed increased and I felt more at home. I worked at the ABRS Riding and Stable Management tests and would have liked to complete the NVQ levels but wasn't there for long enough – my teaching job back in Devon was waiting for me.
One of the best things about being a working pupil at Contessa was the variety and quantity of opportunity offered. Up to three lessons a day on occasions; vaulting - yes I had a few goes kneeling on one leg, with the other pointed out behind me – a little like pilates on horse-back for the feeling of body control. Side-saddle was immense fun and great for balance. John Adams show jumping and John Bowen flatwork clinics were a challenge and the greatest fun while every day instruction from one of the many excellent teachers was always varied, fresh and motivating. I have taken some of the positive teaching styles and adapted them for my own use in the class-room.
There were all sorts of highlights; working with interesting and enthusiastic people, learning how much can be packed into a day with organisation and routine, seeing how each horse and pony whether small, large, cob or top quality dressage star have equal respect, being Tina's groom at TTT and looking after Queijada, while being able to watch a real Master at work—Arthur Kottas, working horses from the ground, riding – no having a sit on – Pik Dame and Deskant, but not Marcus when I think about it... I will just have to return, if you'll have me. Madeleine Leech.'"
