On the Hoof Distance Training
On the Hoof Distance Training

Blog

2024 Round Up

This was going to be a round up of the last few months of 2024 and here we are already at the end of January 2025, in Scotland having had a fabulous few days with my friend Karen whilst working with SERC members.  “Upping the Game” was the Subject of the day's workshop – Storm Eowyn tried to foil us, but I drove up a day early to foil her …. She then blocked us in with fallen trees shutting many of the surrounding roads – power OUT!  So resourcefully we moved a day and location (as the scheduled hotel did not regain power) … still 33 SERC members made it – some through SNOW that had decided to fall.  So FULL MARKS as always to Endurance Riders.  From 10 am until 3pm we talked “Where we are – Where we are going (goals) – what might stop us (reality) – and the Plan to get us there – finishing up with being prepared for those little SETBACKS that always get thrown in our path. It was fabulous to catch up with some of my lovely clients in person (rather than Zoom) and wonderful to meet some starting out their Endurance journeys and well as many well on their way – a really happy Endurance Community. 

 

I also met the lovely Penny of Dee’s Designs and spent some pennies on her wonderful products, especially the fantastic “emergency clip” –find her on Facebook at Dee's Designs and go wild with colours? 

 

Heading back up North in a couple of weeks for Cheshire (day 1) and Northumberland (day 2) track sessions – reports will follow. 

 

2024 was a year of all manner of excitement including a house move (40 years on) for me …… but still managed a full year of coaching around the World…. Committee meetings for Endurance GB South East Group ...Ride organising with Shelley, including another great Golden Horseshoe …. 5 weeks in Mongolia for the Mongol Derby Academy and Mongol Derby 2024 (15 years now of Head of Rider Training, Mopper of Brows on the Steppe and Race Rule Enforcer – such a privilege).  

 

The autumn saw another first, attending the Balkan Endurance Championships, in Kilkis, Greece with Sally Matiani and her lovely Dom, who I have been working with now for a few years online, and Team Corfu, comprising of some complete first timers to those upping their game – what a great time with a 6 out of 6 successful completion and some brilliant placings .  Sally and I also helped Team Athens by crewing 2 Young Riders on their first FEI Race – proud to say we crewed the Balkan Young Rider Champion and 3rd place.   Looking forward to enhancing these relationships with some more training trips.  

 

All in all, another super year for OntheHoofDT – many many more Zoom consults, Online Coaching is working so well for so many, why not give it a try?  Staying online our HUBS continue to thrive, with a monthly session of chat, support and interesting topics.Track Sessions remain ever popular and we love working with literally all levels of horse, pony and rider …. We can work on confidence issues (for both), assess fitness levels, work on issues of all sorts from napping to passing and pulling or simply have a bit of safe fun.  It doesn’t have to be a track, a good field is equally useful – just make contact if you’d like to set something up for yourself, your yard, your Group or Riding Club. 

 

We continue to enjoy putting together our Fun Rides …. Both marked routes and our notorious Treasure Hunts – Fancy dress is always welcome – our rosettes are always commented on (thanks to Debbie @ Orchard Rosettes), goodie bags are often available from EquineXceed , we often have soup, hot cider or a little Pimms – we keep our numbers lower and are always conscious to make it a pleasant time for everyone whether bringing a first timer, nervous rider or just out to have a great time. 

 

Next Rides – Valentine TH 15th Feb and Easter Ramble 20th April …. all on My Riding Life  Treasure Hunt

 

For those of you unable to join us for whatever reason, distance, lack of transport or just wanting to stay close to home we continue to enjoy our Virtual Treasure Hunts. 

 

As always alongside our OntheHoofDT programme we are heavily involved in Endurance GB stuff: 

 

Want to know more about Endurance join us for a “Demo” at Merrist Wood, Surrey on 22nd February. You can book here: Endurance Demo 

 

Tilford Endurance Ride is 8/9th March. Whilst the National Ride is full, there are still some places on the Fun Ride: Fun Ride 

 

And we are excited (and exhausted) to be putting on the 60th Anniversary of the Iconic Golden Horseshoe on Exmoor 24/25th May – we will be recreating some of the first event – message if you’d like to know more – Riding – Helping – Sponsoring or anything else. 

 

Do take a look at our Partner Page …. We are excited to be able to offer a discount code for JustChaps and have added Dee’s Designs to the list.  

 

Finally with a “sign off “ and a promise to try harder with updates we (Shelley and I) want to Thank all of you who have supported, followed and joined in …. We look forward to seeing you (online and in person) in 2025! 

Summer Camp 2024

On The Hoof DT Adult Summer Camp 2024

Literally hotfooting it back from the Mongol Derby (full blog to follow) we were straight down to Winnie-the-Pooh country as guests of Susan and Kevin Hawes at the very lovely Nightingale Farm.

This is our 3rd Camp and we have returners which is always fabulous, a mixture of stabling and coraling available and that in itself is all part of the fun .... for some it's a first time away and for some, a first time inside the electric fence coral but for all a lovely peaceful and safe space to try new things.

We love a theme and this weekends theme was:

Finding your Way ....

We encouraged navigating    

  • Your Goals
  • Your Plan
  • Your Course
  • Your Horse
  • YOU
  • And your Way

Your horse session was led by the fabulous Liz Briscoe of Equine in Motion, who discussed anatomy, from structures to the muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia binding it all together – then in was our turn at ART ... yes we painted some ponies, then looked at them move – did everyone get it right? Pretty good effort and excellent patience from Zeus and Poppy who were our live canvas.

YOU Shelley led us all in an early morning, post breakfast warm up session aimed at mobility – it found a few of us out and surprised others – a superb way to start the day.

Your Course – a cunningly designed course in the Arena – brain busting obstacles for all manner of situations you might just meet out on the trail and practice for the now infamous Camp Comp! 

Your Way – Sunday is always FUN DAY – Susan prepared a super 14km Treasure Hunt – cryptic clues as always giving some great and innovative answers, with a 5 km Shorter Route for our In-Hand participant (we will always try to accommodate EVERYONE)!

OntheHoofdt Rosettes were handed out to all who took part in the Treasure Hunt.

Your Goal and Plans – Maggie led a goal setting group discussion in the Yard, discussing the journey and process for identifying steps along the way towards achievable Goals and making the Plan for the pathway to Victory.

Camp Competition – Sunday morning before the Treasure Hunt we gathered at the newly designed arena for the OLYMPIC THEMED Camp Comp......

An amazing effort from all – our in hand horse was on long reins, we had a liberty try (ha ha) and some brilliant FIRSTS – not a timed event this time but a mark for each of the 5 obstacles. Everyone receive a Mongolian Hadag (ceremonial scarf) and our 1st 2nd and 3rd places were awarded Mongolian themed gold silver and bronze prizes.

Food of course is highly important part of any stay away ..... fish & chips from the local 'Forest Roe' chippy was a hit on Friday night, accompanied by a few G & T's/ Beers and Wine for those imbibing and soft drinks for those not ....  Saturday & Sunday blessed with glorious weather we did Self Serve breakfast and lunch on the lawn.  On Saturday night, we had an amazing Hawes special BBQ accompanied by jugs and jugs of delicious Pimms followed by a fantastic talk by Caroline Hawes on her recently completed Africa Rally Completion. Along with her dad, Kevin, she had an amazing 5 week adventure. Sunday afternoon as always finished with Afternoon Tea before heading home. Teddy needed a little help from resident loading expert Martin of ML Horsemanship – he was just enjoying himself and his new friends in the chestnut boys corner too much!!

We are so grateful for the hospitality of the Hawes family once again, we also had some had some lovely goodie bags from Omega Equine and some super samples from EQWA .

All in all Shelley and Maggie are delighted with the 2024 Summer Camp .... plotting already for 2025 Themes ......

Mongol Derby Academy 2024

We're re-invigorating the Blog - a way for you to keep up with what we are doing and what better way to start than with Maggie's report from the Mongol Derby Academy 2024!

 

Maggie reporting in from this year’s Mongol Derby Academy - a coaching job like no other! Maggie has been part of the Mongol Derby team since its inception in 2009 as Head of Rider Training and referee. Shelley rode in 2013 as her first Endurance ride and was hooked.

 

In 2019 Maggie was asked to develop an academy and has run it since then. It is an opportunity for Derby hopefuls to come and experience an amazing event on the Mongolian Steppe to see if they are ready for the main challenge. It is worth noting that The Academy curriculum (designed by Maggie) is now also run in Argentina for the Gaucho Derby and will be rolled out for the entire Equestrianists World series.

 

This year’s academy saw 14 riders from 7 different nations, all from different equestrian disciplines, looking to gain certification to be accepted for the Mongol Derby.  The week encompasses lessons in horsemanship with the Mongolian horse, tech, medic and vet briefings and then riding, navigating and passing the stringent vetting at various horse stations manned by our wonderful Mongolian herdsmen. A morning off saw us all treated to an awesome display of Mongolian Horsemanship when a good few families gathered for Herder trials. Maggie had the biggest treat as a guest judge! The three trials were: lassoing from horseback, lassoing from the ground, and picking the whip and lasso up from the ground whilst on a galloping horse.

 

After a week with a fair share of thrills and spills five riders were 100% certified to take part in a future Derby. A few have meetings set with Maggie over zoom to discuss issues and put plans in place to help them reach their goal; a couple decided #not for them# and finally a couple more were disappointed to realise it was a “no” for them.

 

If the Mongol Derby is in your sights – signing up for the academy is a great idea, as is a chat with Maggie who is now prepping for pre-race training for the 2024 Mongol Derby which kicks off on the 4th with the start gun on the 7th August.

 

You can follow along online, watching rider trackers or reading the daily updates either through the Equestrianists website or by following the Mongol Derby on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is on its way and Maggie is looking ahead to brighter times.

 

Give us a call or email and we'll help you with your plans for 2021.

 

 

Click here to see some what people are saying about us.

Take a look at our 2020 Round Up Newsletter

It's so important to look back and see the positive things we all did in this year of all years.

Are you struggling to find the positives for you and your horse?

Contact us at onthehoofdt@hotmail.co.uk and we'll take a look together.

Alternatively, sign up to one of our Hubs, where you can chat to like minded people about the challenges we all face and come up with strategies to help each other through.

Maggie chats from a very wet Surrey. Take a look at what we're up to and join in the fun with the February Virtual Treasure Hunt.

Click the button to sign up. 

Congratulations to our Week One winners!

Maggie chats about Virtual Advent Treasure Hunt Fun and there's a rug to be won!

Click the button to sign up

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Treasure Hunt 2020

 

Some great images from the fun at our ride in Pegasus magazine. 

 

Thanks to LRG Photography for the wonderful official photos.

Maggie's Vlogs

Maggie chats about Night Ride Fun and an intro to the On the Hoof Hubs.

Trot Up Training with Beth Langley

 

I highly recommend everyone having a look at Beth's youtube video, it's precise, accurate and really informative.

 

Don'f forget Endurance People - VETTING and trotting up are part of the job

 

 

Questions?

Then please get in touch

via the Contact Us page

 

Print | Sitemap
© On the Hoof Distance Training