WATCH: Silver Tree Stables is ready for Valentine’s Show

Riders at Silver Tree Stables are training hard ahead of another upcoming show.

The yard in Kyalami is busy every afternoon with riders practising jumps of all heights and perfecting the nitty-gritty of every technique before the Valentine’s Show at Kyalami Park Club on 9 and 10 February.

Silver Tree Stables owner, Michelle Dawson, said most of her students would be competing in the showjumping part of the show. “We are sending riders from 10 years old to adults,” she added.

“We want nice consistent rounds and to get our confidence back after the break from shows.”

Dawson said her students have not competed in major shows since November last year. Thus, she is not looking for wins as much as good performances in the first show of the year.

To achieve this, Dawson and her riders have looked at specific ways they can improve their riding and jumping technique. They have even gone as far as doing written homework between sessions to highlight these areas of improvement and help ingrain them in the riders’ mindsets.

The result is less horsing around, better jumps each week and a positive outlook ahead of the Valentine’s Show.

The young Ashley McWilliams rides My Fudge Pop in training and does a few jumps about a foot off the ground one afternoon before older and more experienced riders have their turn in the arena and crank it up to 1m plus.

Dawson analyses every hand movement, posture and more, offering advice as they go. Everyone is eager to go bigger and better at Silver Tree Stables and it promises to be another good year at the stables.

Details: Silver Tree Stables silvert@mweb.co.za; 073 503 3000.

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