EVEN the ferocious winds which hit Armidale over the weekend couldn’t stop more than 20 pony clubbers from turning out to learn from one of the best young riders in the country when champion eventer Teegan Ashby conducted a clinic at New England Girls’ School’s equestrian centre.
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Ashby regularly competes in 3* competitions and was placed on the 2016 young rider Rio De Janeiro Olympic watch squad.
Last year, she represented Australia in New Zealand for the Oceania Eventing Young Rider Championships.
Over the two days, riders of all ages and abilities received tips on improving their techniques and skills over showjumping and cross country fences.
Ashby conducted a similar clinic last year and said it was pleasing to see some of the riders returning and getting results.
“We were basically working on similar things in the show jumping and the cross country,” she said.
“Lines they would be riding if they were out there competing.
“So giving the horse a good approach, staying in the centre of the fence and a good depart.
“It was quite simple things that sometimes get overlooked. They took it all on board and it was great to see the ones I had at the clinic this time last year come along in leaps and bounds.
“There would have been a handful of riders that I had met before so that was great to see.”
Ashby conducts clinics regularly and said they allow riders who may not be the most competitive to get out and work on something they enjoy.
“Each rider has a different story and their horse, how they came about so that is nice to hear,” she said.
“Not everyone wants to ride at the Olympics which is fine.
“You just have to work with what each individual wants to get out of it and where they want to go with their riding.”
Ashby herself will have the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best when she heads to the United Kingdom at the end of the year to work for Olympian William Fox-Pitt.
She follows in the footsteps of many other elite level riders who have made the move to the northern hemisphere to sharpen their skills in the equestrian world.
She is excited at the prospect of learning from the highly regarded Fox-Pitt after spending time at the facilities recently.
“It was nice to have a little look for a month so I got a feel for the place, the location, the people so I can go back totally prepared in November,” she said.
“One never stops learning and I am ready to learn more from the best.”
