Words by Mim Coleman

You have two choices – Spit it out or chew like mad.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Hellloooooooo out there thank you so much for all of your support, it is truly humbling. Are you all well?  How are your dreams coming along? As promised I have an announcement to make.

Are you ready?  Go and grab a cuppa, pull up a comfy chair and join me for a lovely chat about all things dressage. Be prepared this will be a long chat because I want to share every single moment with you. Before you get comfy grab a biscuit or two to nibble on the way.

Before I go on I need to make you all aware of some very critical information. So let me tell you this:

• I am not a talented rider

• I am not a brave rider

• I started dressage as an adult rider

• I work full time in an office

• I am not wealthy, I have a mortgage just like you

• I never envisaged that riding Grand Prix is something that I could achieve – Never, ever, never!

Get the picture? I am a suburban house wife born with an ancient and unexplainable “eohippusobsessive” gene. Just like YOU!

Horse is where the heart is © Jess van der Vlist

Less than 12 months ago it was suggested to me by my coach Roger Fitzhardinge that I was on the Road to Grand Prix.  The thought had never occurred to me and it took quite some time for me to embrace the idea and then run with it. To make that level of commitment to such a lofty goal to yourself and others should not be under estimated. The fear of failure and the thought that I was not worthy of such pursuits held me back it first. However as my self -confidence grew I visualised myself on that road with Tiny and my amazing support crew which includes YOU!

Being given the opportunity to write to you and share with you my journey has helped me more than I think you will ever understand.  So THANK YOU because what I am about to share with you may never have happened if it hadn’t been for our casual chats over the past 10 months.

So what’s it like to ride Grand Prix ???

AAAAHHHHHMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING  !!!!!!!

I hadn’t planned to ride the test until sometime later this year. Well that’s the plan I had in my head.  After the fantastic results and the feeling that Tiny offered at the State Championships I felt confident that we should step up and give the Inter II a crack. The winter break is long and there was an opportunity to ride it in early April. 

I shared my idea with my best friend and coach Lydia Jackson who has been so encouraging every step of the way. Her response?  “Oh just enter the Grand Prix it’s not that different to the Inter II. “ That planted the seed in my mind and I had a few weeks up my sleeve before entries closed. 

Tiny had short break and he came back into work his usual enthusiastic self. Roger was back in town and when I shared with him my idea he did literally LOL (really loudly) or was he choking in absolute shock??? hmmm not sure.

So the clinic was all about riding the Grand Prix, about the quality of the transitions, preparing for each movement, the nuances and subtleties that run throughout the test and I soaked it all up like a sponge. There was sooooo much to learn, it’s not just about 15 one times changes, or a canter zig zag. There is no doubt that the level of technical difficulty is to be respected but the real challenge is the nuances between the movements that you have to consider. The weight in the saddle shifting ever so slightly to transition from collected walk to passage and the into piaffe and out again into passage is like trying to capture pure magic. Just in that sequence there is more riding than your entire PSG test. 

My mind EXPLODED ! Because for so long I thought that once I nailed 15 ones, nine twos, the canter zig zag and passage and piaffe that it all systems go. The Grand Prix will just happen - WRONG!

As wise man said (Carl Hester) It takes at least 6 years to train a horse to Grand Prix and another 8 years to perfect it. 

So despite thinking I have reached the end of the road I have in fact just taken an off ramp and now its 8 years of learning how to ride Grand Prix. 8 YEARS !!!! 8 years that I don’t have.

After the clinic my final words to Roger were that I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew.  Was it such a good idea after all? His response? “You have two choices. Spit it out or chew like mad.”  I decided to chew like mad. Because what could be around the corner is a mystery to us all and I was not wasting an opportunity like this.

Lydia was an ENORMOUS help to me. She knows me very well and could sense that I was becoming overwhelmed. She is so in-tune to what the rider is thinking and feeling and can adjust our training exercises accordingly. She made me ride through the test to feel the pattern of it and then we looked at some key elements, the passage, piaffe, passage tour was on top of the list. We played around with my position in the saddle for the transitions and encouraging Tiny to stay in the moment. A super light seat, soft upper thigh and lower leg off. How something so beautiful can emerge from such light aides is just incredible. Tiny you amaze me! 

It was all systems go, our key elements were in place.

All the essentials in one place

It was a beautiful day for dressage and we were on late in the program. The committee had encouraged everyone to come and support me and Tiny and Lydia who was riding Splendido in his first Grand Prix start. Splendido was bred by Lydia’s mum Cheryl Lawrence and trained by Lydia through all of the levels. So it was a very special moment for both of us.

The crowd had settled in. Our warm-up went really well and it was time. I was feeling confident yet humble, in awe of what was about to happen. Tiny sensed the occasion and puffed out his chest as we presented to the judges. 

A enter in collected Canter at X Halt Salute.

We are on our way.

At A down centre line. DX Passage. X piaffe 12 – 15 steps, XG Passage. G halt salute.

7 minutes and 23 seconds later it was finished.

I came out of the arena EXHAUSTED!!!  My first words were “I need to go to the gym more often!”

So what’s it like to ride the Grand Prix test?

Exhilarating ! it is the most beautifully choreographed sequence of movements that test you beyond your limits. It is PURE MAGIC.

I also I felt like I had gone ten rounds with Mohammad Ali, been slapped around the face with a giant fish and spent 10 minutes in a tumble dryer, on high.

I was blown away by the level of fitness required and I think about all of the professional Grand Prix riders around the world and how they can sustain the level of fitness and concentration and diligence in their training makes me even more in awe of them. They are SUPER HUMAN no doubt about it.

Tiny gave every ounce of energy that he had and I think by the final tour down the centreline he was quickly running out of steam. That test has 3! yes 3! Passage, piaffe, passage tours. Can you imagine working at that level of intensity even once? I have never doubted or underestimated the fitness required of the horse but riding this test just brought it home to me.

I had a giggle when I watched the video. In Tiny’s mind X is for halting and saluting. This is what transpired.

A Grand Prix Conversation with Tiny

M: Good passage Tiny just a little more cadence you can do it.

T: Huff puff is this enough?

M: Yes if that’s your best then that’s great. Ok here’s X now piaffe.

T: Um no X is where we halt.

M: In this test we piaffe, come on you can do it just like the other two times across the centreline.

T: Ok here’s 4 steps, is that enough? Can we halt now?

M: Just a few more my friend you can do it.

T: Ok here have these. Can we halt now?

M: No we just have a few metres of Passage and then you can halt, at G, you like G.

T: What? I have to passage all the way up there? It’s MILES away! I can’t even see G!

M: Come on give it a try you love passage and you are so clever at it.

T: Huff puff huff puff is that enough? I can’t do anymore.

M: Look Tiny we are at G WELL DONE! Now you can halt.

T: I need sugar, bring me my sugar, all the sugar that you have, stat!

So there you have it. A suburban housewife’s take on riding a grand prix test with her charming, funny and super enthusiastic partner Tiny.

So are you keen to try it? You won’t regret it. Trust me, I know.

I bet your cup is empty but stick with me very quickly I just need to thank a bunch of people.

My husband – gosh where would I be without your unconditional love and support? 

Lydia – my dearest friend you reached down from the top of the mountain and helped me up to join you. I am forever grateful to you for all you have done. You believed in me well before I believed in myself.

Roger Fitzhardinge – what can I say you are an incredible talent and I doubt anyone else would have taken the time on someone as ordinary as me. You gave me all that you had so I could be the best that I could.

Charlotte Pedersen -  we have travelled many roads together and I have learned so much from you, but its never enough I always want more.

Equestrian Life – wow what a road we have travelled in such a short time. Your encouragement is heartfelt I am humbled by the opportunity that you have given me.

Rosehip Vital Equine – our sponsor that I am so proud to be associated with. I have no doubt in my mind that Tiny is in such prime condition because of the orange magic that he enjoys in his feed. I am so very grateful for your support. Not an unsound day, not a swelling to be seen. Tiny is a glowing healthy horse with an inner vibrancy that just illuminates him. At 19 years of age who would have thought he would have his first Grand Prix start? A dressage Olympian commented that he moved very well for a horse of his age. 

Tiny oozing wellness with Rosehip Vital Equine

To all of my friends you are amazing you carry me willingly and unconditionally.

To you out there who read, like and share my words. Without your support this journey would have been much longer and lonelier. Every step counts and every step I carried you with me. I hope you enjoyed the ride.

So what’s next? A well-earned rest for us both is in order. Then its quiet time over winter chipping away at our work. 

More importantly what’s next for you? 

Love to you all and please find a way to support our Australian Olympians in their pursuit of being their dream.

Mim and Tiny

xx

#beyourowndreamcometrue

If you are interested in travel you can find me on Instagram as momentsbyMimC. We are travelling soon and I plan on writing about the amazing places that we are going. Perhaps you may wish to join us?

© Jess van der Vlist