Tuesday 26 July 2016



DIARY OF A DERRIERE

Putting Derrieres Through Training... #dareyourderrieres



We catch up with Alice Newling on the final days of training before her epic Mongol Derby experience and learn how those Derrieres are holding up...


So, we are into the final few days of training and kit testing. It is slowly dawning on me that perhaps I have done far from enough training but realistically…how can you train for this?!

With much excitement my Derrieres arrived in the post last week. They were put to the test immediately with a full kit try out and I am proud to announce my behind felt thoroughly comfortable! However, I decided that an hour long hack was perhaps not a comprehensive enough test seeing as we will be riding for up to 12 hours a day. They were duly swapped for my cycling shorts and I went on a 35 mile cycle –surely this would uncover any weaknesses? However, I (and my bottom) are even more pleased and pleasantly surprised to report that they stood up to the test. Phew! This is at least one piece of kit which I no longer have to worry about.

The rest of my time has been spent wracking my brains and looking at lists to see what I have got and more importantly have forgotten. We are limited to 5kg of kit which we are allowed to carry throughout the race which is actually not all that much when you factor in vital things such as sleeping bag, GPS and a fairly substantial first aid kit. I am also trying to find enough allowance to pack a Go-pro as it is such a once in a lifetime experience it would be crazy not to try and document it, no matter how low the lows might be.

Back to the packing and the next update may well be from a very nervous Derbyist in Ulaanbaatar!


Wednesday 13 July 2016

Derriere Equestrian Take Karin Trelsmo to meet Carl Hester MBE at his beautiful yard in Gloucestershire UK

Karin Trelsmo's Diary of Winning Derriere Equestrian Demo Day with

 Carl Hester MBE 

GB Olympic Team Member and Trainer Rio 2016



1st April 2016
Karin Trelsmo
"Hope I can win a Ticket to the dressage king Carl Hesters demo morning even if I'm is living in Sweden!!! It would be a dream come true!!!"

24th April 2016
"Dear Karin,
I write with AMAZING News! We have selected your entry as one of our 2 winners for the Carl Hester Demonstration Morning Competition Winners Congratulations.

We plan to announce the news in the morning via our social media channels and wanted to let you know early under complete discretion! So please keep this news private until we announce the winners tomorrow morning.

We will be giving Carl our winners names tomorrow and his team will let us know of the date for your Demonstration morning. So final details will follow in due course.

If your circumstances have changed in any way and you are unable to accept the prize, please do let us know prior to announcing the press news.

It will be an amazing day and we very much look forward to meeting with you, taking some fabulous pictures and being a part of something really very special.

Congratulations once again and look forward to hearing from you.

With my very best wishes
Claire Galer"

25th April 2016
"YIPPIE!!!!
I will plan a trip as soon as I know the date!
Thanks a lot! I'm so happy!!!
karin"


7th June 2016
"Dear Claire,
Counting days :-)
Still hardly believe this is true! I'm so happy.
See you soon!
Best regards Karin"

27th June 2016
"Back in the office smiling when thinking about the clinic and yard visit last week!

It truly was a fantastic day! 






Starting with the possibility to watch Carl riding on the outdoor arena - he sure makes it look easy! The clinic was great!!! Showing horses of different ages and abilities was the best way Carl could have chosen for showing his system! A system built on knowledge, respect and love to the horse! 

A system that brings the very best out of any horse! Amazing! I do love the strong backs every horse had developed, their harmony and trust to their riders, the responsiveness to the aids, the self carriage and proud-ness they showed!

I think most of us, present at the clinic, highest wish is to become a better rider and listening to Carl explaining and watching Charlotte, Amy and the lovely American Rider was very very inspiring! 

I'm glad to hear you did like the little "dalahäst" - a very old swedish breed :-)
The panties was perfect but the breeches was way to big! Did I get Carl's trousers? It was male size 28.... :-) 

OOPS We had a muddle on Breeches & now Karin has the correct size in female style on their way for the perfect Derriere fit & finish, not Carl's Breeches!!

I add some pictures for you to choose from, a serious one from a competition and some "happy riding"  from the yard my horse is stabled taken by a friend a month ago.



And once again - thanks a lot!
Karin"






Such a fantastic event, so much respect and adoration and learning achieved from both of our winners. An enormous THANK YOU to Carl for making this happen, for making such a difference to both these ladies lives and their riding futures.

Best wishesTeam Derriere Equestrian

www.derriereequestrian.com 

Monday 11 July 2016

Diary of a Derriere #dareyourderriere



As part of our #dareyourderriere campaign we will be testing the performance of our Derrieres in the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE- The Mongol Derby. Follow our Diary of a Derriere, written by Alice Newling to find out their progress...

Mongol Derby Beginnings
By Alice Newling


Nelson & Alice in their prime flying around Gatcombe Intermediate Championships in 2010. 





Last week, both looking a lot less athletic but they do have a backpack full of very heavy, useless items.



Unlike many others taking part, the Mongol Derby has not always been something that has been on my radar. I heard about it briefly a few years ago when flicking through Horse and Hound but never thought anything more. My crave for an adrenaline rush was more than fulfilled as I evented to Advanced Level  full time and rode out racehorses in the mornings – I didn’t feel the need for anything more! However, at 25 I left for University and suddenly life became rather tamer. Sure the lay-ins were a treat and University sports and drinking was fun, but it wasn’t exciting. One day, whilst enjoying the 5 months summer holidays, I came across an advert for the Mongol Derby on Facebook, thought it looked fun so entered never thinking I’d get chosen. Turns out probably not all that many people enter! After a quick phone interview I was in and suddenly it dawned on me quite what I had got myself in to.

The initial problem was breaking the news to my parents, they had accepted the eventing thing but I wasn’t sure quite how well this one would go down! I sneakily sent them an email from India, where I was at the time, updating them on our travels and added a link at the bottom saying I’d been accepted into this event in hope that they wouldn’t know how to open it. THEY DIDN’T‼! I also had some issues of funding the trip. I’d worked all summer and sometimes through term time but this wasn’t enough, thus student loan was to be heavily relied on. Naturally, this ran out fairly quickly hence most items I have acquired for the race have been form eBay –  all tried and tested which is quite a bonus in my mind.
In the meantime some form of training had to be started. I was at Uni in Kingston-Upon-Thames and so unless I wanted to spend £80 on an hours hack around Richmond Park, riding wasn’t going to be an option. The gym was joined and I started some weight and cardio training alongside playing hockey twice a week. I started off going to the gym around 3 times a week but this has fluctuated massively from September to July (sometimes 5 sometimes 0.) I have just finished my Third Year and so naturally the work load increased and due to my course being Primary Education, many months were spent in school which drastically reduced both time and energy – children are incredibly energy sapping! I also tried biking to increase my leg strength and mix up the regime as I found it all a little monotonous. This met an emotional end when my bike, my pride and joy for three years, got stolen. Thank god for insurance.

Whenever I have had the chance to travel back to Norfolk to ride I have. We have one horse left at home, Nelson. He was my old Advanced Eventer who should have been sold but was just way too dreamy and when anyone came to try him mum would make up a reason why they were not worthy of having them. Needless to say, he retired as a happy hacker at the grand old age of 12 with no recent injuries and very low leg mileage, he has loved every moment since. Apart from being quite hairy he has no other similarities to Mongol Horses. He stands about 4 Hands higher, is like an armchair to ride and you are in total control, but any riding is good riding right?!

I have two main fears for the Derby. The first being getting lost (I have yet to turn on my GPS and work out how to use it.) The second being aching and soreness. Pre 2013 I was what I would describe as ‘riding fit’, riding a minimum of 6/7 horses a day quite happily. This number has regressed HUGELY. I am well aware of what having a sore bum feels like have regularly forgotten to wear my cycling shorts when going for a bike ride. Would not recommend; it takes a while to recover. This prompted some home research into the possibility of a cycling short equivalent for riding and there seemed to only be one option, Derriere Equestrian. If they’re good enough for Carl Hester then they’re good enough for me! I am super excited to try them out and having spoken to a past Mongol Derby rider it seems comfort is key. In the meantime I will carry on loading my backpack up with the heaviest items I can find around the house (past items have included full bottles of water, paper weights and bike D-locks) and dragging Nelson out for some rides along with a bit of cycling and a lot of worrying. I look forward to reporting the improvements that a pair of Derrieres will make in my next blog!

Al x

P.S My parents eventually found out what the Mongol Derby was, their reactions were mixed.


Friday 1 July 2016

Derriere Equestrian Take Rachel Clarkson to Carl Hesters ~ Dressage Dreams

Dressage Dreams

On Tuesday 22nd of June, I sat at A at in an indoor arena in Gloucestershire watching Charlotte Dujardin riding young horses, trotting inches past my feet, whilst Carl Hester commentated and advised on their methods of training.  


I had been lucky enough to have won a trip to a demo courtesy of Claire Galer from Derriere Equestrian.  With thanks to Claire for the opportunity, and my supportive husband, Haydon, who took over childcare duties, they enabled me to “make it happen”.

Carl, Charlotte, Amy Woodhead and an American rider provided the 50 strong invited audience of dressage enthusiasts with a packed 2 and a half hour demo, taking us up through 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 year olds, from just backed and turned away to grand prix.  I drank in the beauty of these animals, and avidly watched the rider’s body, leg and arm positions to take to my own riding, whilst listening intently to Carl’s advice.  Carl and Charlotte’s dogs provided added entertainment and humour that only a pack of friendly dogs can provide.  

Alan Davies, Carl’s international groom, walked a black horse into the arena; the horse turned his head and I realised I was in the presence of the great Valegro with that beautiful concave head, white striped face and expressive eyes.


Later, Alan brought in Uthopia - a pleasure to see him still at Carl’s after the recent bankruptcy sale debacle. 

With the demo complete, Carl casually asked if anybody would be interested in a yard tour!  Errr, let me think...oh, go on then!  The chance to see Carl’s yard and meet his horses, seen many times on Horse and Country TV, was a real high point of the visit.




 I felt humbled to meet, stroke and have my hands nuzzled by Valegro; the horse that has achieved so much – European Champion, Olympic  Champion and World Champion to name but a few!   However, seeing him in his stable, his everyday environment, I was struck by the fact that he is a horse, just like any other horse. Indeed, stroking him made me think that I could be stroking my beloved Dudley, but his kind training, ability and prowess in the arena, the dressage stage, enable him to grow in stature that in turn grows his reputation.  He has become an icon and I was awestruck. 
I also met Nip Tuck, towering over us all in his 18 hands.  Being affectionate, he had a nibble at my sleeve.


These two horses have to go to Rio with Charlotte and Carl respectively on board.  I eagerly wait to hear who has been selected.   

Meeting Carl again, to whom I’d introduced myself to the previous week at Bolesworth, I was delighted that he remembered me and we talked about the mud, how friendly everyone there was, and what a great time we’d had.  Carl presented me with my fabulous goodies from the generous Derriere Equestrian and photos were taken.  Much has been said about Carl’s genuine personality and I can only agree.  He is a fabulous teacher, both of horses and people.



Many thanks to Claire Galer, Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin and all of Carl’s team – I had a wonderful time!  Dressage has taken me to places that I dream of.  Now I dream of more…
On my return home, I tried my new Derriere pants, and was so impressed by their comfort that I won’t be riding without them ever again! 

Rachel Clarkson   27.06.16