PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS
Victoria initially began her Dressage Training Demonstrations as she was concerned with the lack of riders entering and progressing through the grades in dressage. She aimed to promote this discipline by dispelling the myth that dressage is boring. Many riders have not had exposure to world-class horses performing high level movements, which are always breathtaking and inspiring to watch. In addition her love of horses is contagious and her clarity in explaining her training system helps riders understand and enjoy their horses. It gives them a clear insight into the how’s, why’s and when’s of various aspects of dressage and in fact, training horses for any discipline.
The Dressage Training Demonstration lasts approximately one and a half hours and involves two or more of Victoria’s team horses. Designed to spark interest and provide a level of entertainment, it can be tailored to suit the level of the audience, with time for questions at the end. It begins with a young horse showing basic movements, which will be easily identified by all riders. Often in hand work is demonstrated to show the progression from un-mounted work to under saddle. This is followed by horses doing more difficult exercises as they demonstrate their training towards Grand Prix.
It is necessary to have a good working surface for the performances horses and if an overnight stay is required the stables or yards must be safe and suitable for large horses. Depending on the venue and the expected number of spectators a lapel microphone and sounds system may also be necessary. Incorporating a lecture or lessons afterwards or for the following day may also be possible, depending on the location and availability of facilities.
Some clubs have used these demonstrations at their end of year wind-ups, held them in conjunction with clinics or lectures, or organised special days to increase the awareness in their local community of equestrian sports by inviting local VIP’s, council members, the press and current or potential club sponsors. This can create an entertaining day, afternoon or evening for these guests, especially if combined with a meal, or wine and cheese, which bring long term benefit to the club.
The Dressage Training Demonstration lasts approximately one and a half hours and involves two or more of Victoria’s team horses. Designed to spark interest and provide a level of entertainment, it can be tailored to suit the level of the audience, with time for questions at the end. It begins with a young horse showing basic movements, which will be easily identified by all riders. Often in hand work is demonstrated to show the progression from un-mounted work to under saddle. This is followed by horses doing more difficult exercises as they demonstrate their training towards Grand Prix.
It is necessary to have a good working surface for the performances horses and if an overnight stay is required the stables or yards must be safe and suitable for large horses. Depending on the venue and the expected number of spectators a lapel microphone and sounds system may also be necessary. Incorporating a lecture or lessons afterwards or for the following day may also be possible, depending on the location and availability of facilities.
Some clubs have used these demonstrations at their end of year wind-ups, held them in conjunction with clinics or lectures, or organised special days to increase the awareness in their local community of equestrian sports by inviting local VIP’s, council members, the press and current or potential club sponsors. This can create an entertaining day, afternoon or evening for these guests, especially if combined with a meal, or wine and cheese, which bring long term benefit to the club.
DEMONSTRATIONS AT MUNGO BRAE
Level Specific and Core and Coordination Clinics are often held at Victoria's property, Mungo Brae Equestrian Centre. Level Specific demos are open to the public, with Core and Coordination usual held in conjunction with other clinics or workshops.
LEVEL SPECIFIC DEMONSTRATIONS
Level Specific Demonstrations are shorter in length and are ideal to combine with lessons or a clinic. Victoria discusses the general goals of a particular dressage level, be it Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced or FEI, and then explains each required movement in great detail. Using her horses she shows how to introduce these movements, what to watch out for in training, which muscles are taxed by different movements, how to tell if your horse is ready and how to tell if you are on the right path. To conclude, Victoria gives great tips and demonstrates test riding.
CORE AND COORDINATION
Learn How to Develop Your Horse's Core and Coordination is fantastic for owners of all horses. Using both in-hand and under saddle exercises Victoria explains how important it is and how horses of all ages and levels can benefit immensely from this training. In fact, Victoria starts these exercises with her own horses before they are started under saddle and continues them religiously right through to Grand Prix. Each horse has an individual program tailored to them according to their age and level of training, with different exercises suitable for different horses.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Victoria is an enthusiastic presenter who develops a great rapport with her audience. She actively involves people and encourages them to participate in discussions as well as to ask questions. Being a veterinarian and an international dressage competitor who has trained all her horses herself, Victoria has a wealth of knowledge in many areas. Her experience in horse management, training and competing, enables her to use first hand experiences and interesting snippets to make it easy for people to remember salient points. Some examples of lectures that may be suitable for your club are:
Preparing for competitions and goal setting
Are you doing everything possible to prepare for every competition?
Do you have set goals for each horse for each season?
Do you reassess these goals mid-year?
Do you set goals for training as well as for competition?
In Victoria’s experience many people are not fulfilling their true potential due to lack of correct preparation and planning for competitions. For some competitions planning may take many months or even years.
In this fascinating lecture Victoria gives many tips that have helped her to international competition success and to always be happy with her and her horses’ progress.
Do you have set goals for each horse for each season?
Do you reassess these goals mid-year?
Do you set goals for training as well as for competition?
In Victoria’s experience many people are not fulfilling their true potential due to lack of correct preparation and planning for competitions. For some competitions planning may take many months or even years.
In this fascinating lecture Victoria gives many tips that have helped her to international competition success and to always be happy with her and her horses’ progress.
Managing the older competition horse
When should a horse be classed as an older horse?
What happens with age?
What body systems are affected that may impact a horse’s competition career?
How can training schedules be altered to help horses stay at their best or to remain in competition for as long as possible?
When to retire a horse, change its career or reduce its work load?
What is available to help older horses continue to perform?
Victoria’s experience not only as a veterinarian but as a competitor makes her a valuable source of information in this area and it is amazing how much small changes in these areas can help our beloved horses.
What happens with age?
What body systems are affected that may impact a horse’s competition career?
How can training schedules be altered to help horses stay at their best or to remain in competition for as long as possible?
When to retire a horse, change its career or reduce its work load?
What is available to help older horses continue to perform?
Victoria’s experience not only as a veterinarian but as a competitor makes her a valuable source of information in this area and it is amazing how much small changes in these areas can help our beloved horses.
Traveling HOrses
This talk is ideal for all country riders who need to travel their horses more than 5 hours to compete and essential for any rider planning on travelling their horse interstate.
This is a great lecture for rural and regional clubs.
As a veterinarian and someone who has travelled her horses all across Australia, Victoria has vast experience and in-depth knowledge to share.
This is a great lecture for rural and regional clubs.
As a veterinarian and someone who has travelled her horses all across Australia, Victoria has vast experience and in-depth knowledge to share.
Myofascial disease
Myofascial Disease is the hidden reason behind many poor performance scenarios. This lecture will help give you unique insight into this chronic and painful condition.
Training the young horse
This lecture is suitable for people of all disciplines and explains the importance of correctly developing the horse’s muscular strength and coordination. It also highlights the problems that may occur if one tries to shortcut this important developmental stage.
Find out why some horses progress quicker than others, how to know something is not right in training and what to do about it.
Victoria has a great reputation of training horses to reach their full potential without taxing their bodies in a way that will reduce their competition career. Asaachen is probably her best example who at 18 years of age was still winning at Grand Prix. He was owned by Victoria since a yearling and has performed throughout Australia winning many National and State Championships as well as the Australian Final of the World Dressage Challenge in 2000.
Find out why some horses progress quicker than others, how to know something is not right in training and what to do about it.
Victoria has a great reputation of training horses to reach their full potential without taxing their bodies in a way that will reduce their competition career. Asaachen is probably her best example who at 18 years of age was still winning at Grand Prix. He was owned by Victoria since a yearling and has performed throughout Australia winning many National and State Championships as well as the Australian Final of the World Dressage Challenge in 2000.
Feeding the performance horse and the Nutritional Management of Certain Diseases
Are you addressing all of your horse’s nutritional needs as well as minimising possible behavioural patterns developing due to boredom?
Confused about what to feed your ulcer-prone horse or a horse diagnosed with EMS?
Does your horse need help in any particular area such as joints, temperament, muscle health or hormone stabilization?
How can nutrition be tailored to ensure horses recover quicker from strenuous workouts? Being a veterinarian with a special interest in this area, Victoria is an enthusiastic and informative lecturer on this topic. This talk can be tailored for riders of all ages and levels and is suitable for Pony Club riders learning for their certificates to elite riders of all disciplines preparing for major competitions.
Confused about what to feed your ulcer-prone horse or a horse diagnosed with EMS?
Does your horse need help in any particular area such as joints, temperament, muscle health or hormone stabilization?
How can nutrition be tailored to ensure horses recover quicker from strenuous workouts? Being a veterinarian with a special interest in this area, Victoria is an enthusiastic and informative lecturer on this topic. This talk can be tailored for riders of all ages and levels and is suitable for Pony Club riders learning for their certificates to elite riders of all disciplines preparing for major competitions.
What comes firsT: Horse or rider crookedness?
A very thought provoking discussion about rider and horse crookedness and how they relate in all aspects of horse training. This lecture helps riders become more aware of the effect moving one part of their body has on other parts, and creates a lot of laughs.
The discussion can also cover whether horse crookedness comes from unsoundness or is it the underlying cause, and how we as riders have a responsibility to ensure our horses travel as correctly as possible.
The discussion can also cover whether horse crookedness comes from unsoundness or is it the underlying cause, and how we as riders have a responsibility to ensure our horses travel as correctly as possible.
Any of these lectures may be held in conjunction with a Dressage Demonstration or a clinic or can be held on a different day. Some clubs choose to hold lecture nights, free for their own members and then charge for outside people.