Presented in a week-by-week format, this book follows Mary Thomson and three of her horses - King Basil, King Kong and King William, with whom she won the 1992 Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials - through an Olympic year. The story begins in January when the horses are brought in from the field and put into early fitness training for the introductory events in late March, continues with the major international three-day events such as Badminton and Windsor, and culminates with the Barcelona Olympics. The different degrees of fitness, schooling and feeding required for each level of competition are described in detail, and readers can identify aspects of their own horses' behaviour with one of Mary's team. Most of her training takes place in the beautiful Devon countryside around her home, and the book includes a behind-the-scenes look at Mary's yard and work at home with the horses, as well as the "extra-curricular" activities of a top equestrian personality.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Newton Abbot
Großbritannien
Maße
Höhe: 279 mm
Breite: 216 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7153-0065-7 (9780715300657)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Introduction: Mary and her horses - King William, King Kong, King Basil. Part 1 January: basic management; clipping, shoeing, early feeding and exercise; dressage training with Ferdi Eilberg; indoor showjumping at Woodspring. Part 2 February: schooling on the flat; fast work; feeding for performance; training with Ferdi Eilberg, Stephen Hadley and Captain Mark Phillips; warm-up competitions - indoor dressage, showjumping. Part 3 March: introducing the novice horses to BHS eventing; competing at Stileman's Stud; Peper Harrow; Aldon; Ston Easton; pre-Olympic training course at Stoneleigh with William; Badminton Horse Feeds Dressage Championships. Part 4 April: competing at Hilmarton; Ferney Hall; Portman; Milton Keynes; Goring Heath; Bicton; King's Somborne; Belton; Brigstock; further schooling at home and final preparations for Badminton; invitation FEI dressage competition. Part 5 May: success with William at Badminton and Windsor, plus a look at the Olympic team selection process. Part 6 June: Bramham three-day event with Star Appeal. Part 7 July: Olympic team training and William's preparation for the Olympics. Part 8 the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Part 9 September: Blenheim and Osterton three-day events. Part 10 October: Boekelo and Lion d'Angers three-day events; roughing off the horses. Part 11 November and December: winter management at home. Conclusion: thoughts and recollections, aims and ambitions.
