All roads lead to Hartpury!
Preparation for HOYS was well and truly in overdrive when I received the call to ask the branch to
choreograph a dressage to music ride at the BD Winter Championships at Hartpury in April 2010. Last
year 8 fabulous members had performed a most spectacular Me and My Shadow display and the
organisers wanted more. WOW! With the build up to HOYS, the ride was put on hold however Gail and I
began looking for potential CHNPC Super Troupers to make up the ride. This year the ride was to be
based on the music from the film Mamma Mia and after seeing the ride at HOYS, compulsory elements
were requested by the Hartpury organisers, which included canter cross overs, (yikes!)
Fast forward a few months and the initial selection trial was underway. The riders had been selected
from the branch dressage competitions along with their suitability for the ride. It is a very specialist ride
and the success of the partnerships was crucial. The super troupers selected were Rob Gilsenan,
Lucinda Bellis, Sarah Gilsenan, April Jones, Imogen Sherry, Hilary Secker, Victoria Jones, Georgina
Blackshaw and reserves Xanthe Goldsack and Georgia Drummond. The 8 riders soon gelled and we
were away....... or so we thought!
Over Christmas and New Year, we had several practices cancelled and we couldn’t seem to get going.
The music had been selected; Liz and Gail had the costumes sorted however with the country under a
blanket of snow we had fallen victims of the current ice age! The thaw was soon here, practices
resumed then once again the snow fell! Follow this with February half term, (more practices missed)
and quietly I was beginning to panic! Oh, we surely must be over the worst now! As we all know,
horses are great levellers and the problems just seemed to escalate!
The ride was choreographed and we were back on track. Jonjo Secker once again performed his magic
with the sound track and we were all soon tapping our toes to the infectious Abba tunes. Debbie Jones
came to tweak the ride for the final few practices and all was going swimmingly, until one week to go our
lead horse went lame. Gulp! We all tried to think of suitable equine replacements and in stepped
Georgia with the offer of her horse Lady. Georgia had saved the ride! It was such an unselfish gesture
as this meant that Georgia had to step down from the inter branch show jumping at Somerford.
The dress rehearsal went to plan and was well received by our harshest critics of all – the branch
members and their parents! It gave the riders a huge boost to hear their verdict and the costumes and
all the finery looked amazing! At last we became excited and all were looking forward to Hartpury.
Easter came and went and we were soon on the way. As the map the organisers sent said, “all roads
lead to Hartpury”.
After an eventful journey for some, (Rob’s new wagon had a “hiccup” on the slip road to the motorway 2
miles from the yard!), we all arrived and set up camp. Unfortunately Xanthe was too poorly to join us,
(get well soon Xanthe). In true PC style, we had everything and everybody organised and were soon
cocooned in our own little bit of Hartpury Heaven!
The first practice was very exciting. It was very long and the lights were very bright but the horses,
ponies and riders were all true professionals. Then the smoke machine came out and fun and frolics
began! The rugs looked amazing under the lights and despite the tiredness, we were all very excited.
With the horses and ponies away, the riders and entourage disbanded to the café and watched the rest
of the rehearsals before going off to bed, tired and a little nervous!
We were all up early the next morning as Lucinda had qualified Angus for the actual winter
championships. Lucinda was transformed from a pony clubber to a refined dressage rider, with beagler
and pearl earrings, looking every bit the polished professional! We sank in our seats in the main arena
and got ready to share with Lucinda the championship experience. IT WAS BREATH TAKING. Angus
grew several hands when he entered the arena, he floated across the diagonal, extended down the long
side and there wasn’t a sound to be heard, (we were all holding our breath!). Gosh, how did she
remember a test like that? We were all a little bit in awe of their performance and we all realised we had
witnessed something very special. We were not wrong as they came 5 th! Once again we were back in
the main arena watching the final prize giving where the top 6 paraded, (well, just show off in the arena
why they are there! The extended trots were fabulous). We got back to the stables, Angus, grinning
from ear to ear, was tucked up for a rest and the champagne came out! Well done to them both.
Back to pony club and the final practice with Debbie was soon here. The sun was beating down and the
indoor arena was airless! Putting the finishing touches to the ride and tweaking here and there Debbie
kept them all going until she was satisfied. Suddenly she grinned from ear to ear and a “that will do”
were the magic words. She was pleased and full of praise for them all. The nerves were beginning to
kick in and Debbie reassured them all. Top tips were issued and then they were all off to prepare for the
evening performance.
With the riders transformed into seventies disco divas and the horses and ponies glittering under their
stars, (thank you Loulie and Anna), and shiny rugs, they were finally on and making their way up to the
gala evening. In a blink of an eye, they were all in place and the introduction began. With gusto they
swung into the arena and gave a polished performance. A few little blips followed, (well, a scattering of
horses and ponies across the arena when the crowd began to clap at a crucial moment), but they all
worked well together getting the ride back on track and looking the shining stars they are. They left the
arena with applause ringing in their ears. Horses and ponies put to bed for the night, costumes and wigs
back in the boxes, we all went back to watch the rest of the gala evening. Off to bed we all went,
dreaming of Abba!
The next morning the sun rose and a perfect day followed. Morning exercise saw a sea of red hack
through the campus, with people joining them along the way to say how they had enjoyed the display the
evening before. It gave them all a great confidence boost and morale was high. The rest of the day was
such a leisurely one; makeshift cricket in the field, plenty of ice cream consumed, a sweep stake for the
Grand National and then crowding into Anna’s wagon to watch Steph’s chosen horse romp home! It
was just perfect and as if we were on holiday!
The gala evening got underway and our super troupers were transformed for the final time. Hoof oil on,
glitter in place, wigs brushed and the scene was set. The ride made their way up to the main arena and
once again everybody stopped to look. What a sight they were. Fabulous!
All too soon the introduction began, the smoke machine went into overdrive and our super troupers were
trotting in. Mamma Mia! The ride was amazing. It sent shivers down my spine and Gail, Liz and I
watched on with great pride and in total awe of the talent before our eyes. Wow. What a ride! It was so
well received and the crowd went wild at the end. The applause once again ringing in their ears they left
the arena for the final time, (at high speed!).
With horses and ponies tucked up in their stables for the night, the riders and parents were invited to
meet the organisers. Kelvin wanted to thank them all personally and present them with their rosettes. He
thanked them profusely and said he had never worked with such professional young people. He was full
of admiration and how nice it was to be appreciated. All their hard work had not gone unnoticed.
All too soon, the dream was over. Months of hard work had been worth it and the memories will last for
ever. A huge thank you must go to everybody for making the ride a success. Thanks to the committee,
(especially Liz, Gail, Anna, Pennie & Loulie), the riders, to the parents, the sponsors, (thanks Nelsons
and Lisa Jones), everybody who supported the dressage fundraiser at the Grange, Georgia for the loan
of Lady and finally to the organisers for inviting us.
WELL DONE TO ALL! THE SUPER TROUPERS WERE TRULY AMAZING!