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'Superb day' as Olympic medal winner trains Sutherland riders


By Ali Morrison

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Sutherland Riding Club was privileged to host a training day with Olympian equestrian eventer Karen Dixon.

Representing Team GB, she won a silver medal in team eventing at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, also competing at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

She won world team silver in 1990 and world team gold in 1994. In addition she has taken two individual bronze medals at the Europeans in 1991 and at the Worlds in 1994.

Horse eventing comprises of three disciplines – dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Equestrianism is one of the few Olympic sports where men and women compete against one another.

The day commenced with flatwork training, which assists the horse to maximise his athletic potential and use his body positively, while becoming more relaxed and supple. Young junior and adult riders enthusiastically undertook the exercises in walk, trot and canter.

After a socially distanced lunch, riders changed their standard riding hats for skull caps without peaks, added their body protectors and prepared their horses for the cross-country training, with the addition of breastplates to prevent the saddle slipping and horse boots to protect against injury.

Forward riding with a brave horse at a faster, but controlled pace, over natural obstacles like logs, water hazards, banks, hills, and fences, was great preparation for the British Riding Clubs Scottish Championships next month.

Generously hosted by Diane Mackay at Doll Riding Centre, it was a superb day with beaming smiles all round from participants and spectators, with an exceptional opportunity for action photographs,

Members were extremely grateful to Karen for making the journey from Northern Ireland, to provide this excellent opportunity for Highland riders, who perhaps themselves might become Olympians.


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