Pre- Order
The Balanced Horse - The Aids By Feel Not Force
Sylvia's new book
The Balanced Horse - The Aids By Feel Not Force will be published by Kenilworth Press in May 2013. You can pre-order your Signed copy through CRC by sending a cheque for the Special Offer rate of £22.50 inc. p&p (Overseas will incur an extra charge for postage) to Eden Hall, Kelso, Roxburghshire, TD5 7QD. Please make cheques payable to Sylvia Loch. Remember to include your name and address with the cheque. This has also been added to our
Merchandise section and can be pre-ordered using Paypal. Special Launch Day - see activities 2013 below and book your tickets before they go.
Classical Principles for the Modern Rider
Mini-Book on Kindle
We are thrilled to announce that we have produced our first mini-book on Kindle entitled Classical Principles for the Modern Rider. This is available through Amazon and although only in English, it can be purchased worldwide.
Calling all Members
Letters and Contributions
CRC has started a Letters Page so that Members may send in contributions on any equestrian related subject in the same way that you would submit a Letter to the various horse magazines. These will be read, edited (where necessary) and selected by Sylvia but obviously the Editor's decision is final. We very much look forward to receiving your news and views. This page can be found on the Members Noticeboard.
We have added a lovely article from CRC Member Lisa Scaglione to our Members Library. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
CRC is looking forward to its 28th Anniversary this year. To celebrate this event, we feel it is time to return to its history by highlighting one of our past popular Newsletters each month for the forseeable future. We shall shortly kick off with Newsletter 17 and hope this will motivate old Members to revisit these pages, as well as motivating new members to look for the very first time. In April, you can look forward to Newsletter 18 and so on. As you will see from the many, varied articles within these pages, our ethos and motto remains the same as ever:'HARMONY IN HORSEMANSHIP' - as it was then, so it is today. Please select the Libraries Menu above and you will find the article in the "Newsletter" Library.
Sylvia has asked me to apologise in advance for any message or letter sent which does not receive immediate attention. She is having a complicated operation on her left foot (similar to the one she had 6 years ago on her right foot) on Thursday 28th February, which will make it very difficult for a few weeks to get to her office. Urgent messages can be sent to CRC and we will try our best to deal with them.
Activities for 2013
Please remember our Diary Dates page for all your equestrian events, not only in the UK but overseas too, if you would like to add your event to it please email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Our Membership is International and you would be surprised how many people look on the CRC site to find out what is on in their area.
Your Horse Live
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November - saw Sylvia, CRC and the Classical Seat Video Company displaying their work at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
Your Horse had invited Sylvia to be a Panellist alongside Carl Hester, Ben Maher and Natasha Baker for Celebrity Questions & Answers and each rider/trainer were given questions to answeron their own particular discipline. Sylvia was asked to explain why rollkur had become fashionable and why she was so against it for dressage - both in training and competition. She was also called upon to explain why the Iberian breeds were less popular at FEI level competition and what could be done to improve the situation. As you can imagine, she much enjoyed answering both questions and later many people came to her Stand near Arena 2 to sign books and DVDs, find out more about CRC and ask advice.
Over the weekend, she gave three separate Demos in Arena 2, using Indiano a 16.2 h.h. PRE stallion belonging to Susie Jennings. The demos showed the progressive training of the horse from elementary level (Indiano is currently competing successfuly at BD Elementary and training at Medium) towards the higher level work. Assessing the work first with Susie in the saddle, Sylvia then rode him on all three occasions to introduce him to the first steps for the more advanced movements. The benefit of this was clear to all as it gave Indiano the feel for the next stage up, including work in canter halfpass towards canter pirouette and the first steps of piaffe from rein back to improve cadence and diagonalisation. All in all, it was a very well attended 2 days and a big Welcome to those who have since joined The Classical Riding Club. Thanks must go to Susie Jennings and Indiano for turning themselves out so immaculately and being prepared to ride in front of a large audience.
Many thanks to the whole team, comprising Members Alan O'Neill, Jennie Corfield and Joy Warr who gave so much support.
Letter to Horse and Hound
Sylvia's letter to The Horse and Hound was published this week. Here is a copy of the letter: -
Sir,
How refreshing to hear a top competition trainer write of the need to address the rider's seat to correct the horse's way of going (H&H 25 October). Pammy Hutton is so right when she states... 'to have good posture in the saddle is a lifetime's work'. I have been accused in the past of obsessing about the rider's seat, yet 99 times out of a 100, a so-called fault or crookedness in the horse will be caused by the rider. As a teacher as well as a writer, I know only too well that it takes a good eye and patience to spot and put right an inconsistency but this is one of the great joys and challenges of the discipline... to help!
A faulty seat leads to pulling, but if judges were encouraged to reward horses that are 'soft and round' as promoted by Pammy, instead of those clearly forced to submit, we would see a huge improvement all round. Perhaps this aspect could be better addressed at judge training?
Sylvia Loch
Olympic Article
A copy of the CRC pages from the latest issue of the Tracking - Up Magazine which includes an interesting article regarding the Olympics can now be viewed in the Members Library.
Facebook
Since the Olympics there has been a great deal of discussion and dialogue as resgards the various training methods currently in fashion which may be of interest to people who have not yet ventured onto this dedicated site. Sylvia does her best to interact with her own ideas and ethos as much as she can and there are some very informative comments which come in from all over the world. Click on the icon to go directly to the page.
Letter Published in Horse and Hound, 16th August 2012
Art Returns To Dressage
In the aftermath of the Olympics, Sylvia felt it was very important to highlight the empathetic riding of Team GBR in the face of some questionable judging of those few riders whose horses were clearly obedient but less relaxed and often moving with stiff joints and signs of tension. This was her polite contribution on the subject to Horse and Hound which so many of you were pleased to see published (please see our Facebook site)
Sir, There has been much controversy in the past decade about training methods amongst top competition horses. Many have rued the fact that dressage has verged more towards athletics, the high scorers rewarded for what is essentially a mechanical performance rather than a graceful dance. Thanks to the efforts of Team GB and particularly the artistry and talent of Carl Hester who mentored the individual gold medal winner so successfully, we saw a real sea change in the arena at Greenwich.
The FEI must be congratulated for putting certain checks and balances in place, but life will be even better for the dressage horse when warm-up arenas are open to the public - or at least televised - and more judges have the courage to mark down horses showing signs of stress.
For that reason - there were 3 clear winners in the Individual Dressage on Thursday and all were British. Thank you Carl for putting the Art back into Dressage.
Sylvia Loch
KELSO,
Roxburghshire
Lusitano Breed Society
Sylvia would like to thank the Committee of The Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain for their very generous gesture in electing her to the position of Honorary President of the Society in recognition of her long service to the Lusitano Horse and particullarly its recognition and establishment in this country. She was much touched by the kind words of Roderick Newton, Present Chairman and also all the support of former Chairperson, Julia Valentine.
Horse & Rider Articles
Short of reading matter? All Sylvia's Horse and Rider Columns have now been added to the Members Libraries and address a number of issues and subjects. They date back roughly to the 1990s and we hope they will be of interest.
Membership News
Please forgive a lapse of news while I have been struggling to complete my latest book - due out next Spring.
Like so many of you, finances have been at an all time low and this has prevented us doing as much as we would have liked. Nevertheless, we are still totally committed to the continued work of the Classical Riding Club and especially to getting our message of Harmony in Horsemanship out to as many people as possible.
To this end, some major changes are being made to the website, the Membership and networking generally. As a token of goodwill, we have decided to reduce the cost of the normal Annual Membership to just £15.00 for the coming year (July to July) in the hope that you will continue to help us promote the classical ideals at a time when I believe horses and their riders need this most.
Remember without you, it is impossible for the Club to act with real authority. With renewed thanks for all the support you have given us.
New Books On The Horizon
CRC Members will be thrilled to learn of Gerd Heuschmann's book "Balancing Act" - due out from well known publishers JA Allen in a month's time. This book is all about sport horses and "how to prevent the use of forceful and cruel techniques in training".
Sylvia's latest book " The Balanced Horse - The Aids by Feel and not by Force" is due out with Kennilworth Press in April 2013.
Diamond Jubilee
CRC would like to congratulate everyone involved at Buckingham Palace and The Household Cavalry for the magnificent turn out of horses and carriages for last Tuesday's coach procession down the Mall. The horses were stunningly turned out, the uniforms immaculate and the atmosphere not only electric but passionate and touching too. The Queen and her Horses must hold a very special place in everyone's heart. If you didn't see the programme on the Queen's Horses on the BBC, it might be worth watching.
BHS Festival Of The Horse - A Big Thank You
Sylvia and CRC were more than delighted at the very large turn-out for our Dressage in Lightness Demonstration at Ladykirk. We would first like to thank Lucy Simpson and her family and helpers for letting us share this prestigious setting, and also to all our Members, Friends and the General Public who came and supported us. A big vote of thanks must go to all the riders, some of whom brought their horses from some distance away. So thank you Alison Ainsley and Haneef (see the CRC Facebook site), Amanda Brumwell and Porridge, Denise Playfair and Freckles and Lucy Simpson and Binqh from Dalriada Sport Horses. I enjoyed riding all the horses and then giving the riders some tips and ideas to try for their future riding. I also have to thank the horses themselves for being so compliant and almost immediately understanding the classical principles. As usual, Prazer was delighted to be there and despite coming straight off the lorry (thanks Jas and Duncan) he did not let me down. One is always humbled by the horses but it was a great evening and we were pleased to welcome the Borders Branch of the BHS and Helene Mauchlen for all she does in the Area. Also many thanks to Lisa Scaglione for her commentary, Donna Lowther Etherington and Lesley Skipper for photography and Judith Stokoe for her very unintrusive (and requested) video recording. We hope at some stage to have a DVD for Members to purchase on-line re. this event.
Facebook and Rollkur
A number of our Members have been writing direct to the FEI concerning the continued practice of Rollkur in competition warm-up arenas. Jennie Corfield has been spearheading an idea for a silent protest at big events and is putting together a Website in the hope that people will be able to express their feelings against any horse that competes in a very overbent outline. Please keep an eye on
Facebook to follow this iniative by the great silent majority
Online Mini - Lesson
Sylvia has been asked by many Members for a critique of their work so we have a found a solution to this where she can give roughly 2-3 paragraphs of advice. If you would like to purchase a mini-lesson from the Merchandise section of this website, and it has been confirmed, please post to the
Facebook Page a Maximum 5 minute Video Clip of yourself riding a particular movement or sequence over which you need help. Sylvia will then study this and give you her advice. Alternatively, she can give you an all-round appraisal of your general position or other matters such as use of hands, suitability of tack etc, etc. Remember this is just a mini-lesson but it may help point you in the right direction if you are unable to consult your own teacher or trainer.
