Sophie Wells’ dressage blog: focusing 100% on the horses!
So the new year is well under way and, dare I say it, but it feels a bit spring like at times. I’m really hoping that the worst of the weather is behind us and it’s now time to concentrate 100% on the horses.
We have recently had our first squad training of the season, which went really well. I took Reece (Valerius) and Noki (Pinoccio) as Jorge (Forever Himself) came out a little footy after the farrier, and due to the weather I wanted to make use of the amazing facilities at the Unicorn Trust to ride Noki (pictured, the view through his ears at training).
Squad training is a fantastic opportunity to have a complete MOT for both horse and rider. All aspects of the horse’s health and well being are checked over by the Team GB supporting teams, physio, vets, saddles etc. Both horses were checked over by the equine sports science team, and both had to have their saddles altered due to the changes in their bodies.
I had some good training sessions with Angela, and I got to see our sports science team. I’m heavily back at the gym now, so our new physio, Lucy Bell, had some work to do on me as well.
Our stable mate Emma Sheardown took her new horse Wolfie. This was his first trip out and he was a complete star, but found the whole experience exhausting!
New sponsorship
Some exciting news this year came in the shape of my new sponsorship agreement with Toggi. It’s great to be working with a great British brand. With such a massive range of good quality, stylish clothing, I can honestly say my wardrobe has never looked so good! Thank you Toggi.
You may have also seen in the news that my trainer Angela Weiss and myself are planning to develop our base Papplewick into a RDA centre. There is nothing like this in Nottingham and desperately needed. At the moment we are ploughing through the mountain of paperwork, planning and organising, but it’s very exciting and we can’t wait to get started. Watch this space!
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Soph
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Sophie Wells is a talented young dressage rider who has represented her country in both able-bodied and paralympic championships, winning team gold and two individual Grade IV silver medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.