Brought to book (From Worcester News)

Brought to book

8:47am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

WORCESTERSHIRE followers of the new equestrian skill Horse Agility will be pleased to hear a new book on the subject is to be released later this month.

The Horse Agility Handbook starts right at the beginning, explaining what makes a horse the animal that he is, why he behaves differently from humans, and how to get his attention before starting training over agility obstacles.

Respecting him for being a horse but keeping safety in mind at all times, the attitude of the handler and how to change the attitude of the horse is all discussed, as is being patient and giving the horse time to learn.

Enthusiasts of the sport have been attending clinics at Bromsgrove-based horsemanship academy Kingdom Horse since the sport was introduced to the county last year by Vanessa Bee, founder of the International Horse Agility Clubs.

Nick and Hilary Rands, who own Kingdom Horse at Lower Bentley, teach international students from all over the world and run horse agility training clinics alongside their horsemanship clinics with expert Victoria Johnson. They hold regular training days and mini competitions in horse agility.

Vanessa is hoping that horse lovers from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will become volunteers and trainers who will organise events and competitions to promote the sport.

Which is great for people who cant or don’t want to ride, as well as for horses that are unable to be ridden for behavioural or physical reasons.

“This includes ponies that are too small to be ridden,” said Vanessa, whose regular TV appearances have made her a well-known face in the equine industry.

“Horse agility offers riding and non-riding horse lovers a completely new way of being involved in a competitive equestrian sport that is active and exciting and that has never been available to them before.”

Vanessa developed a style of teaching that she calls positive horsemanship after years of studying and working with some of the greatest horsemen of the age, including ‘horse whisperer’ Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks.

Vanessa soon discovered there are as many ways of teaching horsemanship as there are horse handlers and decided that one programme didn’t suit everyone.

After teaching her unique style, she created the Horse Agility Club, thinking it would be a bit of fun for her students and their families – but it has grown internationally, with events now taking place all over the world.

With a focus on the development of your horse in the new and exciting sport of horse agility, Vanessa not only covers the training of the horse, but the ins and outs of the sport itself.

Safe construction of obstacles and negotiation of the obstacles is explained in detail, as is how to use imagination to develop the scope of even the simplest obstacle or agility course.

The horse agility competitive levels are outlined and Vanessa explains how to organise a competition and training “play”

days.

A troubleshooting section serves as a reference for those moments when it just doesn’t seem to be working. Case studies of real life situations are placed throughout the text. The book, published by Trafalgar Press for £15.96, can be ordered through the Horse Agility Club, The Stables, Halwill Junction, Devon, EX21 5XD.