Trilby Bowden
Trilby qualified as a BHSAI 28 years ago
(ouch!) While having been brought up on the Isle of Skye with eight
horses of different shapes, sizes and abilities. Six of whom were
broken in by Trilby before going to do her AI training at the age of
sixteen at Busby Equestrian Centre, Glasgow with Mr Stewart Christie.
Concentrating initially on show jumping then moving to eventing about
twenty years ago.
Now with top class facilities available, children more or less
independent (are they ever?!?!) Trilby has time and commitment to offer
to others, with a view too helping them achieve their ambitions and
dreams.
While still actively eventing Trilby has hands-on
knowledge of up-to-date changes within the sphere of British eventing.
For example, the increased technicality of all three disciplines within
the sport. This means that horses and riders have to realize a much
greater all round education to be able to cope with these changes.
For further information on fees for lessons,
please click here.
23rd March 2009
We now have some
dates for clinics to be held at Chyverton Park with kind permission
from Mandy and Nick Holman.
Starting on Sat 28th March. In April we are looking at possibly the
1st, 8th,15th,22nd,25th,29th. In May the 6th is available.
These dates will all be subject to numbers and we will concentrate on
whatever phase is the popular choice at the time.. the cross-country
course is open at the moment as the weather has been kind.
Tel nos. for booking are 0120872174......07889299140. email is
trilbyb@freenetname.co.uk
Becky Littleton is the yard's head girl. We have a reliable team of part-time staff...Shirley, Caroline & Helen. We are also joined by Ellie who is doing some work experience while still at school. Heather is a very good friend who ably managed the yard for me while I was recovering from a serious accident. She is still involved with the yard as a business consultant. Not to mention lending her hand to anything else that needs doing at the time!
We have some long-standing livery clients. Many of whom come and go with different requirements.Most of our clients find us through recommendation but we are always open to visitors. We do a certain amount of breaking in young horses. Our speciality is in training and schooling horses that have gaps in their education or have forgotten all that they have learned! Also helping those that have lost their way, often through no fault of their own. The final cog in the wheel is to follow things through and pass on what the horses have learnt to their long-suffering owners and companions!
We produce horses for sale. The emphasis being on their education so that they leave the yard as well adjusted individuals, willing to do the job that we feel suits their temperaments and capabilities. Not all of them are athletes but they all have gifts which can be paired up to the individual requirements of prospective owners.
The sport of Eventing is my first love. To me it gives an excellent all round education to any horse. The dressage gives them the tools to develop their abilities in other areas. If,as I said before, the horses are not natural athletes, they can still benefit from understanding our messages to them. Therefore making them easier to ride and generally much happier individuals. The "athletes" respond to the suppling exercises , using their natural talents to their full potential. There is nothing so sad as experiencing the waste of pure natural ability......in horses and riders!
In order to widen the availability of holistic "event based training", I have included some training clinics held in the more central based venue of Chyverton Park. This prime training site is situated on the main A30 between Carland Cross roundabout ( junction to Truro) and Chiverton roundabout, very close to the village of Zelah. It is owned by Mandy and Nick Holman. They have an excellent outdoor arena with a lovely surface, a full set of BSJA standard show jumps and a major X-country course with many well-built fences at varying levels of severity. With their kind permission I will be able to use these facilities to their full potential as the season progresses. Together you and your horses can really start on that journey of discovery in a gradual process of growing in confidence with each other.
At the moment the clinics are every Saturday. Concentrating on dressage and a little bit of jumping, developing technique and confidence as the partnership cements itself with the basic "messages". Hoping to have a full BSJA style course at least once a month to practice what's been learnt. It will be built by Mr. Clive Phillips who is a BSJA course builder, so will give everyone a taste of what is expected leading up to any type of affiliation, whether eventing or show jumping. The clinics comprise of four in a session. Cost is £25 per person at the moment but will drop to £20 pounds once full capacity is reached. I have been filling spaces with some of my own riders, but they will reduce as outside clients increase.The sessions are between 45mins and 1.5 hrs depending on fitness and brain power! Time to get those horses up and running so that we are as prepared as possible for the coming season!!!
Chyverton, as a venue, will be running some show jumping competition days. Have a look at their web-site to confirm dates.
June 2006
I now have all the time in the world to update the web-site due to shattering my pelvis at Bovington event! Details of which can be found under Competition Horses. Having spent the last seven weeks in hospital I am now at home due mostly to the fact that my long-suffering aunt, Jane,kindly agreed to coming down to Cornwall from Southampton to
look after me.Had it not been for that the doctors would not have allowed me home.One more scan up at Bristol on the 23rd of June will hopefully mean I can start re-hab straight away. Up till now I have not been allowed to put foot to the floor!
All change on the staff front! We have been joined by Nina who is a full time student doing a course connected to the Duchy College,Stoke Climsland. She is proving to be a to be a top class worker, looking after the horses with real dedication. She seems to be enjoying it and gets on well with all who are connected with the yard. Its at times like these it is so
important to have a loyal back-up team. Most of the rest of the staff are the same other than Becky who is beginning full-time on the first of July. She also is doing a course connected to the Duchy College.
Kirsty was not able to deal with the changes that were having to be made at the yard so handed in her resignation She was a very good worker with true commitment. She will be sorely missed.
I can't finish this major up-date without giving true recognition to the one person without whom things would have truly fallen apart. Her name is Heather Forster.She started off as a client and very quickly became a very good friend.More importantly her vast experience in business with which she has been advising me has been second to none! I would like to think I am a "people person" and I have a certain amount of ability with the horses but showme a file or accounts book or even an office and it leaves me completely cold! Heather is an assett for which anysmall business should give their eye teeth! She is still helping me and I hope I am beginning to learn the hard truth about business acumen.
Andrew , for his sins, is still picking up the pieces of the trials and tribulations of a competition yard and its wayward proprietor.He has travelled the length and breadth of the south west following me from hospital to hospital. Muckingout before and after each excursion! Not to mention trying to keep his building business running smoothly. He doesn't
believe it but he is a definite star!
My trainer Mr. Michael Hounsell, previously of Headley Stud, Newbury, has very kindly taken over my teachingcommitments while I have been laid up. I am nearly at the point of taking on one or two clients from my wheelchair which will relieve him slightly. Seven hour-long sessions one after the other is enough to tax anyone especially when Michael and his wife, Betty, are supposed to be enjoying retirement!
The yard is functioning with all systems going. My team of riders and helpers are in full flight. It's just me that is more than a little frustrated at the lack of competing but I'm keeping a very close eye on the general running of things here at home. It will give us all a chance to consolidate the business without which I would not be able tokeep horses on the circuit.
Update
May 2005
Training is offered
to any horse or rider at any level. We all have our goals, ambitions or
dreams . These can be realized sometimes with just a little help
from someone who has lived and worked through many frustrations. The
pinnacle of the training experience is the growth of understanding
between horse and rider leading to a willingness from both parties to
do their very best for each other. Occasionally there can be a
breakdown in communication...as with any relationship... Trilby
is in a position to be able, and willing, to ride clients
horses adding another dimension to the teaching process. It is
often the case that horses do not show their difficulties with a
specific movement while being assessed from the ground. The rider is
often then blamed for not asking correctly. By being prepared to expand
on the teaching process by demonstration a trainer can fully help both
parties. Sometimes the whole learning game can be made easier by the
horse having some intensive training first. This puts forward the
suggestion to the horse that things are not nearly so difficult as he
first imagined therefore not upsetting the relationship between owner
and horse. He can answer back to Trilby instead of his owner!
TB Equestrian has
currently got spaces for horses working at any level. Trilby can
prepare them for any of the disciplines. Competing them if necessary to
set the ball rolling for would be competitive partnerships. Horses can
also be kept fit or worked to become fit if clients are on
holiday or just too busy with other commitments. Contact through the
telephone numbers or by email. We look forward to working with you!