An insight into dressage at the top level at one of the country's most prestigious equestrian venues

A typical day for Vicky at Oldencraig could currently consist of the following:

7.30am
5 year old Beltoni is met after breakfast ready for a training session. 10-20 minutes lunging to loosen him up is followed by 45 minutes riding and training in the school. A 20 minute cool down, walk or hack finishes the session.

9-11am
Vicky will now offer tuition to up to 3 individual clinets riding their own horses.

11-12 noon
An already warmed up Tristel may now be ridden for training purposes.

12-1pm
Timeless (depending on how well the morning timetable worked out) is now schooled for nearly an hour.

1-1.30pm
Lunch

Afternoon activities can vary depending on current demands or needs.

1.30-2.30pm
Papillon will be trained for 1 hour, which is fine tuning for upper level movements in preparation for Grand Prix.

2.40-4pm
A further 3 more horses have to be trained for clients on a daily basis, these average 45 minutes each and may be ridden by suitable members of the Oldencraig team. Any horses being ridden by others have to be monitored by Vicky and she will be on hand to help, assist, advise and correct.

6pm
Typically this activity part of the day finishes in the kitchen to prepare dinner whilst continuing to take and make phone calls alongside Ian (Vicky's husband). The next day's schedule is confirmed, inbetween clients' phone calls and the necessary paperwork of the day. By 9pm Vicky and Ian hope to relax. Typically this summary could be 6 days a week, sometimes 7!