Monday kicked off with the eerie light of the sun filtered through the smoke haze. Some riders from effected areas arrived and had tales to tell. Most riders had lessons again. The message was consistent from both coaches, ask a little more, be soft. 'Keep the horses nose out' said Bjarne Elefsen, 'not shorter. Ask a bit extra, invite him, open it up, be light'. 'No pressure', said Lone Jorgensen. 'He will offer more expression on the day of the comp, keep it easy this week, keep him confident and relaxed, no pressure. Easy'. Riders later in the day endured high temperatures.

High performance manager Chris Webb talked about the campaign for WEG. Chris has been able to visit the venue and was impressed by the organising committees ability to face the logistical challenges. Dressage comp will held in a 20000 seat soccer stadium, pare dressage in a trotting venue. The atmosphere will lead to an exciting challenge for our combinations

Team vet Kirsten Neil talked about travel sickness (pleuro-pneumonia), an all too common complication of travel. She recommended each rider get to know their horses heart rate and temperature, and monitor their well being on any long trip. A normal horses temp is up to 38.3, anything above 39 should be seen by a vet. Hydration is one of the keys, prophylactic antibiotics have not been proven to be effective.

Gerard Faure-Brac talked about the stress response and how to manage stress. It is really helpful to understand the bodies response to stress, and be able to monitor this, and even intervene. We had a little practise progressive muscle relaxation, and learn to drop the tension out of our muscles, as well as monitor our thoughts and breathe effectively. We learned about the relationship between thoughts and feelings and actions, and how to act the best (perform our best) we need to stay confident. We can learn with practise to recognise the thoughts that impede us, and improve our effectiveness.

Jenny Carroll gave a really informative demonstration about stretches for horses, who are also elite athletes. Some muscles are difficult for a horse to stretch. At the end of the day I had a chance to talk to a hot and weary, but still smiling Bjarne. He was really pleased that all the riders have been open minded and willing to take it all in. We have, in his view some exceptionally talented horses.

'Riders could allow a slightly longer neck, not always the competition outline, but in a slightly bigger frame to allow the horse to work better through the topline. Riders need to work more on flexion and bending through the corners and the circles, and the work with bend. Shoulder in is a great exercise for this. It can be used on the long side, the corners, the circles', he said, 'Whenever you ride to get softness and self carriage. Riders should work less hard, use less strength, by training quicker reactions from a smaller signal. Training should make horses more sensitive and responsive to the signals. That's what dressage is about, lightness. It should look easy'.

This was especially salient given the really hot weather. We all did work hard.

National Dressage Squad: Tuesday

We are all relieved that today feels cooler. We enjoyed a team bbq last night, a chance to meet those we didn't know and chat to old friends. It is great having the para riders a part of it. They have some inspiring stories. Bjarne found the combination of para and dressage works well, and inspires every one. Paras inspire the able bodied with their determination and courage, and the able bodied and their horses inspire the paras. It goes each way. Bjarne said about teaching the paras 'You tend to forget they are para riders when they just come along with the other riders, which helps you ask for more. This is good. Sometimes you have to remember the physical limitations, but quite often you don't.'

My day started with a session with Tanja Mitton, mindset coach. She helps each rider to identify limiting beliefs, beliefs we have about ourselves like 'I don't belong at this big show with all these really skilled riders, and beautiful horses'. She talked me through identifying tests when everything worked out and associating the memory with an 'anchoring' movement such as squeezing down with your thumb onto your fingers, with your hands in the position of holding the reins. If you practice this associating of good memory and movement you can access it at a competition to find that good mindset that you need in the ring. Squeeze down on your fingers and remember the rehearsed memory of success.

There was a visit to the Sydney University Vet Hospital, however we missed the transport! They do have a new standing MRI scanner, offering a fantastic resource for diagnosing soft tissue injuries.

Team vet Kirsten Neil talked about soft tissue injuries. Dressage horses are specially prone to suspensory ligament problems. It has been found that the sand arenas we prefer are actually not the best thing for soft tissue injuries. Deep sand is the worst. We are better off to use a variety of surfaces, cross train, hack out, turn out in paddocks etc to prevent and minimise these injuries. Young horses with an over extravagant extended trot are more vulnerable. Icing horses legs can help minimise the damage. Ultrasound is the best investigation to identify the injury. A controlled exercise programme over 6 months or so will result in the best healing, not the traditional paddock rest we used to do. Shock wave therapy three times two weeks apart can help.

Corrective shoeing for proximal suspensory problems includes toe support, but you should not have heel bars. Injections into the lesion with stem cells, or Platelet Rich Plasma can be helpful. There are some surgical options. Fasciotomy is cutting the connective tissue (fascia) around the ligament which can relieve pressure around a suspensory ligament and relieve pain. Under FEI rules it is illegal to compete on a horse who has had any neurectomy (cutting the nerves).

Team physiotherapist Victoria Kahn talked about recovery. For some of us it is a conceptual leap to think of ourselves as athletes but we are. There is a wealth of real data about recovery of athletes. Hot and cold showers immediately after exertion aids recovery. Sleep is really important. Hydration is really important. Sports drinks with carbohydrate, electrolytes (salts), and water can help replenish what we lose competing.

Today I talked to Lone Jorgensen about her experience coaching here. Lone is a Danish dual Olympian. She has been coming to Australia for 6 years and has recently moved to Victoria permanently. She knows what it takes to succeed at an elite level. 'I was impressed that all the riders were open to new teaching and quick to pick things up. There is a broad range of riders here, all the top riders have a high degree of discipline. I am really sure that if you want to reach the top of anything you need this discipline, you need to ride your horse five times a week. It won't work unless you do. The weather is never an excuse. That's what make the difference between an average and a top rider. This might sound very German, but discipline can be more important than talent. Another way to put that is that even if you are not so talented you can aspire to the top through determination, discipline and hard work. It's the drive that makes it happen.'

Brett Parbery told me he enjoyed his lessons with each coach. 'It could have been risky having it so close to National Championships' he said, 'but it's the best way to get us all together. The coaches have been very sensitive about what we can do as riders this close to a big comp'

National Dressage Squad Wednesday

Julia mentoring some young developing coaches at the end of the day

Olivia and Limelight - at the end of a long hot day giving a horse a carrot can still make a tired youngster happy

Today started with plenty of announcements about bush fire risk, but for the first time no smoke. The temperature rose quickly and everyone was keen to get their horses worked before the intense heat of the middle of the day. The wind picked up and all the horses were spooky, and we worried about the fires.

Everyone I have spoken to has found the lessons really helpful and by today ( the last day) everyone seemed to be relaxed and confident with their coaches. The Saddleworld Aussie Champs start tomorrow so everyone is very focused on preparing for this.

In my lesson with Lone we were really working on making the transitions quick. The Elementary test has simple changes. Canter, walk 3 to 5 steps and canter. The transitions must be clean, no trot steps. This is hard, and I have to be really diligent about my position. If I allow myself to fall forward as he comes towards the walk he easily overbalances and some sloppy trot steps result. Half halt, prepare, stretch up, lean back a little, get the walk, and then allow the neck to stretch a little and make the walk more active.
Today's lecture programme included Chris Burke from IRT talking about international travel for horses, tantalising everyone who lusts after that elusive trip to WEG and other exotic destinations. Pzazz travelled with IRT and I can't recommend them too highly, what an experience.

Gow Gates were there talking to us about insurance, one of those things we all hope we never need, but listening to them reminded us all we really must check out if we are properly covered. This is a part of the professionalism we are aspiring to.

Robin Bell, the other team vet reminded us about the FEI rules about drugs for horses, a timely topic. There is a real change in the culture to try to work together with the vets, not the old mentality of hiding things from them. All the elite horses here have been vetted during the squad, with the hope that identifying and managing problems early will help us have sound horses at the international comps. Given the age of elite dressage horses many will have some little problems by the time they are on a team. There are so many ways of preventing and managing problems now, we must be smart about this.

The other activity that was going on was squad members working on their coach accreditation.

And so the squad has come to an end, blending seamlessly into the comp. The para riders competed today. The bush fires are still burning but not as catastrophically as they could have been.

Overall it has been a great success. Julia Battams has pulled off a great thing bringing us all together in such an innovative programme. There has of course been much discussion on what could be added or improved, but in a spirit of ' this is great, let's do it better'. There is great energy, optimism and enthusiasm for the future of the sport. Let's capitalise on this. As we said before LET'S STEP IT UP, PROFESSIONALLY INSPIRE EXCELLENCE

Photos by: Kerry Mack & Julia Battams

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