I don't think so, but around the same area at the same time! I remember her giving me a lunge lesson on a new pony who had just arrived on the yard that day. I had never gone so fast in my life as she just kept bellowing - you girl - sit up!! She was such a character!

Mr. Micklem,
I really enjoy your blogs, in fact I joined Barnmice because I agreed with them so much. I have been observing over time that the top performers in showjumping and eventing have specific strains of TB blood. These strains are even more common on the continent as there are less TBs available compared to Ireland and here where I am in Ocala Florida. More genetic research is ongoing where gene loci are correlated with specific performance traits. SNPs are now being tallied and guess what the TBs have very specific rare muscle genes(fast muscle reflex genes and traits). A horse MUST posess these traits to win today and this statement is 100% evidence based. Your brilliant blogs outlined this truth about the absolute neccessity of certain TB lines for optimum performance.. How I bred my homebred boy proves that I believe this in reality not just theory. Thank you for passing along critical breeding knowledge. Only performance matters.

He was a wild rider in his day...saw Charlie a week ago ...in goof form... lives in Chitterne near Warminster with loads of bantams! Looking forward to the pic..W

frank is still ridingi think he goes for the more chilled out type i will get debbie to send you one hows charlie say hi bridgette

hi william debbie now lives in zennor has one daughter and three step children farming and working in local school she lives with frank berrimans son jeff who is not at all into horses debbie did go to the gorsebridge sales as they were in ireland looking at cows how old are your children mine all at uni at the moment but one of them is going only to have a well paid job so she thinks to fund her riding she showjumps we will have to buy a talented difficult horse that no one wants just likewhen we were kids mum lives in gulval still full on is now 75 great to hear from you bridgette

William,
I am based in Devon with my Partner Jane, mobile 00447766503161, we are just off M5 near Wellington, Cullompton. We would love to see you if your travels bring you anywhere nearby.
Charles

Just noticed, as further proof of Wild Risk's importance in event horse breeding that Ringwood Cockatoo is sire line Wild Risk through Worden/Devon/Peacock.

I hope you don't mind, but I regularly save your blog posts, as they clearly express some very important concepts.

Hi william, I was wondering if you still teach?
Would love a lesson with you sometime :)

Carla

sure thing, I have already put you on my 'sources' slide. Just wondering...would you be interested in looking at my presentation as it is now - 95% there (i think) but pre printing and pre practise sessions...it is c. 15 slides and will be presented from a flipbook of slides, not powerpoint so have written the commentary on notes pages....would happily send to you for comment if you have the time?
Anna

It was in the discussion on "Trainers and Mentors" sept 6

Hi William, It was Collen Kelly, she's an Australian bio-mechanics scientist. Spent a lot of time in America. Seems to wotk a treat, and it's simple!!

The title of the competition is BHS Young Instructor of the Year - although yes maybe given the current coaching climate it might change! Having said that the BHSI is not the BHSC yet is it!?!
Your blog on TBs attracted me as I am preparing for BHS SM and big topic for presentation is role of TB on sport horses....:-)

Just to amuse you - did a dressage test today and judge actually got out of his car to inspect my bridle - what is that he said - I explained - at lunch he called all the other judges over to inspect it as it was the first one they had seen! they all liked it!

Just so you'll know, Michael Jung's horse Sam is by Stan The Man, not Able Albert. Didn't want to embarass you with a public correction on the blog since so many people will be reading it.

The Hyperion sire line is just about, if not completely, dead in the United States. It's a dreadful loss. But one sire line that is beginning to shine over here through some very good racing sons is Mr. Prospector. It's odd, because most North American sport horse breeders have a general distaste for Mr. P, but when he's a few generations back and has influences for soundness through the dam lines, his sons can produce very nice sport horses. I expect that he will become more important in the coming years.

Hi, Mr. Micklem

Sky Boy was a truly great TB sport horse sire in Ireland. His progeny excelled at show jumping and eventing.

But I haven't been able to find much in the way of active stallions from him.

Are there any who are anywhere as good as he was?

The Warmblood breeders may be doing something very important by not gelding early and evaluating stallion prospects from young foals to their early competition years. The Irish, with their great TBs, keep coming up with superior TB sport horse sires, but the lines don't stay alive for the next generation. This would seem to me to be a definite handicap in consistent generational breeding. Sometimes it may take several foal crops and a full decade before performance quality proves itself.

BTW, I've been aware of the Dante/Darius/Derring Do line for quite a while. It really is one of the greats in NH racing and in sport horse breeding.

hay[=]
i ride a 13hh arab pony and i am going to start entering in shows soon, she is quite well educated and i was wondering if you could give us some exercises to do in the saddle? i am mostly intrested in dressage jumping games ect[=]
thankyou so much[=]

Hi William,

Any of the prizes would be wonderful, but if either of the books are available that would be great. Many members of the Maple Pony club ride out of my barn so it would be great for them to share also. We are an eventing barn but I don't event but am very interested in Dressage.

Again thank you
Ann

William. Currently live in Connor Downs near Hayle.

thank you! :)