Equestrian Team Captain and School Sport Prefect, Mia K, Year 12, spent three weeks with Team GB showjumper, Harriet Biddick, in Vilamoura, Portugal.
Mia met Harriet back in July 2020, when she was looking to buy a horse with more potential to help her get to the higher levels in show jumping. Mia bought Logan off Harriet in August, who had competed up to 1.30m. Harriet then offered to help coach Mia. Mia began with weekly lessons every Thursday afternoon due to the school allowing Mia to leave early. Mia then asked Harriet if she could have five weeks work experience in the 2021 Summer holidays and was allowed to live on site on her yard with Logan. Mia also stayed with Harriet a week prior to the NSEA National Championships which was held at Keysoe where Mia and Logan managed to finish an incredible 8th in 110 individuals!
Two weeks before Harriet flew out to Vilamoura, Mia was having her final training sessions and Harriet mentioned that she needed some extra help with all 5 horses. Mia and her parents contacted the Headmaster, Mr Paget-Tomlinson, who agreed it would ne an amazing opportunity for Mia to support a Team GB rider and see how it all worked behind the scenes.
Mia summarises what she has learnt whilst working with Harriet over the three week period. "I have found it extremely interesting watching all the different warm up techniques all the different riders use, whether that is using a certain pair of boots on the horse or how ling they spend working on the flat work vs how long they spend jumping in the warmup. I have learnt that even the very best make mistakes and have bad days, but it has been interesting seeing how they switch their mindset immediately the moment they see their next horse that they are about to compete with. The aftercare of the horses fascinates me as for example, Night of Glory, has her legs iced and clayed with cooling clay after any class that is in the 1.45m."