IWMT 2015 sponsor: meet Gill Watson

Despite stepping down from her role as trainer to the British junior and young rider event teams in 2011, Gill Watson is still playing a key role in British eventing.  She now coaches elite riders in the World Class Development squad and helps riders from all levels of the sport. So, where did it all start and what drives her undying enthusiasm for the sport? 

Gill started eventing at an early age as a Pony Club member and went on to establish herself as a successful event rider in her own right. In 1968, she was first reserve on her own horse, Shaitan, for the British squad at the Mexico Olympics, which won the first Olympic Team Gold for Great Britain since 1956. However, the highlight of Gill’s riding career was winning Burghley the following year, again riding Shaitan. It is this win which she believes opened many channels for her both as a rider and a coach. 

Her inspiration to teach is attributed to Pat Smallwood with whom Gill trained to attain her BHS qualifications. Not only is Gill a Fellow of the BHS and a FEI listed dressage judge, she gained teaching qualifications at degree level in Physical Education. During this time, riding and competing were still her preference, but as Gill explains, “The teaching helped me to earn a living.” In 1980, Gill was asked to coach the British Junior team. Then, just a year later, her remit as coach expanded to include the newly formed Young Rider team, accommodating riders from 18 to 21 years old. Gill continued to compete herself but quickly realised that her riding and coaching were in conflict with each other. Without the horsepower available to succeed as a competitor, Gill decided to pursue her career as a coach - and what a success story this has been.

Lilly Watson - Gill's co-trainer!

Under her leadership, the British Junior and Young Riders won over 100 European medals (individual and team), of which 46 were gold. Many well-known riders on today’s eventing circuit began their careers in the Junior and Young Rider schemes, such as Pippa Funnell and Zara Phillips. However, coaching is not without its challenges. As a trainer in any equestrian discipline, you have to be adept at dealing with two personalities: the horse and rider. In eventing, Gill has the added dimension of teaching skills in three different disciplines (dressage, showjumping and eventing) and combining them to achieve great results. Gill explains, “You can never stand still as a coach. You have to keep up with changes and the increasing competition from abroad.”

With this amount of success already under her belt, one wonders what ambitions might still remain unfulfilled. Without hesitation, Gill responds, “To keep producing good young people to go on. I still get very excited when I see talented people.” Gill is highly motivated in her role and gains inspiration from speaking to coaches across sporting disciplines. She enjoys listening to other successful trainers to explore different training methods and understand the psychology of coaching. Her skills as a teacher and mentor to riders of all ages and abilities are without doubt. It doesn’t matter what level her pupils are competing at, amateur or professional, her goal remains the same: to ensure they enjoy what they are doing and help them to achieve their aims - whether it be to compete at pre‑novice level or at Badminton. 

With such a highly personable yet talented and committed coach to support our World Class Development riders, I can’t help but believe that Team GB’s long-term success is assured.

Kathryn is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Writing Services. She is a published medical and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients from pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.

Prize winning corner: IWMT 2014 runner-up receives NLP coaching

Michele Kevill and her horse, Diamond Marley, won the runner up prize in the Cathean Limited Ian White Memorial BE100 Class at Smith's Lawn Horse Trials 2014. The pair finished on their impressive dressage score of 26.0. The prize was a coaching session with Elizabeth Hough from Your Great Mind Coaching. Here is Michele's account of her experiences at Smith's Lawn and working with Elizabeth.

On the day of Smith's Lawn Horse Trials I was more excited than usual as I was travelling down to the event with my great friend and her horse, as well as my mother and our trainer. We all talked and laughed so much on the way down so the journey seemed very quick.

On arrival, my mother went off to collect numbers and we prepared our horses for the dressage.

Michele and Mousse out hunting (photo courtesy of M Kevill)

Diamond Marley (or Mousse as he's known in the stable) behaved appallingly in the warm up and screamed for his travel mate to the point where someone asked if he was a stallion! However, this worked in my favour as usually he switches off in the dressage arena but that day he stormed down the centre line and really showed off and we received our best mark ever! I then walked the show jumping which was up to height, this pleased me as my horse is easier when the fences are bigger. Then we walked the crosscountry course which was lovely with really good going for the time of year. 

I returned to the lorry full of confidence. When it came to the show jumping my horse reverted to his earlier behaviour, adding a few whip rounds and bucks for good measure which very nearly put me on the floor. When it came to doing the business in the ring he completed with a lovely clear followed by a storming crosscountry round. Gosh! I was so pleased with my boy especially as he had been very ill the season before.

I could hardly believe it when I saw the score board, 2nd place was not what I was expecting and I felt really proud. The sponsors were extremely generous; I received so many wonderful useful things but best of all I received a voucher for a session with Elizabeth Hough. 

Photo courtesy of M Kevill

Initially I felt apprehensive as I didn't really know what to expect, but having spoken with Elizabeth on two occasions I was confident that my visit to her would be beneficial. I really enjoyed my session, it was a lot to take in in a very short space of time. As yet I have not been to any competitions to apply what I learnt but I have used it when just riding at home to great effect. I feel a lot more confident in myself and my riding since my session and can't wait for the season to start.

I shall hopefully be back to Smith's Lawn again this year as it is a favourite event, well run, good courses and amazing prizes!

Kathryn is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Writing Services. She is a published medical and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients from pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.

Prize winning corner: IWMT 2013 winner visits Piggy French

Caroline receives her goodie bag 

of prizes from Kathryn White (Photo courtesy of Fiona Scott-Maxwell)

Caroline Underhill and her horse Copper Clover (aka Chester to his friends) were the lucky winners of the Cathean Ltd Ian White Memorial Trophy BE100 class at Smith's Lawn Horse Trials 2013. Not only that, but they won the best turned out prize, the Willow Trophy, too! Successful international event rider, Piggy French, generously donated a training session to the trophy winner at her yard in Northamptonshire. Given Piggy's hectic schedule plus Caroline's busy life trying to juggle her eventing around her day job of accountancy, it was a minor miracle that they got a date in the diary, but they did! "I had a lovely time at Piggy's, thank you. It was a freezing cold foggy day but I had a really good jump lesson and Chester behaved himself and didn't embarrass me. Piggy was very welcoming and friendly and made me feel very relaxed." Good luck to Caroline and Chester for the forthcoming season, and we hope to see you at Smith's Lawn again this year. A big thank you to Piggy French for her generosity and to her team for being so helpful in organising a date.

2014 Reflections

I recently received these questions from my business coach Dawn Bentley's newsletter. The questions help you  to reflect on the past year, and in doing so, enable you to consider your goals for the new year. Here are my reflections on 2014 - what are yours?

Fun in Atlanta

1. Best thing that happened to you this year? Attending Christine Kane's Uplevel Your Business Live event in Atlanta courtesy of my coach Elaine Bailey. Not only did I learn some amazing strategies for improving my business, which I have applied, I met some wonderful, like-minded people who have since become friends and mentors. Outside of business, the biggest thing was competing at the PetPlan Area Festivals at Elementary level on my horse, Wilbur.
2. Biggest challenge? Getting clear on what I wanted to offer as training courses within my business, and outside business, overcoming competition nerves.
3. What was most surprising? Playing hockey again after 12 years, and how being fitter makes me feel so much better.
4. One word to describe the year? Enlightening!

Dressage divas!

5. Most valuable relationships that contributed to your success? Help and encouragement from my coaches (Elaine, Kevin, Dawn and Pam) who have such confidence in me and Cathean Ltd. Constant support and belief in my abilities as writer, businesswoman and rider from my partner, Henry. Outside of work, my trainer Gail's unwavering conviction of mine and Wilbur's dressage potential!
6. Biggest challenge this year? Reconnecting with my gut instinct, and going with the flow.
7. What habit did you acquire that made a positive difference? Grounding.
8. What/who was the biggest timewaster? Worry!
9. What else have you learned? Worry doesn't achieve anything but wastes time and energy; I love writing and learning new things; I am surrounded by wonderful people in life and business (cheesy but true!).
10. If you could re-live 2014 again, what would you change to make it even better? Worry less, have more belief in myself and my abilities.

Vision boarding preparation

So, having reviewed 2014, I am in the process of writing my goals for 2015 and creating a vision board.

EMWA Conference: Florence 2015

The EMWA autumn conference last month was as excellent as always, with a mix of workshops, networking events, forums and presentations. Not forgetting the social activities. This conference I attended two workshops: one to brush up my knowledge on writing risk management plans (RMPs) and the other to pick up some helpful tips on how to critically appraise medical literature. Both were  very informative. The Freelance Business Forum, which I co-organise with Alistair and Sam, was well attended. This was the second FBF at which we have had a 'drinks and nibbles' networking session where experienced freelancers answer questions posed by their less experienced colleagues.

I love these conferences - the organisers, workshop leaders and EMWA committee members are friendly and welcoming. At each coffee break and over lunch, you always feel you can join a group and conversation. And, you always meet new colleagues, catch up with EMWA friends and learn something.
After enjoying the walking tour organised by EMWA in Budapest, I decided to join the guided tour around Florence - Henry, my partner, came along too. It was another opportunity to meet more medical writers and their partners, as well as learn some interesting facts about this fascinating city and its cultural heritage. 

Not to mention tasting the delicious ice cream!
I am already looking forward to the next conference which will be held in Dublin in May 2015.

Leading with impact - a grounding experience!

This month I was privileged to attend the Leading with Impact course run by Dawn Bentley and Lisa Brice. On this course, unlike any other leadership training I've been on before, horses were our co-trainers [photos courtesy of Dawn Bentley].

Leading with a rope while learning the centering technique

Horses are highly attuned to emotions; they communicate, principally, via body language. We, on the other hand, can communicate verbally and non verbally. But, it is primarily our non-verbal communication, shown through our body language, that is picked up by other people (or our animals). Congruency between our body language and how we speak is key to clear communication and, therefore, good leadership. On this one-day course we learned how to centre (or ground) ourselves to help us become more aware of our bodies and the tensions we hold within. How often, when stressed, do we hold our breath or breathe more shallowly? By grounding ourselves we become more relaxed and more spatially aware (through 'soft eyes'). We breathe deeper and with our solar plexus (abdomen) rather than higher up in our chest, which results in a calm persona.   The highlight of the day for me was leading a horse around the enclosure, with nothing but my body language and intention. Despite handling horses every day, it sparked an emotion deep inside me - a feeling of empowerment and partnership.

Look no lead rope!

So, can you apply this to your every day life? Yes, of course! Here are a few scenarios in which I've applied what I learned:

1. New neighbours are moving in nextdoor - their builders arrive 2 days after the training course. My instant reaction is for my hackles to rise and for me to be defensive. This tension is based on past experiences - that they are going to be as noisy and inconsiderate as the last family. When Tom and his builder come round to introduce themselves, I'm ready - grounded and calm with the intention to be a friendly, helpful neighbour. It works - both are acutely aware of the potential disruption of the building work and so far have been as considerate as they can be under the circumstances. Furthermore, I was able to calmly explain that the dividing walls between our houses were thin and that sound proofing may be something they could consider - job done!
2. I've applied the grounding technique when handling and riding Wilbur. It helps me to be a lot calmer and more stable in the saddle. Wilbur is normally quite ticklish when he's being groomed, and shows his displeasure by swishing his tail or biting the stable door. However, if I'm grounded when I groom him, he seems less reactive. Perhaps my body language was causing him to tense up so his skin became more sensitive to touch? What I love most is that this technique is totally congruent with the TTouch and TTeam work I love.
3. I've even noticed a difference in my driving! When centred, I engage my core muscles, so I become less reliant on the steering wheel for balance (next time you're in the car ask yourself if you're gripping the steering wheel more tightly than you need to - then breathe, engage your core and experience the difference!). I feel I can use my arms and legs more easily to change gear and use the pedals. I also feel calmer which means I'm less likely to explode in road rage and more aware of what is around me - soft eyes improve your peripheral vision. Yes, although I'm more relaxed, I feel more alert and able to react quicker to changing situations on the road around me.

What I learned in a day has already had such a profound effect on my life and was truly enlightening. It really is a worthwhile experience, and one I would highly recommend - and no prior knowledge of handling horses is required.

Ian White Memorial Trophy 2014

Winner: Julia Rogers and Majestic Drifter

Henry and I had a fantastic day at Smiths Lawn horse trials with the BE100 Ian White Memorial Trophy attracting a full section. The standard of turnout was excellent this year so the judging was tough but great fun. Armed with my trusty clipboard I looked for overall smartness, evidence of extra effort such as quarter marks, and lots of pats for the horses. George Pennington with Rathsallagh Royale and Katie

Katie Thrower & Owt For Nowt

Thrower with Owt for Nowt were the joint winners of the Willow Best Turned Out prize, with their turnout remaining spotless in the crosscountry phase too.

George Pennington & Rathsallagh Royale

The lovely Fiona Scott-Maxwell, equestrian photographer extraordinaire, joined us and took our fabulous photos. Pru and Tegan from the Sue Ryder hospice at Nettlebed sold krispy kreme donuts to raise money for the important care and services they provide. The overall winner of the section was Julia Rogers with Majestic Drifter, who was also a close contender for the best turned out prize. Her win was made more poignant by the fact that a relative was currently undergoing chemotherapy so the trophy meant all the more to her. Paul Schroter with Zorro Rocco was the winner of the Moose trophy, being the highest placed competitor who completed the crosscountry phase closest to the optimum time.

Paul Schroter & Zorro Rocco

My intention for the trophy has always been to support BE100 amateur owner-riders - to give them a class in which they are competing on a more level playing field than a section where professionals can compete alongside. So it was heartening to see all the top 10 competitors attending the prize giving, which illustrates the enthusiasm for this class.

The team from Sue Ryder

Thank you to Henry for hosting the prize-giving and for giving such a lovely tribute to Ian. Thank you, as well, to our fantastic sponsors: Gill Watson, Elizabeth Hough, Protexin, Bossy's Bibs, Equilibrium Trizone, and Crisy Salmon and to the Smiths Lawn organiser, Tissie Reason We really couldn't do this class without your support and fabulous prizes.