Pessoa Instils Principles in Australian Riders
Global jumping legend Nelson Pessoa, now a member of Equestrian Australia’s FEI World Equestrian Games Eventing Coaching team, conducted his first training clinic with some of the nation’s High Performance athletes at the Wellington Riding Center in Hampshire, UK, this month.
The line-up of riders included Rio Olympic bronze medalists Chris Burton and Sam Griffiths plus Sammi Birch, Emma McNab, Kevin McNab, Andrew Hoy, Bill Levett and Katja Weimann who travelled from her base in Germany to participate.
It was a prime opportunity for Australia’s internationally based High Performance riders to gain exposure to Pessoa’s much-celebrated style of training and allowed him to get to better understand each of the combinations.
Some of the scheduled general exercises were to improve the technique and musculoskeletal function of the horse and practice adjusting strides in a line, jump full courses and adjust equipment such as bits and martingales for better control.
Practical work was also a priority with Pessoa instilling his world-class training philosophy that everything requires “precision”.
The day before the clinic, he spent a day observing the riders in dressage training and was quick to note the level of precision the riders require from their horses when riding a dressage test. He noted the importance of the accuracy of a halt, the degree of bend in a shoulder-in and the execution of movements at the letter. He questioned the riders’ approach to jumping and whether they applied the same expectation of precision.
Pessoa believes the difference between a 1st place finish and 4th place can be just 2cm either too close or too far from the take-off point for a jump. He emphasized to riders that they must bring a level of accuracy, precision and discipline to all aspects of their training and execute it in competition.
Australian Eventing star Chris Burton said Pessoa made his presence positively felt amongst the group.
"Never mind his long list of credentials, his countless representations at the Olympics and World Games, his depth of experience as a competitor and a coach... he is simply inspirational to be round and it is impossible not to be riding your best when he is watching you,” said Burton.
“I believe we have a strong team and with Nelson Pessoa's invaluable support, we can feel confident going into this Championship season," he added.
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