Week 11 and 12 at the BRS

Week 11 at the racing school was a good week for everyone. Everyone has been riding really well on the straight gallop and we've been on the advanced horses which has tested our ability and improved our confidence. I have recently been riding Allied Powers; he has just come out of racing last year and was a very very good racehorse, he's by far my favourite at the racing school and I've decided to definitely have him for my last ride here at the BRS. 

On Saturday we put up the Christmas decorations which made me look forward to going home I'm a couple of weeks, the racing school reception and common room is now looking very festive for the courses that's are her for Christmas. 

Throughout week 11 me and my lovely roommate Lauren Smith cycled to trainer Roger Varian's to do evening stables Monday - Friday. It was a great experience working with the racehorses in training and gave us an insight into what we will be going into in few weeks. 

Week 12 was a very busy week here at the Racing School, for the second time I achieved the Black Hat Silk as apparently my riding has improved alot and I'm doing well up the gallops. On Wednesday the British Racing School students went to Tattersalls to go carol singing, it was nice to get out and to see the Christmas donkeys!! 

On Thursday we had our NVQ2 exam in racehorse care, thankfully I passed with 88% and everyone else passed on my course too.

Friday 2nd lot we went for a hack on Newmarket Heath - I rode Look Away Now and everyone had a fantastic ride, I especially enjoyed it as I'd never been on the Heath before. 

On Saturday we had our dreaded final fitness assessment being it a freezing cold morning not even over 3 degrees no one was in the mood to do a mile run, press ups and sit ups. Overwhelmingly we all passed our assessment! Everyone improved their sit up and press up scores and everyone ran faster in their run! 

In all it's been a lovely couple of weeks and we are all exited to be going home Friday ! We are now enjoying our last days here at the Racing School on the straights and can't wait for our last rides and to graduate on the 19th. I can't believe how quickly it has gone here but also can't wait to be home in time for Christmas and to see everyone. 

I will update my final BRS blog entry after my graduation and last ride on Friday. 

Week 9 and 10 at the BRS

Week 9 

Wow, it's unbelievable to think that I've been here this long now. Time is going so fast here at the Racing School. Week 9 we moved onto the straights, this was a huge thing for me as it's all I've wished for since I got accepted into the BRS. It was an amazing experience and thrilling at the same time! My first ride up the straights was on McCracken, I enjoyed it immensely and was smiling the whole way 😀 throughout the week we rode different horses and was getting to grips with the straight gallop, I rode various horses including Wrecking Ball, Troubador, Cavendish Road and of course my little favourite 3 year old green baby Eddie. Eddie is one of the youngest horses at the BRS as he has just turned 3, he is still a baby, so not everyone gets on with him.. But I love him to bits even though I did fall off him at the top of the gallop the other day.. Yes my 4th fall here at the BRS.. Let's just say it was very amusing and so petty , ha! 

On Friday I went up to London ExCel to represent the British Racing School as head girl with Careers in Racing, it was a very long and tiring day but was great to see the interest that people had in getting involved with racing. 

Scott showing off to the crowd how it's done..

Week 10

Week 10 on the straights has been a fantastic week, I've felt my riding has improved a lot and everyone in our group is doing amazingly well. Next week we will be moving onto the difficult horses up the straights which I'm really looking forward to. I've also been enjoying my role as head girl these last few weeks, it's been a huge responsibility and very stressful at times but it's great experience before going to work for a trainer. This week we also filled out our 'dream sheets' these are given to the Chief Executive who finds us jobs at the end of our course , we will find out who we will be going to work for a week before our graduation. 

It's crazy to think that I've now only got under 3 weeks left until I graduate and go home for Christmas! Despite how much I enjoy the work here I cannot wait to go home for Christmas and to see everyone :) 

Week 6, 7 and 8 at the BRS

So it's been a few weeks since I have updated my blog as I've been pretty busy, but here is what's gone on in the past weeks. 

Week 6, as it was Halloween the BRS hostel staff held us a Halloween party, it was great fun, everyone dressed up and we had a fab evening. 

We also moved onto the round gallop, which is a step up from the ménage. I feel as if my riding has improved immensely and I can ride so much better than I did 5 weeks ago.  Saying this, I have now been ran away with a few times - which is a worrying experience but one you laugh about afterwards! I also had my 3 rd fall off Troubador , falling off here is just part of a day to day routine and happens more than you can imagine! I also achieved the Black Hat Silk at the end of the week - this is given out by our instructor to the student he thinks has improved their riding the most this week, I was very shocked as I didn't think it would be me! 

Week 7 was a week full of mixed emotions. Being here at the BRS isn't always full of happiness and laughter, some days are pretty tough and you just feel useless. Not every day you have a good ride or get on with everyone, you have to think that your stuck here with the same people day in day out and sometimes it does drive you nuts. A few days this week I felt like I rode crap, worked crap and just wanted to go home, but I just kept my head down and carried on, in the end it did improve and by the end of the week I felt much more content .. Because I was going home!! It was my weekend off !! I went home on Saturday at 11 am and spent the day out with my mum, it was so lovely to be back home, to sleep in my own bed and to spend time with my family and friends. Sunday morning I had a lie in ( was very nice! ) and went to the yard to see everyone, seeing Pumpkin , Spot and everyone really made my week special and I had a lovely hack out with Mel, Rosie and Ali. Soon as I knew it it was 3pm, and I had to head off back to Newmarket - it was very sad saying goodbye again but this time I only have 6 weeks until I'm home again. 

So lovely to see my pony ! 

And of course the handsomest racehorse ever known - Mr Cool Spot. 

Week 8 was a great week. Both courses 288 (my course) and 289 have merged so now we are a course of 16, this was a huge confidence boost for course 288 as course 289 have ridden out for trainers and are much better riders so we are able to learn from them. Course 287 ( advanced course ) are leaving on Monday so the BRS staff are handing out the new roles, head girl, boy, head of barns etc. Both me and Katie were unexpectedly called into the office, thinking we were in trouble, when in fact we were actually given the roles of head trainees. I was very happy to be given the role of head girl, even though it holds a huge amount of responsibility. Week 8 went uphill from there, everyone in our group rode well and was happy. I was put on the more advanced horses and feel confident with my riding compared to last week. Next week will be very exciting as we're moving onto the straight gallop. It was sad to say goodbye to the Advanced group as they were like rocks to me, but I wish them all the best in their jobs and will be sure to see them at the races in the future :) 

 Mr Nobarro 

Week 4 and 5 at the Racing School

So tomorrow I have been here for 6 weeks. It is going so fast and I can't believe how much I have achieved and learnt already.  

Week 4 included an amazing experience of meeting World Champion jockey A P McCoy and class jockey Andrew Thornton as they came to the BRS with BBC 5 live to record a podcast with the students asking McCoy questions. You can listen to the podcast on the link below. After the recording we had the opportunity to get a picture with McCoy and Thornton and ask a few questions of our own. It was a fabulous experience and especially chatting to Andrew as he raced my ex-racehorse a few times and he remembed what a lovely chap he was too! 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04m06v5

A P McCoy

  Andrew Thornton

Riding wise the week included us improving our cantering pose position, I've ridden a different array of horses, some more difficult than others! Instead of cantering on your own , you canter  in groups  of 2,3 or 4 dependent on what horse your on. It is important that you keep a distance of 5 lengths as your horse may chase and you get run off with! Thankfully this hasn't happened to me, but it has to many others! 

On Saturday we had our week 5 fitness assessment - this is our fitness test that decides wether we are fit enough to carry on the course or not. Thankfully I passed the run with a time of 8mins18secs, not as fast as my previous but still in the safe zone so I was still classed as a pass, I also passed the sit ups doing 35 and the press ups doing 46. 

Week 5 was a very very intense week for everyone on my course as it was our 5 week assessment. Throughout week 4 our yard work and riding was being watched closely. On the Monday we took our diploma exam - thankfully I passed with 80%. On the Tuesday of week 5 we had our riding assessment, this was just a normal cantering lesson but with Mrs Donnely teaching us, and she decided if our riding was good enough to carry on the course. Tuesday afternoon we was told wether we was staying or going home - thankfully when I was eventually called in the director took me out of my pain and told me that he was happy with my work and I can continue the course! I was very happy and privileged to be one of the remaining 10 out of 18 who started the course. 

The rest of week 5 we rode out in the paddock- it was a breath of fresh air to have a smaller more concentrated group and to be out of the ménage doing bigger and facer paced work in a larger space!! I also had my second fall here on Allied Powers - a beautiful gelding who only came out of racing last year, he was a fantastic jump racer, he is quite a fresh horse and still settling into the racing school. He bolted and reared with me when a horse got lose and was galloping round the paddock, my fall was excused by Mr Bateman as I had sat all of his other rears, bolts, bucks and bronks, haha! 

On Tuesday we are eventually moving onto jumping and going onto the round gallop. I'm very excited! 

Week 2 & 3 at the BRS

So it's been nearly 4 weeks here at the racing school and time is going so so quick, I'm missing home each day but on the other side each day is getting closer to graduation ( even though I still have another 10 weeks! ) 

Week two and three consisted of stepping up the pace, this meant that some people had more horses to do, harder work when riding and fitness lessons increase. In the morning I get two straw bedded horses to muck out, sadly with a horrid muck sack but sometimes lucky enough to get a wheelbarrow. Ellemujie and Our Vic are the two horses I look after, Mujie has a very quirky character, enjoyes a good bite and kick if he can get you! Luckily enough he hasn't.. Yet! Our Vic is the Racing a School's famous flagship horse, I'm privileged to look after him! He's such a handsome lad, with a beautiful nature, always there to cheer you up if your feeling homesick or a little run down. In his racing days he also beat Kauto Star in a race at Aintree! 

Ellemujie

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-555928/Kauto-Star-suffers-defeat-Our-Vic-triumphs-Aintree.html

Our Vic (left) leading Kauto Star (right) in 2008 at Aintree. 

I had another fitness test Saturday and happily passed it knocking nearly a minute off my previous time! I came 7th out of 16 and 3rd out of the girls. 

Fitness is one of the most important things at the BRS you have intense sessions on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and also on a Saturday ( only for the first 4 weeks )  these include, spinning, running, circuit training, army training etc. 

At the start of the third week I eventually had my first fall at BRS! I was riding Mr Nobaro, a lovely boy who spoked , span and dropped his shoulder due to another horse kicking the boards in the school! 4 of us fell at the same time and it was very comical! Everyone was thankfully okay :-) In the middle of the third week we eventually started cantering! It was lovely to canter again after 3 weeks of constant trotting. Firstly we just done a few lessons sitting canter in the outdoor ménage then we moved back into the indoor school to start cantering properly in pose position and short stirrups! It's very different compared to cantering at home, but I'm slowly adapting to the position and improving each day. 

Next week and the following week is very important as it is my 5 week assessment, this decides wether the Racing School want to keep me or get rid of me! I will have another fitness test on Saturday and then throughout week 5 I'm assessed on my yard work, riding and diploma. If I pass the assessment then I can move onto the round gallop ! Eek! 

I'm enjoying it immensely here, even though dealing with homesickness is hard but it will be worth it in the end! 

Received my British Racing School uniform! 

Lovely Sunday morning along the gallops

Evie's 17th Birthday meal

 

WEEK ONE AT THE BRITISH RACING SCHOOL🏇

Monday morning eventually came and it was time to go to the BRS! 

When I arrived I was allocated a room and time to unpack, I then had to say goodbye to my mum and go for lunch. The first day was filled with lectures etc. and time to settle in. Tuesday morning at 6:30 was straight down the yard and muck out. We also rode too, I rode Arius , a chestnut gelding with a little attitude. We only done walk as some people on my course are slight beginners. At the end of each day you have dinner at 5pm, lectures at 6:45 ( apart from Friday , Saturday and Sunday's) and then block jobs at 8:30 ( hoovering, emptying bins etc. ) you can then go to bed and lights are out at 10:30pm. Every morning the advanced course wake up at 5:30am to start working at 6am and the beginners wake up at 6am to be on the yard at 6:30am. We then had one stable to muck out and one horse to ride for the first few days, and then the next few days we had two stables to muck out in the morning. 

Most of the riding is learning about bridging your reins, the right position to have and riding correctly. At the moment we are doing a lot of trotting and no stirrups work, it's really beneficial, even though it makes your arse ache! On Saturday I as given a wheelbarrow ( thank god ) and three horses to muck out and also two lots to ride. I rode Woolston Ferry and Le Corvee - two lovely rides !! Hopefully we can start cantering this week or next week. Saturday lunchtime was also our fitness test - I passed the sit ups and press ups but failed my run by 15 seconds! I was still chuffed and 15 seconds is easily fixable. 

Sunday we had a lie in and only had to be out on the yard at 7:30am, which was lovely! I had the same three to muck out, Bibiana Bay (BB) , Ellemujie and Tanager. My course then had breakfast and went to the forest for some team building , it was like go ape but a rubbish version! Was good fun though. We then came back in time for evening stables at 3:30pm and finished the yard at 5pm. 

I've really settled in here and everyone is so lovely, the advanced group ( course 287 ) have so many stories to tell about their 8 weeks so far and they're all lovely to get along with - especially Evie :D ( Dillan and Cal of course ) 

Tomorrow we start the same time as the advanced group at 6am, riding two lots and doing the real hard work! I can't wait ! 

I will keep you all updated and post weekly if possible. 

Bec x

My room with my lovely blanket :D 

 Dillan and Cal looking hench ;D 

 The lovely Evie 😘💕

 Sunday evening film Inbetweeners two! 

Last day

Sunday 21st of September was such a hard but exciting day for me.. It was my last day. It was full of smiles, laughs, reminiscence of memories and tears. I had a lovely hack round High Elms with Polly & Olly, Angela & Bailey, Ali & Joe, Mel & Murphy and Katie & Jethro. To then say goodbye was hard but to know that a new future awaited me the next day was so exciting.  

Under a week to go!

So it's only a week to go until I leave home to go to the Racing School! I can't believe how quick it has come round. It's nuts to think that it's been over a year since I applied for the course and now I have under a week until I go!! 

On the 21st August I received my GCSE results and I was so chuffed that I passed my maths with a C as it's a subject I've always struggled with. I was slightly disappointed that I didn't get an A in business but apart from that I was absolutely chuffed with everything else :) 

I didn't put the effort in to do well in Music and I was only 1 mark away from getting an A in English lit! 

On Saturday it was arranged that me and a few friends from the yard would go for a lovely Toby Carvery as it's well known how much I love a roast! We was well on our way when my dear friend had to take a detour as she had apparently 'left her phone at the yard' ... As we pulled in my whole Yard Family was sitting around the well and had thrown me a surprise leaving party! ( yes of course I cried ! ) it was such a lovely evening and my card full of beautiful messages and my blanket with all the horses on will sure be cherished on my travels. Thank you so much guys, I love you all xx. 

( p.s I still got my Toby Carvery in the end, ha! )

Devon 2014

July the 15th I travelled down to Newton Abbot, Devon to see my nan before I go to Newmarket. My nan is very special to me as she brought me up when I was little, so we have a huge bond. 

Me, nan and David on the Torquay wheel

Nan's dog Lola the cockerpoo had pups, they were just the cutest 

 Torquay just after sunset

Torquay at night. 

Shaldon - yes you may laugh at the ridiculous white feet! That's what happens when you work in boots and shorts..

 

Lola on the beach

Dinner by the river Dart

A lovely two week holiday, now back to work to enjoy my last few weeks before leaving for the racing school!!

Leaving School, Sweet 16 and Prom!

Hello everyone,
I haven't posted for a while so here is an update on my time getting closer to the British Racing School!!
On the 13th June I sat my last GCSE exam. This was officially my last day at Knole Academy, the past 5 years have flown by. There have been many ups and downs, both good times and bad. The main qualities I learnt from school wasn't Pythagoras theorem or how to annotate a poem - it was how to treat people with respect, how to work with people and I've made friends that I'm sure will last a lifetime. 

I was always one to moan about school, how much I hated it, was pretty moody and stroppy but that last day made me notice how much both the students and teachers meant to me. 

On the 1st July I had eventually turned 16. I enjoyed a lovely birthday meal with my second family from the yard at the Smith and Western, it was a fantastic evening out with everyone. 

I also was spoilt by my family by going out for a lovely meal and being presented with the most magnificent cake. Everything you see is edible! Even the racing post and betting slip!! 

On my actual birthday I enjoyed a lovely day at work in the sunshine with the people I love - especially Jethro! Who's birthday was on the same day as mine AND the same year! We both celebrated our Sweet 16th in style! 

After work both me and a very special friend of mine headed up to London to see the spectacular War Horse at the New London Theatre. The performance was absolutely outstanding and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed. A fantastic end to the best birthday ever ! 

On the 11th July it was our year 11 leavers school prom. I was absolutely dreading this, dressing up, make up, hair down, socialising .. It's so not my thing. I would much rather prefer being in my hoodie and wellies!! But I took the bait and went for it. I was proved wrong, it was a lovely evening spending quality time with people I'm most unlikely to never see again! Everyone, both students and teachers, looked stunning! The venue and High Rocks in Tunbridge Wells was beautiful and a huge thank you to everyone who organised the event. 

 The Four Musketeers .. If there was four ...

 

Yes.. I was VERY shocked that I danced for 6 hours... My feet were killing me. 

 The four music girls 🎶

 Mr Deighton - by far the best teacher ever. 

Of course my amazing friends Loren and Katie who've always been there 💕

It's a whole end of an era but as one door closes another one opens.