Southern Horse Magazine June / July 2016 | Page 56

Dressage star goes from strength to strength in Holland Great Britain’s international dressage hopeful, Emily Bradshaw is currently gaining a wealth of experience at the prestigious Van Olst Dressage Stables in Holland. Having attained a place as a working pupil at the esteemed stables, Emily is receiving some of the best training in the world in exchange for yard duties. She is getting the chance to ride a variety of different horses ranging from young and inexperienced 4-year-olds to established grand prix superstars. Emily is also attending and competing at a number of the biggest competitions in Europe, as well as watching the best riders in the world battle it out at the higher levels. On a day-to-day basis, Emily begins with yard work such as mucking out and sweeping up, before turning out her horse and others into the field. For the remainder of the morning she is responsible for preparing various horses to be ridden or walking them, which provides the perfect chance to watch pedigree horses being trained, and sometimes even ride them. Her horse is then returned to the stable for lunch, followed by a ride mid-afternoon. Emily tends to work Remarkable (Alfie) four days a week and hack twice a week, after which he is taken to the spa – a type of metal box that fills to just above the hocks with freezing cold bubbling salt water to help cool the legs. Once a week he also goes on the water treadmill to help build up his fitness. [email protected]