Victoria Bax on injury recovery

Finally it seems things are starting to look up for me as a lot has changed for the better since last month, thank goodness as I was seriously considering a lifestyle change! Here’s Victoria Bax on injury recovery…

Firstly, good news regarding my lorry. The mechanics finally managed to fix the problems and complete repairs and it was back to me in time to get it to its 3rd booked plating test of the year, which thankfully it sailed through. I can not begin to explain the stress and worry not to mention the cost this has caused me over the last 6 weeks. Fingers crossed we can now enjoy a full season of successful outings using it.

I have been out on the cross country course on one of my clinics at Nurstead Court, Kent giving instruction and coaching to a number of my clients to get their seasons kick started. The day was beautiful sunshine if not a bit windy but the ground was perfect and everyone enjoyed a thoroughly good educational day.

The lorry plating test was on a Thursday, so come Sunday we took Alberta’s Rose out for the first time this year for a xc school. We only made it out to one of my local venues as of course it was Mother’s Day so we had to be home in time for lunch, which we made by the skin of our teeth! Alberta’s Rose was a little spooky to start with but soon picked up her game and was sailing through the combinations and everything asked of her with ease. I was very pleased that she ended on as good, if not better note than the end of last season.

Injury recovery

The following day it was “D” day for young Alberta’s Pride who was booked into the vets for a second scan on his injury to see how he was progressing. I am extremely pleased to say that the scan looked very very positive, so much so that it was almost difficult to see they problem area in the leg as the fibres all looked in line and pattern as the good leg! I can safely say I put this tremendous improvement down to the Arc Equine technology and Aloeride which I have been using daily combined with their rehabilitation plan which I have followed to a “T”. My vet was rather surprised at the huge improvement too which is good news. There is plenty more rehabilitation to be done and another re scan on 10 weeks time, so fingers crossed the improvement continues, so we can get this boy back out on the course where he belongs before the season is out.

Two days later I was back in the lorry, this time for a spot of showjumping with Alberta’s Rose again. She jumped a great couple of clear rounds with just a pole in each jump off in the Discovery and the 1.05m speed class where she finished 3rd.

I am busy with schooling liveries again and am currently full to the brim so have my work cut out trying to fit everything in again, but I am seriously not complaining as this time last month I was not in a very good place, so I am pleased things are definitely back to normal now.

I have just returned from a weekend away at Milton Keynes Eventing Centre where I was coaching for a local Riding Club who booked me some months go. Since taking the decision not to hold competitions at MIlton Keynes Eventing Centre anymore, they have seriously improved the facilities and now provide a superb venue for training camps, with temporary stabling, turnout paddocks, a club house (with log burner!) on site caters and a shower unit! I can highly recommend this venue to anyone looking to do some training either individually or as a group or Riding Club.

I have also been on a cross country coaches training day with Yogi Briesner where we were given the opportunity to observe Yogi in action coaching riders or 1,2 & 3* level over xc fences including a number of useful exercises that I will take away to use myself. We had the opportunity to question Yogi on his training views etc. It was a hugely informative day which I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend.

In other news, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I have been selected by British Eventing to be part of their UKCC coaching programme for 2017. This is a highly sort after course to be selected for which will open the door to some great training days with some hugely knowledgeable coaches to enable me to enhance my own coaching skills. I am absolutely over the moon having been selected for this and very much looking forward to developing my coaching skills further.

Finally, I have my first event of the season this coming weekend, whoop whoop we are finally off…
Until next time…