X Country Lessons with Eric Smiley FBHS

BHS Ireland presents

A Series of

4 Indoor Cross Country Lessons

with Eric Smiley FBHS

during January & February 2012 at Laurel View Equestrian Centre

It’s not magic!  It’s teaching the skills correctly so that in a ‘crisis moment’ the correct response happens.  It is important to be Clear, Fair and Consistent.

This series of four lessons will develop the horse and rider in the basic correct principles of flat work and encourage a good way of going in order to jump both the basic and more advanced cross-country fences.

Eric is brilliant at riding cross-country!  His training encourages confidence and lasting improvement in both horse and rider.  These tried and tested skills are taught in a clear and consistent way, which gets good results.  During this course he shares his techniques, principles and the required preparation work in order to ride safely and effectively on the cross-country course.

These lessons will be held on

Wednesdays, 25 January and 1, 8 & 15 February 2012

from 1 to 10pm at Laurel View Equestrian Centre.

Each lesson will be for 90 mins in a group of 4 and the series of four lessons will cost £180 per horse & rider.

Places are limited and very popular so book early!

To book a place contact Susan Irwin, BHS Development Officer for Ireland on 028 9268 3801 or 07808 141079 or email S.Irwin@bhs.org.uk A Booking Form can be found on the website www.bhsireland.com.

Brief CV for Eric Smiley, FBHS

Eric Smiley is a Fellow of the British Horse Society and is a born educator.  He enthusiastically and passionately passes on his knowledge to all, from the beginner to the more advanced equestrian. Eric in Eventing has represented Ireland gaining bronze at 2 European Championships, 3 World Equestrian Games and been on 4 Olympic teams competing at Barcelona and Atlanta. In a recent presentation on 1 August 2008 as keynote speaker at the International Society of Equitation Science in Dublin he said “If I can in anyway make things a bit better by improving communication between horse and rider then I have done well!” Eric trains regularly for BHS Ireland, he also trains in USA, Denmark, South Africa and Dubai. Eric is an FEI International Judge who regularly acts as a Ground Jury member. For 18 years Eric was Director of the Golden Saddle Scheme, identifying talented children in all equestrian disciplines and coordinating their training bursaries. He is currently appointed as an advisor on the Senior Eventing High Performance Committee.  The Committee will oversee the running of the High Performance Programme in conjunction with Horse Sport Irelands, Equestrian Sport Manager and will advise the Performance Manager, Ginny Elliott on selection matters.

Eric is the author of the Pony Club publication “Look…no hands! Straightforward Cross-Country”

Eric is Coach to the 2012 Belgium Olympic Eventing Team