Bombers ambassador, eventer Hayden Hankey, reminisces about a very memorable Advanced horse, and answers five burning questions…

We asked eventer Hayden Hankey to share a simple gridwork exercise to help improve stride adaptability:

“An exercise I like to use to teach my horses to shorten and lengthen over their fences as well as develop a strong core and give them confidence is grids!” Hayden explains.

“I like to mix it up a lot but I always use poles on the floor to encourage understanding of what I’m asking; raised poles coming in (three human strides apart) to create the canter; single poles between fences to create the stride I want.

Sometimes double poles two feet apart to encourage a bigger longer stride, and a landing pole (four human strides away) to encourage the horse to reach, and keep travelling after the fences.

I always use a soft Bombers snaffle like an Eggbutt Happy Tongue or Eggbutt bomber Blue 2 WMBomber Blue (right) to encourage them to take the contact forward and use themselves; then I just keep a soft hand and try and go with them, letting them work it out.

If I need to keep them rounder, I might use a Bombers DC Dressage or DC Morgan Bomber Blue bit.” (Below left).

Five burning questions:

Which is your most memorable horse, and why?

Penny White Stuff (Whitey)! He was a lovely grey horse my mother bought in 2002 from the Irish sales; he used to buck everyone off! There was something about him, and I bought him from her for £1750, as he continued to buck. The next season we went from Novice to Advanced, and then completed Bramham and Blenheim! He was sadly sold after winning an advanced in 2005.

What’s your best piece of advice and why?

Set yourself goals, and plan a path to achieving them. Goals are what takes us forward in life and keep us motivated; they’re the first step on the journey to where we ultimately want to be. Remember though, the road to success is never a straight one!

What’s your ultimate riding or training goal?

To be competitive at the world’s biggest 5*’s, Badminton and Burghley, as well as be selected for the championship teams!

What’s the horse you would like to have ridden?

There are a lot of very lovely, talented horses out there, but for me personally, I’d love to have Pebbly White Stuff back with the knowledge and experience I have now. Back then I couldn’t really even get him on the bridle!

What will you be doing in 20 years’ time?

20 years time is a long time away; hopefully, I’ll have achieved some of my goals and still be living the dream, riding the most wonderful horses, day in day out!

Hayden’s Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/teamhankey

#dressage #equestriansport #horsesport #bombersbits #bombersbluebits #teambombers #bombersbitsbringbalance #bombersbits #BombersEquestrianEquipment #BombersBlueBits