On this unique, subscriber-only interview, Becky Moody shares what she seems for in a younger horse and we delve into her coaching routine and the ethos that helped get her home-bred Jagerbomb to the Paris Olympics
Probably the most exceptional features of Becky Moody and Jagerbomb’s success on the Paris Olympics was that Becky not solely rode but additionally bred and educated Jagerbomb herself, guiding him by each stage of his growth.
In a sport usually clouded by the misunderstanding that wealth and privilege are required to succeed in the highest, their journey highlighted what’s potential by dedication and ability, making their achievements all of the extra inspiring.
Becky’s needed to be affected person all through a profession that’s had its fair proportion of ups and downs, and that endurance carries over to her method to coaching.
“An important factor is that the horses go on the charge that they should go at, and that you’ve got their our bodies and minds in the proper place to do it,” Becky explains. “I don’t have any laborious and quick guidelines in the case of coaching them by the degrees.
“Though I did say for a few years that I’d by no means purchase one thing that was backed with out sitting on it, however I broke that rule over Covid when Rebecca Dudley, an agent I work with quite a bit, rang me a couple of very good three-year-old that she thought was my sort of horse. That was Magic Dream – she was the primary one we took a punt on and acquired with out using.”
Becky Moody and her nationwide seven-year-old champion Magic Dream coaching at dwelling. Credit score: Steve Dawe
That punt seems to have paid off handsomely with Magic Dream being topped the nationwide seven-year-old champion this September.
As we delve extra into her method to coaching, Becky shares what she values most when assessing younger horses, highlighting the important thing traits she believes are important for creating future grand prix opponents
“After they’re lower than three years previous I discover it actually laborious as a result of I’m not skilled sufficient youngstock,” she mentioned. “The factor I wrestle with at that time is to see what they’re going to finish up like conformationally, until you catch them on the three-weeks or three-month stage.
“However I’ll take a danger on a fairly face,” she laughs. “What I’m searching for is looseness and the way the horse pushes power by their physique, and the benefit with which they transfer.
“One of many greatest issues I’ve learnt is that spectacular motion isn’t essentially good motion. I’d a lot reasonably have a simple, pushing motion which you can develop and enhance reasonably than a horse that’s tremendous flamboyant that finds it tougher to search out their steadiness.”
In terms of backing younger horses, Becky depends closely on every particular person horse’s psychological and bodily readiness.
“It massively will depend on the horse,” she says, “I feel their brains and their our bodies inform you what they’re able to do.
“For example, we’ve bought one four-year-old who we’ve solely simply backed as a result of as a three-year-old he was simply not prepared – he regarded extra like a two-year-old and he simply wanted extra time chilling within the fields.
“I additionally don’t like doing the backing as a result of I don’t suppose I give the horses confidence as a result of I’m filling my pants, so Anna Burns who rides for me and is far more chill about it will get them began. She’s good at getting on them and using forwards – it’s suppose it’s actually vital to know what your strengths and weaknesses are!”
Becky Moody and her newest grand prix star James Bond II. Credit score: Steve Dawe
As soon as a horse is below saddle, even when they’ve solely simply began being ridden, Becky focuses on their dynamic conformation and the way uphill they carry themselves.
“However above every little thing else, I’m temperament,” she provides. “So after I’m kids, I do take a look at bloodlines extra when it comes to their trainability than their motion, and the way the road seems from that viewpoint.
“I wish to examine for the way the horse reacts to my aids. For instance, what’s their pure response after I put my leg on or contact with the whip?
“Even with Magic Dream on the video, I may see her reactions. I bear in mind, there was a second when she was backing off and the rider gave her a tiny contact to say ‘Go on, you’re effective’ and she or he properly, and routinely, folded her pelvis beneath herself and I used to be like ‘Yeah, that’s response’.”
As soon as they’re backed, the younger horses college not more than 3 times every week, for a various period of time relying on their power ranges.
“We’re actually acutely aware that we don’t overwork the younger ones, they do a great deal of hacking – we now have glorious hills round right here,” Becky says.
In terms of introducing new actions Becky doesn’t see it as a tick-box train and once more takes a extra holistic method.
“I imagine you do issues with the horses to assist develop them reasonably than as a result of that you must do them for a take a look at,” she explains. “That’s what I attempt to say to individuals after I’m teaching, it’s important to consider a dressage take a look at as a sequence of workouts reasonably than an inventory of actions that you just’re being informed to do.
Becky Moody and Magic Dream pictured at dwelling after a education session. Credit score: Steve Dawe
“All the things that we’re coaching these horses to do ought to assist make them extra supple by their physique, extra engaged, and assist develop their steadiness – for those who consider the coaching course of like that it turns into much more pure
“And a few of them discover some issues simpler than others, however the beauty of what we do is you by no means know all of it as a result of each horse is completely different and with each horse it’s important to clear up completely different issues.
“However with that being mentioned, I’d have a tough concept in my head of the place I’d be aiming for in an excellent world – I simply don’t get too labored up about it.”
With actions such because the adjustments and the piaffe Becky likes to check every horse’s reactions fairly early of their coaching.
“I do truly like taking part in a bit bit with the adjustments after they’re younger, generally after they’re even for 4 or simply coming 5 – earlier than they’ve bought tremendous established with the counter canter,” she says.
“I’d simply trip a diagonal line and have a blast and see what occurs. I’ve discovered that’s very often the most effective time to play with it after which go away them till they’re a bit older.
“However it varies, generally I’ll be using a four-year-old and have completely no inclination to do a change as a result of I don’t really feel like they’ve bought any sort of steadiness or management of issues, so it relies upon – it’s important to discover the proper second.
“And likewise, I’d begin coaching the piaffe at 4 or 5, nevertheless it’s not an actual piaffe. It begins off as a jog and I’m utilizing it as a instrument to assist get the horse a bit extra reactive.
“It’d begin off with simply transitions, actually simply using a trot stroll transition and giving them a bit contact and seeing what their response is.
“Or by selecting up the stroll to make it a bit shorter and take into consideration creating extra power – a few of them at that time simply jog and also you’re like ‘Oh good, we are able to go away that’.”
That is the method Jagerbomb went by, however his work seems fairly completely different now he’s established on the highest degree, with the main target switching to marginal good points and conditioning.
“That is the primary time I’ve ever had a horse at grand prix that I’ve simply been making an attempt to get higher, and it’s helped me perceive issues another way,” Becky enthuses.
Becky Moody using Jagerbomb on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“It’s like, attending to grand prix is simply a part of the journey. It’s a unique outlook now, as a result of we’re considering now about issues like strengthening to make issues extra expressive, and actually moving into the nitty, gritty particulars.
“We’re working quite a bit on the suppling and alignment facet of issues in the mean time. For example, he has a half go left for an 8.5 however to the proper it’s 7.5 as a result of we don’t have the identical suppleness, and that then means we don’t have the identical push or the expression – so it’s very small variations.”
Becky has additionally began to do extra sport-specific physiotherapy work to enhance her efficiency.
“I bear in mind in Paris I felt a bit like I used to be struggling to get my leg on as a result of Bomb was so scorching, and my sister Hannah [Moody] stored telling me off as a result of my leg was too far ahead,” Becky recollects.
“Then Carl [Hester] beginning saying it too, so after all Hannah was completely delighted as a result of Carl was agreeing along with her. I discussed it to the World Class Scheme’s physio Ash Wallace and she or he checked out my hips and I had one which was completely extra blocked than the opposite.
“After she’d helped me I felt so a lot better after I was using and it was an actual vital reminder that we do need to take duty for ourselves as riders to assist our horses be even and degree.”
Becky Moody credit her logical and systematic method to her long-term coach David Hunt. “He’s nearly like a life coach at this level as effectively,” she provides.
“Considered one of his greatest philosophies is that you just’re higher to do the unsuitable factor with confidence than the proper factor with none. Should you don’t imagine in what you’re doing and don’t decide to what you’re doing, then the horse doesn’t imagine you.”
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Lottie Fry thanks Glamourdale with a stroke on the neck after his grand prix particular efficiency at Paris 2024.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Abi Lyle using Solar Rose (Shirley) – treats are at all times available throughout coaching.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Becky Moody and Jaegerbomb with one in every of their flags from Paris which adorns their indoor college.
Credit score: Steve Dawe
Abi Lyle at her base with one in every of her prime string, Farrell.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
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H&H dressage and sport horse editor
Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for prime dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course in school. Underneath Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.