World-renowned equestrian competitor, Lucinda Green MBE, will host a special cross-country clinic for 20 lucky riders, 10 of which are participating aboard Off The Track thoroughbreds thanks to Racing Victoria, this Saturday 9 and Sunday 10, February 2019.
Green is a British 3-day event rider who boasts a glittering career on the world stage, including being crowed 1982 World Champion at the World Equestrian Games and European Champion at the European Eventing Championships in 1975 and 1977.
The talented athlete also won gold in the world team in 1982, three European team golds in 1977, 1985 and 1987 as well as an Olympic silver medal in the team event in 1984.
Between 1973 and 1984, Green won a record six times at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials, on six different horses.
A fan of Off The Track thoroughbreds, Green will coach 10 lucky riders and their retired racehorses across two days at the Lochard Pony Club.
Racing Victoria’s Off The Track (OTT) program offered a spot in the clinic to five RV Acknowledged Retrainers, who are currently competing in eventing, and five lucky competition winners.
Among the eclectic mix of former gallopers taking part in the clinic is 2015/16 Picnic Horse of the Year, Freshwater Reset, who will attend with his owner, former RV apprentice jockey turned Clerk of the Course, Leticia Griffin.
In June last year Griffin was diagnosed with stage 3 metastatic melanoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), that sadly cut her career in the saddle short, but has by no means dampened her passion for horses.
This week the 23-year-old and Freshwater Reset, affectionately known as Jack, attended their first meeting as Clerks of the Course at Ararat Racecourse.
10-year-old Jack was not only a handy horse on the track, winning seven of his 38 starts, but has has proven to be quite handy off it as a ‘jack of all trades,’ working to educate and relax the younger horses at Pat Cannon’s racing and pre-training Stables, where Griffin works as a full-time track rider.
There’s not much Jack can’t do, and now he’s trying his hand at cross country
“Jack does everything with me, from trackwork in the morning to bush rides and jumping in the afternoon,” said Griffin.
“We are really looking forward to working with Lucinda Green, learning new techniques, spending time away from the work atmosphere and showing everyone how versatile our Off The Track horses can be.”
Over the two-day clinic, Green will take riders through their paces, including honing their skills and techniques over cross country fences, as well as focussing on safe cross country riding techniques and developing mutual confidence between horse and rider.
The first day of the clinic will take place in in a grass jumping arena, for riders to practice skills including corners, arrowheads and bounces.
On Day Two riders will take to the cross-country course where they can put into practice their newly learnt skills under the watchful eye of Green.
Off The Track thoroughbreds are considered as the ideal eventers for their speed, stamina and endurance, a sentiment that rings true with Lucinda.