Refining the Ride: From Beginner Novice to Novice

02 Jun Refining the Ride: From Beginner Novice to Novice

By Jill Zednick, SEDA Adult Scholarship Recipient

Receiving this scholarship gave me the opportunity to train with Regis Webb as I worked toward progressing from Beginner Novice to Novice eventing. The experience was incredibly valuable and provided both my horse and me with the technical guidance and confidence needed to continue developing successfully at the next level.

After taking a long hiatus from eventing to focus primarily on dressage, returning to the sport came with many challenges. Rebuilding confidence, timing, fitness, and feel across all three phases required patience and dedication. The opportunity to use these funds toward training rides and lessons with Regis allowed me to focus on refining the foundational skills necessary to safely and correctly make the move up to Novice.

During our training sessions, Regis emphasized the importance of improving the quality and consistency of the connection on the flat. We focused heavily on riding with more core engagement, maintaining straighter movement, and developing more honest contact by keeping my hands steadier and correctly positioned. Exercises involving bending work and shoulder-fore helped improve my horse’s balance and straightness while preventing the shoulders and haunches from drifting. These details greatly improved the overall quality of our flatwork and positively impacted every phase.

In both stadium and cross-country, Regis helped me better understand how to balance my horse before fences while still allowing him to travel confidently and forward to the jump. One of the biggest improvements came from learning to make a more effective balancing aid before softening my contact and allowing him to get to the fence. As a result, my horse began finding better distances and jumping with significantly more confidence and quality. We also focused on improving adjustability by bringing him back appropriately in turns while maintaining forward energy and rhythm.

One of the most valuable lessons I gained from training with Regis was understanding how closely correct flatwork influences success in jumping phases. As our contact, straightness, and balance improved on the flat, the rideability and consistency in both stadium and cross-country improved as well.

The scholarship funding directly contributed to meaningful progress in my riding and in my horse’s development as we prepared to move beyond the Beginner Novice level. The instruction and feedback I received during this experience provided me with a clearer understanding of the skills required to continue progressing safely and successfully in the sport.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity this scholarship provided. The support allowed me to work with a highly respected professional whose guidance helped strengthen both my confidence and my partnership with my horse as we continued working toward our goals.