Meet Zoe May + Moonlight Classic [Diva]

🦄 how long have you owned Diva for?  

It will be 2 years in November this year.

🦄 what did you love about her when you bought her? 

I watched a video of her trotting and cantering on the flat and just thought, yep that is for me.

Plain brown, movement that stuck out and a sweet disposition.

Then she jumped and that sealed the deal.

 🦄 what has been the most challenging thing to work on in your training together? 

She was a bit weak and struggled to hold the movements I was asking for, so it has been a slow and steady process getting her strong and confident within her body.

I have worked with her on the flat to get her jump strong, lots of pole work and grids. Having a dressage legend over the hill from us [Alice Hurley] also helps as we have been able to have fortnightly dressage lessons.  

🦄 tell me one of your best memories together  

Honestly just riding the powerhouse at the end of last year, we have a bond and an understanding now that makes (most) rides enjoyable and all competitions exciting.

She has come out this year kicking on too, strong, fit, and ready to rumble.

 🦄 what does a normal training schedule look like? 

1 x trot out- there is lots of soft hills around home - I call this her mental health day, but it could be more so mine :)  

1 x jump day if we haven't got an event, otherwise it is poles/small grids.  

3 x flatwork days 

1 x lunge or trot beside the buggy if the weather is nice – Sometimes she sneaks a second day off.

🦄 because people love to know… what do you ordinarily feed each day?  

Hay in the stable – Grassy/lucerne mix 

Her hard feed consists of lucerne Chaff, ½ scoop lupins, minerals, salt, Apex and Cellular gold   - She can get upset in the stomach easily and I have even noted a huge improvement in her stable hygiene since starting the Cellular Gold this year.

🦄 what AXLR8 Equine products do you use & how have you found your horse responded?  

Apex for her muscle growth (bonus as it also makes her coat insane and stops her from itching) The muscle tone that this has enabled is more than impressive, this is the third horse I have used it on and it never disappoints. Every competition horse, every day, this is a brilliant product.

Cellular Gold in the competition period – Her recovery is quicker and she seems to bounce back from competitions easier. She is a bit messy in the stable, she walks all her poo in generally, slowly changing her feed has got this to a better place but since starting the Cellular Gold this year, she’s nearly completely stopped. Her stomach must be in a happier place.

🦄 what are some of your goals for this year? 

More Showjumping at Ag shows, as we love them, the people, the atmosphere. Jump clubs and show jump events too, sneaking the heights up as we go throughout the year.

If time allows some Dressage events too, hopefully be able to move up confidently towards the end of the year.

As always to continue enjoying the horse and the events, making sure she enjoys herself and feels good within herself to continue in the ring.

Photo Credits: Jane Sheppard Photography + Oz Shots