2022
November
Who could have thought that our lives would be so devastated, first by a minute virus, and now by a distant war! There has been so much on my mind that I had forgotten about this website, and only chance has brought it back to mind.
The two great tragedies for me had no connection with either virus or war. I lost my dear partner suddenly and unexpectedly just before the pandemic began to pancreatic cancer which took him within a few weeks. Then, a year later, we lost our horse of a lifetime, Sunny, to a veterinary mishap.
Understandably, I haven't made many compilations during the last two years, apart from CDs for a member of the Irish Paralympic team and several successful Pony Club members. I'm hoping that I will be able to make more in the future, especially when our two youngsters are old enough to compete. I do rather miss my hours fiddling with music on the computer!
2019
December
I have not updated this site for some time, I've just realised. It has been an exciting year, with my first compilations for continental dressage - several major shows and the Junior and Para European Championships.
On the home front, highlights were wins at the BD Winter Championships for Coco and Wendy (elementary silver champions), Iberian Performance Show in advanced medium freestyle for Fiona and Diurno, brilliant scores at Doha for Dana, Fursty and Tamsin, and our own Sunny placing 8th in the small tour at the Hickstead Masters Championships with Tiggi. Now that he is competing at Inter 1 we feel he just has to work to music!
2018
May
I've just finished six CDs for members of the Isis Dressage Group: Coldplay, Circus Roncalli, Jean-Michel Jarre, James Galway, Future World Music, Prez Prado - quite a range! All great music. My daughter, Tiggi, very experienced in freestyle, created the floorplans. It will be interesting to see which the judges like best!
April
A quick turn-round for 12-year-old Megan, whose video came to me very late - she did so well to come 3rd in the Intermediate freestyle at the Pony Club Championships.
February
Our new big boy, the 18.2hh Raiph, scored 77.5% in his elementary freestyle at Swallowfield recently, with a gratifying 9 for his music. The judge wrote 'Lovely and fluent test which tells a story', which was exactly what I wanted the music to do. I wonder how the judges at the Regional will like it?
The new medium CD misbehaved annoyingly, so 7.5 wasn't a fair test - will have to use that Crispin Merrell music again!
I am holding a clinic for Isis Dressage Group later this month. A new format - I won't have seen the horses, but must take music for them to ride to! I have had to create a detailed form, which I hope will allow me to take music which may suit the different horses.
2017
May
A long gap - tragically, my partner died in February and for the months before and afterwards I've not had time or energy to do much with the horses. But now I'm back in business!
And it's time I discovered how to link videos to this website - I have lots of lovely ones, but can't seem to attach them, though I managed to attach one a long time ago.
2016
November
Rebecca Cowderoy has qualified beautiful 4-year-old Rabbit (!) for novice gold in two outings with her new girl band compilation, scoring over 72% both times.
September/October
Roxy, the chestnut mare on loan to us from Lindsey Dawes of Fairoak Grange, did indeed start her freestyle career with a bang - over 80% in elementary at Sparsholt, followed by 85% in novice ar The Croft, where we went to support their first affiliated show. With 9s for music, I was delighted! Her compilations were a magical orchestral combination for novice and cello/violins for elementary. I must check which of the people I had made CDs for did well. Quite a lot were there and it was lovely to chat to so many!
August
I've been down to a lovely venue, The Croft, near Aldermarston, a number of times in the last few months, making CDs for more than a dozen very different horses! The venue will hold their first affiliated competition - all freestyle - in October.
Apart from that, I've made CDs using some interesting new music for various clients, including an oriental compilation based round Sukiyaki, and a quality pop complilation using Cold Play's Viva la Vida for trot.
Unfortunately the ill-fated Sunny has been on box rest yet again - front suspensory - and anyhow we had decided not to compete freestyle with him ever again. He really does not like working to music!
However, Roxy, on loan from Lindsey Dawes, who won a novice regional earlier this month, looks as if she should be a real freestyle star, if I can persuade Tiggi to plan one for her!
March
I've just heard that Sue Rowlands and Deco have won a freestyle with their Tuxedo Junction compilation with over 77% - brilliant!
February
The regionals were a bit of a mixed bag this year - Sunny was 4th in the elementary open freestyle at Addington, but Tiggi was forced to reire from the medium, after he was totally freaked by the paramedics and a steward singing and dancing to his music right by the arena! Not worth making a formal complaint, but it shouldn't have happened.
Well done to Ann and Daisy, third in the elementary restricted!
2015
September
Sunny went to Summerhouse on the 11th for his first and only Petplan regional (as we don't want to subject him to the indoor arena at Hartpury), did a lovely test and won both the Medium Open and the Medium Freestyle! His new music based around Madonna's La Isla Bonita went well.
I've just made a new Inter 1 for Julie, with a more demanding ground plan, but the same music.
Quiron, a stunning white Andalusian stallion, now has his floorplan and music - very dramatic classical music with a modern twist. It will be interesting to see what the judges think!
August
Well done Julie and Alivia! They came 9th in the International at Hickstead.
Also congratulations to Domenica Dryer and Mick, 9th in the Open Freestyle at the Pony Club Championships with some very modern Spanish pop music.
The clinic with Dan was fun, though very long and tiring, and two people will need re-videoing. We have already had our first winner - Sally-Anne and Casper won first time out with their new elementary based on Singin' in the Rain.
July
I'm doing a clinic with Dan Greenwood at The Croft on July 29th - this should be interesting! Some nice horses coming.
Julie was invited to compete in Inter 1 at the International, which required a quick production of a new CD - I hope she does well!
Molly Bowen-Morris and our pony Buzz won the Grade IV freestyle at the RDA Nationals, for the second year, this time with a toe-tapping Beach Boys/Neil Diamond compilation which the judges loved.
Congratulation to Sally Freeman and Grafi, winning a novice FS at Houghton Hall at only her second ever freestyle with a lively pops collection featuring music by Adele, and also to Debbie Bond and Sienna, who placed third with very dramatic Elfman music .
April
Julie and Alivia were our stars at the National Championships, placing 3rd in Advanced Medium - I wish I could have seen them!
March
Wasn't the standard high at the regionals! And huge classes! Many congratulations to these people who rode to Beltyne Music CDs and placed in the top ten:
Addington: 1st open novice, 3rd open elementary - Tiggi and Sunny; 8th restricted elementary - Ann Dugdale and Daisy; 5th open elementary - Jayne Turney and Leo; 6th restricted medium - Bev Dixon and Kenny; 7th PSG - Dan Greenwood and Bertie.
Merrist Wood: 6th open novice - Louise Stroud and Bumble; 7th open elementary - Kim Seaby and Chrystal
Patchetts: 8th restricted elementary - Clare Williams and Milly; 10th open elementary - Jayne Turney and Rene; 9th open medium - Tiggi and Win; 1st open advanced medium - Julie Hugo and Alivia.
There were also several others just outside the rosettes - everyone did so well!!
February
An amazing two days at Addington's Regional Championships! Sunny (Santaire) and Tiggi won the novice open freestyle and came third in the elementary open freestyle, plus second in the 'straight' elementary!
A number of people qualified with Beltyne music at Addington and I actually managed to watch several, for once: Ann Dugdale and Daisy May, Asley Jenkins and Jazz, Jayne Turney and Manton, Bev Dixon and Kenny. They all did good tests! Dan Greenwood and Bertie are competing today in PSG. Good luck!!
January
A busy start to the year, with my first Musical Ride for the Abingdon RDA group and a clinic with Leslie Peyton Gilbert in Bedfordshire.
2014
Latest news: Well done to the following, who all qualified for the regionals at their first outings with their Beltyne CDs: Dan Greenwood and GF Deville at PSG, Ashley Jenkins and Vicky Campbell's Jazz, Lindsey Dawes's Chrystal, Ann Dugdale and Daisy May, all at elementary, and Louise Stroud and Bumble and Jayne Turney and Manton, at novice. Ian Carse (who created the floorplan) and I got some kind words in Horse & Hound from Jayne!
Well done to Molly and Buzz, Grade 4 Freestyle Champions at the RDA Nationals!
I made CDs for four members of the Abingdon RDA group who qualified for the RDA National Championships: Molly and Buzz, Rachel and Speckles, Naia and Speckles, and Laura and Charlie B. They rode to music by Queen, from The Jungle Book, by Abba and from Lion King respectively.
Well done to Louise Stroud and Frankie - her new Advanced Medium music by Vangelis has found favour with the judges, and she's qualified for next winter's regionals. I look forward to working with her lovely new grey boy, Bumble!
The Grand Prix CD for Julie Hugo and the charming Oscar sounds good to me - lovely, unusual dramatic yet melodic music. Hope the judges like it!
Success at the RDA Southern Qualifier for Sarah Lee and Charlie Brown - they qualified for the RDA Nationals with a jaunty Tijuana Brass CD.
Well done to Anne Dugdale and Daisy May - qualified for the regionals at Sheepgate on their first outing with the Neil Diamond/Beach Boys compilation!
I've recently made a CD for Rose Hugh-Smith and Holstein Derwisch, one of our European gold medal winning combinations, and had my busiest April ever, creating 12 CDs for 8 different horse from RDA through BD novice and BRC to Grand Prix - all within a fortnight!
Winter Championships
Five competitors rode to Beltyne Music CDs at the Winter Championships, 2014 - Carol Parker and Apollo came 4th in Novice Restricted, our young Sunny got a wild card and was 13th in Novice Open at his first national championship (very scary it was, he said!) Tamsin Addison and Don Proviano were 4th in Medium Restricted, Julie Hugo and Alivia were 10th in Advanced Medium Open, and Dan Greenwood and Lennox were 10th in the Inter 1. Very well done to you all!
Winter Regionals, 2014
Beltyne Music had several successes at the Central Regional, 2014. Carol Parker's beautiful black Apollo won the Novice Restricted freestyle championship, while Julie Hugo was second in Advanced Medium Open with Alivia, another beautiful black. Good luck to you both at Hartpury! Tiggi and our little Sunny did remarkably well to finish sixth in the Novice Open, having been back in work for only a few weeks after his mystery virus. He was very frightened at his first regional but just about held it together!
Other news
Sunny and Tiggi won the novice freestyle at Keysoe on March 25th with a whopping 80% - he then threw his toys out of the pram in the elementary and was deservedly beaten by Jayne Turney and her elegant Foxcourt Accola, for whom I had just made a particularly beautiful cello CD. She was second with her other ride, Crack the Code, for whom I had made a lively bluesy rock compilation. I don't often get to watch people competing to my CDs, so I really enjoyed this, despite the result!
Quite a day out at Patchett's on January 27th - Tiggi rode (and remembered!) FIVE freestyles on different horses for three first and two third placings. Anita Dodd's dramatic W-Hobab won the Medium and Advanced Medium Opens, and Sunny won the Elementary Open with an amazing 80%!
Congratulation to Dan Greenwood and gorgeous Lennox - fourth in Inter 1 at the Horse of the Year Show 2013 was a great result. His unusual "classical" music was very well received.
2013
Well done, Louise Stroud and super Frankie who won a Medium freestyle at Wellington in Autumn 2013 - she has ridden to Beltyne compilations from Novice to Advanced Medium, got to the Winter Championships four times, and was second in the Restricted Novice Championship a few years ago.
Double success for Fraser Murray and Sam Holdsworth - first and third at their BRC area freestyle qualifier, May 2013! Fraser's coloured Leave It To Me won with a stunningly appropriate Moricone Western film music compilation. Not sure which of the several CDs I've made for Sam she used on the day!
Well done, Tamsin Addison and Don Proviano! Winning a Medium freestyle on 71.16% at Windmill Farm in May - a unique Gilbert and Sullivan compilation!
Our little Sunny (Santaire) started his music career by winning at Moulton College on April 28th with a James Bond compilation, featuring Skyfall (with lyrics) for his walk on a score of 75%. (Then, sadly, he was on box rest from July till December with a mysterious virus followed by unpleasant secondary complications.)
Congratulations to Julie Hugo for double wins with her two lovely horses - Welcome-O at PSG, 70.3% with a sci-fi compilation, and Alivia at Advanced Medium, also 70.3%, to elegant James Galway flute music.
Well done, Fiona Heath and her stunning Bertie! They won an Advanced Medium music class on Feb 23rd 2013 with a dramatic Escala/Bond compilation to qualify for the next winter regionals.
Congratulations to Clare Williams and her lovely chesnut mare, Molly, who placed ninth in their Elementary freestyle regional 2013 with a dramatic girl band compilation!
Well done, Carol Parker, Tiggi Bentley and The Black Beauties - your Christmas pas de deux for the Pony Club was fab and the finale to GangNam Style brought the house down!
2012
Very well done, Lyndsey Trickett and Sammy, and Molly Bowen-Morris and Speckles, who both won their music classes at the RDA Championships, 2012.
Congratulations to Sam Holdsworth and Sonic who got through to the final of the BRC Novice Dressage to Music Championship 2012! They rode to an exciting rock 'n' roll medley.
Congratulations to Tiggi with Anita Dodd's stunning W-Hobab, who have qualified for the Medium freestyle regional 2013. They performed to string music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Three riders who qualified for the 2012 Express Eventing Final rode to Beltyne music compilations, including Sam Griffiths, in the lead after the dressage.
Getting started
----If you'd like some help with getting started, I can email you information which will take you through the basics of making your own compilation.
I'm also happy to come to your RC group or livery yard and demonstrate all aspects of freestyle using a couple of riders as guinea pigs!
