“As a member of the Pony Club, I stand for the best in sportsmanship as well as horsemanship. I shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning or losing in my stride, remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being. I shall endeavour to treat my horse with consideration”. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In this Newsletter… • Show Jumping Rally – 9 August • Mini and Younger Juniors Fun Ride – 21 August (NEW!) • Pony Racing Rally/Fitness Training for Hunting + Eventing – 18 August (NEW!) • Mounted Hound Exercise for Pony Club only – 16 August (NEW!) • Hunting Certificate: information for those who would like to take it this season • Dressage Rallies – 1 and 24 October (NEW!) • Working Rally (Half Term) – 25 October (NEW!) • Rider of the Month is Hannah Bowman • Olympia Coach Trip – 18 December. Parking/coach at Horwell Farm, Baynards Green. Book now online as tickets are limited. Something to look forward to! • Reports – Grafton Hunt Pony Club Pony Show, Area Eventing • Oxford Riding Club Dressage Show: 20 August, nr Middle Barton. Friendly, on a surface. • Whaddon Chase Pony Club Hunter Trials and Tetrathlon – 9 Sept, Plum Park – contact Deborah Gregory ([email protected]) if you would like to be on a Tet Team. • Kirtlington Sponsored Ride – Sunday 10 September. Always fun! http://kirtlington- sponsoredride.co.uk/ BICESTER HUNT WITH WHADDON CHASE OPEN DAY AT THE KENNELS, STRATTON AUDLEY PONY SHOW 14.2 hh and under INTER HUNT RELAY Sunday 13 August The schedule for the Pony Show is attached – fantastic fun! Contents: Page 2: Chronological list of Branch events and activities – print and keep! Page 4: News and Reports Page 13: Forthcoming Rallies and Events - full info on all the rallies Page 18: Other Events - details of other competitions/events locally Page 19: Contact Details – print and keep! August 2017 Newsletter Bicester and Warden Hill Hunt Branch
Transcript
“As a member of the Pony Club, I stand for the best in sportsmanship as well as horsemanship. I
shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning or losing in my stride,
remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being. I
shall endeavour to treat my horse with consideration”.
In this Newsletter… • Show Jumping Rally – 9 August
• Mini and Younger Juniors Fun Ride – 21 August (NEW!)
• Pony Racing Rally/Fitness Training for Hunting + Eventing – 18 August (NEW!)
• Mounted Hound Exercise for Pony Club only – 16 August (NEW!)
• Hunting Certificate: information for those who would like to take it this season
• Dressage Rallies – 1 and 24 October (NEW!)
• Working Rally (Half Term) – 25 October (NEW!)
• Rider of the Month is Hannah Bowman
• Olympia Coach Trip – 18 December. Parking/coach at Horwell Farm, Baynards Green. Book now online as tickets are limited. Something to look forward to!
• Reports – Grafton Hunt Pony Club Pony Show, Area Eventing
• Oxford Riding Club Dressage Show: 20 August, nr Middle Barton. Friendly, on a surface.
• Whaddon Chase Pony Club Hunter Trials and Tetrathlon – 9 Sept, Plum Park – contact Deborah Gregory ([email protected]) if you would like to be on a Tet Team.
The schedule for the Pony Show is attached – fantastic fun! Contents: Page 2: Chronological list of Branch events and activities – print and keep! Page 4: News and Reports Page 13: Forthcoming Rallies and Events - full info on all the rallies Page 18: Other Events - details of other competitions/events locally Page 19: Contact Details – print and keep!
1. Scroll down this newsletter to ‘Forthcoming Rallies’ (after News and Reports) where you will find information about venue, time, cost and full details about the rally. If you’re booking a rally put this info in your diary for future reference!
2. Then book on line http://branches.pcuk.org/bicesterwardenhill/online-events-system/ 3. A few days before the rally look on the Branch website under ‘Rally Times’
http://branches.pcuk.org/bicesterwardenhill/rally-times-2/ to see which ride you are in.
Date Event Venue Organiser
Wed 9 Aug Show Jumping Rally 9 Fox Covert Farm Heidi Smith
Fri 11 Aug Mounted Games Rally Kirtlington Claire Minett
Wed 16 Aug B Test Ridden Training TBC Wendy Kerr
Wed 16 Aug Mounted Hound Exercise Waterloo Farm Bicester Hunt
Fri 18 Aug Pony Racing Rally/Fitness Training Twyford Mill Helen Day
Mon 21 Aug Mini and Younger Juniors Fun Ride Steeple Claydon Ingrid Hodges
Wed 23 Aug XC Rally – 45 cm+ Plum Park Deborah Gregory/Heidi Smith
Thu 24 Aug Regionals Dressage Team Bridget Evans
Wed 30 Aug B Test Ridden Training TBC Wendy Kerr
Sun 3 Sep Grafton PC Pony Racing Rally Adstone Shona Supple
Mon 4 Sep Mini and Younger Juniors Fun Day Chetwode Manor Theresa Harper
Thu 7 Sep Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Fri 8 Sep C+ Ridden Fox Covert Farm Bridget Evans
Sun 10 Sep B Test Swalcliffe Park Wendy Kerr
Wed 13 Sep B Test Ridden Training TBC Wendy Kerr
Thu 14 Sep Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Fri 15 Sep C+ Ridden Fox Covert Farm Bridget Evans
Thu 21 Sep Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Sun 24 Sep C+ Mock Test Grendon U’wood Bridget Evans
Wed 27 Sep B Test Ridden Training TBC Wendy Kerr
Thu 28 Sep Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Sun 1 Oct Dressage Rally TBC Pool Farm Katharine White
Thu 5 Oct Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Thu 12 Oct Tetrathlon Swim Training Stowe School Deborah Gregory
Sat 14 Oct C+ Test Grendon Underwood Bridget Evans
Tue 24 Oct Dressage Rally TBC Pool Farm Katharine White
Wed 25 Oct Working Rally Logg Farm Sarah Lloyd
Mon 18 Dec Olympia Coach Trip Olympia Hayleigh Ash
Sun 18 Mar 2018 SJ and Dressage Show Addington Kirstie Wakelin
Volunteers Volunteering is a prerequisite of membership and the more members who can help, the lighter the load for those members past and present who always do volunteer and the more events we can offer our members. There will be at least four events in 2018 which we will need your help with. You need to volunteer for either a full day or two half days. Bridget Evans (our Volunteers Co-ordinator) will be in touch nearer the time ([email protected]). Helping at Camp does not count towards your volunteering quota (sorry!).
Most of our Committee members work full time and four of them don’t even have a child in Pony Club so please do what you can to help and don’t always leave it to others.
Thank you to all those who have volunteered in 2017. Addington Show Jumping and Dressage, Bignell Hunter Trials, Marsh Gibbon Pony Show and Gawcott ODE have all been really successful this year, bringing in funds for our Branch with which we are subsidising Camps (to the tune of £3K) and rallies to make Pony Club more affordable for all. We couldn’t do it without our band of volunteers.
Advice from Chief Instructor, Emma Dyer
If your ponies have important competitions coming up, help keep them fresh and interested by providing a variety of exercise opportunities….hacking, lunging, schooling and jumping. Don’t bore
them with repetition. Remember it’s quality not quantity.
Your hat needs to be tagged with a white Pony Club tag before you take part in any PC rally or event. This can be done by your District Commissioner (Kirstie Wakelin), Assistant District Commissioner (Wendy Kerr) or Clare Davis (Area Teams Manager). Contact details are at the end of this newsletter.
Please can you also check your child’s stirrups (this is so important) and ensure that there is at least a ¼ inch gap (the thickness of a biro) between their boot and the stirrup (especially if you’ve recently bought them new boots). This is to prevent their foot being caught in the stirrup should they fall off.
To clarify the hat rule for those doing cross country, tetrathlon or pony racing read below:
For Cross-Country riding (over fences 0.80cm high and above), including Eventing, Tetrathlon, and Horse Trials (also Pony Racing) whether it be tests, rallies, competitions or training and Mounted Games competitions, a jockey skull cap of an even round or elliptical shape, with a smooth or slightly abrasive surface, having no peak or peak type extensions, no noticeable protuberances above the eyes to the front, not greater than 5mm, smooth or rounded in nature are permitted. A removable hat cover with a light flexible peak may be used if required. It is strongly recommended that a jockey skull cap is worn for cross country riding over lower fences.
Rafe Gordon and Gracie Catling Qualify for Royal London Show Rafe's first foray into showing on Noah was at Whitfield show in the 'Sports Horse' class and they performed beautifully. Noah didn't put a hoof wrong and even showed a lovely extended canter (despite Rafe asking beforehand 'how do I do an extended canter?’). We hear he rode beautifully.
Gracie Catling on Rocker also had a great weekend, he qualified for the U18’s British Dressage Novice semi-finals coming 2nd in his section at Moreton Morrell and then went to Whitfield and took champion in the hunter ring qualifying for Royal London - such a beautiful and versatile boy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violet Hawkins Qualifies for HOYS
Violet and her pony Hattrick qualified for HOYS in the Show Hunter Pony Lead Rein class. Her mother, Alex, thinks that the Friday Night Rally she went to previously will have been perfect preparation!! Congratulations Violet.
Pony Club Legend – Benji
Full Name: Mulberry Big Ben Age: 22 Owner: Kirstie Wakelin Cheeky Habit: Jumping hedges to avoid being caught in the field
Career Highlights: Winning the Pony Club Open Area Dengie Final and competing in the Pony Club class at Hickstead. He has also won and been second in the Hickstead NSEA competition. He has been a frequent visitor to Blenheim Horse Trials, having gone clear in the Inter Branch Pony Club Eventer Challenge three times – thought to be the only pony ever to have done so. All his riders have been privileged to ride such an amazing and kind pony. Rafe Gordon If you know of a Bicester Pony Club Legend Pony – get in touch, we’d love to hear ([email protected]). I will pass you onto Rafe Gordon who will be writing the article.
In his younger days he competed at the Horse of the Year Show in the Pony Newcomer and Pony Foxhunter Finals, finishing 3rd and 5th. We’re fortunate to have had him in Bicester Branch for many years now, being ridden by a succession of lucky riders. He’s been in the Open, Intermediate and Novice Area Teams ridden by Georgia Wakelin and Izzy Byron. This year Clara Petrillo borrowed him for Novice Area Show Jumping. He’s now being ridden by Charlotte and Olivia Whittingham.
Thank you to everyone who bought our sausage buns at Friday Night Rallies. We made £450 which meant we could provide a bouncy castle at Mini Camp, and it’s also helped pay for Dan and Dandi the circus act at Junior/Senior Camp.
Our Branch members will have been groaning under the weight of the rosettes that they won at the Grafton Hunt Pony Club Pony Show held at Mixbury on 22 July. It was a lovely show and really well run with lots of classes to enter (one for the diary for next year). For some of our members it was their first ever show and they should be especially proud of their achievements. The main show jumping arena had a challenging course – a skinny, plenty of fillers in the bigger classes and some tricky turns. Thank you to the Grafton for organising this – we all had great fun. Results are below – sorry if there are any mistakes! Working Hunter Pony (10 and under): 6th Bridget Harper (Trigger) Novice Working Hunter Pony: 4th Georgia Bullock, 6th Susie Dolan with Hannah Bowman doing a lovely clear. Open Working Hunter Pony: 1st Megan Churchill (Billy) Pony Club Pony (10 and under): 4th Tilly Scott (age 6), 6th Bridget Harper Pony Club Pony (12 and under) 1st Sadie Lloyd, 2nd Mia Ash, 4th Georgia Bullock, 5th Susie Dolan, 6th Poppy Colchester Hall Pony Club Pony (over 12): 3rd Phyllie Dolan Sweet Race: 2nd Tilly Scott Showing Championship: 1st Megan Churchill, 2nd Sadie Lloyd 40 cm Show Jumping (assisted): 1st Bridget Harper, 3rd William Hodges 40 cm Show Jumping (unassisted): 2nd William Hodges with Penny Harper clear but just outside the placings. 50 cm Show Jumping: 1st Thomas Harper (George) 65 cm Show Jumping: 3rd Hannah Bowman, 4th Mia Ash (Mole), 5th Thomas Harper (George) 75 cm Show Jumping: 1st Susie Dolan 85 cm Show Jumping: 1st Clara Petrillo (Pippa Sue), 3rd Megan Churchill Handy Pony: 1st Bonnie Harper (Sammy), 4th Bridget Harper Handy Pony: 1st Thomas Harper
A huge thank you to you all for making the Novice Area Eventing such a special day! Our members, parents and volunteers are a huge asset to our Branch and the Pony Club and what a pleasure it is to spend time with you all. I just wanted to add my congratulations to everyone and give a quick summary of results as it was a long day and not everyone was around from dawn until dusk! Novice (90/95 cm): Massive congratulations to Annie Simpson who finished on her dressage score to win her section and qualify for the Novice Eventing Championships! The Novice Team of Izzy Partridge, Katie Leach, Annie Simpson and Clara Petrillo ended up on good dressage scores and three double clears and were 3rd but sadly only the top two teams qualified. Clara, Katie and Rosie Olver all finished 7th in their sections and rode excellent double clears. Regional/Grassroots (80/85 cm): The team of Lucie Oakey, Helena Pryce, Megan Churchill and Nancy Simpson finished 6th and qualified for the Regional Land Rover Championships in September – well done girls, such a brilliant achievement in a large class! Helena rode a great round to be 5th and Nancy was 8th individually. Intermediate (1 m/1m 05): Connie Adams finished an excellent 3rd, but sadly didn’t qualify as only the top two qualified. With a dressage score of 24 and a clear cross country it was a very competitive section and a costly pole in the SJ dropped her to 3rd. Open: (1 m10/ 1m15): Zoe Kerr finished 2nd and qualified for the Open Eventing Championships! Another fantastic dressage test put Zoe in a great position but again penalties in the show jumping cost her a place, but a clear cross country kept Zoe well placed after only four of the nine competitors in the Open managed to get home clear.
Penny and Thomas Harper
I would also like to thank all the volunteers who helped from our Branch, some of whom you will have seen, but others you won’t have! I hope they enjoyed their day and being part of the Bicester team too! Thank you to Alexia & Georgie Lewis, Jess & Hannah Kerr for stewarding the dressage and to Sharon Byron and Emma Hall for tack checking every single competitor before they rode their dressage test! Out on the Cross Country course, Jane Strathdee, Julie Mott and Helen Clayton were fence judging and Ruthi Kraus (Becky Adam’s sister) was helping in the Show Jumping Commentary box. They were all there at 8am and didn’t finish until 6pm, so we are very grateful to them for giving up their day. Finally, what a team! Thank you to Claire for being a super Eventing Team Manager (hear, hear from all the parents and children!) and supporting us all year too. We have lots of plans for next year and building on the success of this year. Also, thank you to Katharine White, Tom Graham and Julia Catling for the dressage preparations and Sue Leach and Mandy McGlynn for the show jumping and Laura Jackson for the cross country. It all came together so well and I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you finally to all the mums (and Jonathan!) who are always so dedicated, well prepared and for getting all the girls ready. Clare Davis Area Teams Manager National Championships – Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire If anyone would like to come along and watch the Championships, this is when our members are competing: Friday 18th August: Novice Show Jumping and Dressage (we have teams in both) Saturday 19th August: Novice Eventing (Annie Simpson competing as an individual) Sunday 20th August: Intermediate Show Jumping: Elouise Burden competing. http://www.cholmondeleycastle.com/events/article/pony-club-championships
Those who jumped double clear should be very proud of themselves as this is a great achievement. The cross country proved difficult for some of you, but you will all have taken away things to work on and will come back stronger next year. It was a testing course for so many and as a branch we did very well. Thank you to Laura Jackson for course walking and helping yesterday, we will certainly keep her involved in future plans (thanks too from parents and children who really appreciated her support and mentoring)!
Lesson with Yogi Breisner – Primrosehill Farm, Gawcott
Weston on the Green, Nr Bicester 01869 350816
SPECIALIST HORSE FEED ADVICE
FROM THE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PAUL SCOTT
Lucie Oakey and Clara Petrillo were lucky enough to have their names ‘pulled out of a hat’ to win a lesson with former British Olympic Eventing Coach, Yogi Breisner, on 25 July. Each year the owners of Primrosehill Farm, Mr and Mrs Strangman, very generously organise a top cross country instructor to give a lesson to children from local Pony Clubs. The lesson was beyond fantastic (as you can imagine!) and they left with huge smiles on their faces. What an opportunity! Ella Baskerville and Amelie Gregory also had lessons as a prize for winning their classes at the Stowe Beagles Hunter Trials.
Ella Baskerville and Yogi Breisner
Clara Petrillo on Pippa Sue Lucie Oakey on Robbie (Yogi Breisner – left)
For anyone who is downhearted about not winning as many rosettes as they would have liked recently or feeling that their riding has perhaps stalled slightly (we all have that feeling sometimes!), here is an extract from an interview with Bruce Goodin, four times NZ Olympian Show Jumper (previously based near Finmere).
Bruce has something of a Zen approach when it comes to actually winning. “In show jumping, if your only satisfaction comes from winning, you’re going to be really miserable pretty quickly. Even Scott Brash loses more often than he wins. Scott might win more than anyone else does, but does he win 50% of his classes? No. It’s not like Usain Bolt, who wins every race. “So, I worked out that if all the focus is on winning, that way lies misery. Instead, I’m looking at how to improve my horses and ride better, and get satisfaction in that. And that’s why I’m enjoying it now more than I ever have before.”
Rider of the Month – Hannah Bowman
Being able to even take part in it was great, but I couldn’t believe it when ‘Star’ and I came 3rd in the 65 cm show-jumping competition after going clear around the course in 27.12 seconds. I was so proud of him as it meant we picked-up a ribbon at our very first show. All of the Bicester team and instructors have always been really nice and friendly and so supportive, and because of this, it has helped me quickly progress with my riding throughout this year. I love being a member of the Pony Club and I can’t wait to see what’s still to come.
The Bicester and Warden Hill Hunt Branch of the Pony Club has taught me so much already, and I’m still only in my first year of joining.
I have loved meeting new friends and trying out different riding disciplines, but am especially enjoying show-jumping at the moment.
Being part of Pony Club has given me so much more confidence, and this has allowed me to take part in my very first Pony Club competition this month.
I entered this picture into the national Pony Club artist competition; inspired to paint it after taking part in one of the Friday Night Rallies. The rally was under the most amazing sunset, and I will never forget that night. I’ve just heard that my painting has gone through to the second round.
Hannah Bowman
“In show jumping if your only satisfaction comes from winning, you’re going to be miserable pretty quickly”.
Your PC Hunting contacts are: Belinda Naylor (07831 519483) and Emma Dyer ([email protected]) if you have any questions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUNTING CERTIFICATE
If you would like to take your Hunting Certificate this season please get in touch with Belinda Naylor or Emma Dyer who are organising sessions out hunting and at the Kennels. Members wanting to take their Hunting Certificate are required to attend the following:
• One session at the Hunt Kennels, to include a talk from either the Huntsman, Whipper-in or Master with a tour of the kennels and stables.
• One mounted practical session at either the Kennels or other suitable place - to include opening and shutting gates and hunting conduct.
• One morning hunting accompanied by a suitable (nominated by the Branch of The Pony Club) adult.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bicester Hunt Dates for Your Diary Sunday 13 August – BHWC Country Fair, Team Relay and Mini Pony Show, The Kennels, Stratton Audley Wednesday 16 August: Mounted Hound Exercise – Waterloo Farm, Nr Fringford, OX27 8RH 7.30 am (they will be moving off at 7.30 am so arrive earlier) £5 to include refreshments. PONY CLUB MEMBERS ONLY (and any accompanying adults on a sensible horse). Wear tweed jacket and jods, no need to plait. If you don’t have a tweed jacket, just come in whatever you have – as long as you have a smile on your face! Kimblewick Hunt Fun Rides The Kimblewick Hunt are running some fun rides (some with hounds) as an introduction to hunting. Children are especially welcome. They’re a bit further afield but they sound as though they’ll be well worth going to. The South Oxfordshire Sponsored Ride (SOSR) is especially recommended: it’s on top of the beautiful Chilterns, well run and there are lots of jumps. Information: http://www.kimblewickhunt.co.uk/riding/index.htm Farmers Bloodhounds Hound Exercise http://www.farmersbloodhounds.co.uk/events.html for more dates. These are always brilliant.
Hunting
Our Branch is within the hunting country of the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase (the two hunts merged some years ago but the Pony Club Branches remained separate: Bicester and Warden Hill Hunt Branch and Whaddon Chase Branch). https://bicesterhunt.co.uk/
• Please remember that we can only process refunds requested AT LEAST 7 days before the event!
• Online Membership renewal is coming!!! Bicester Branch is taking part in trials over the summer ready for 2018 renewals!!!
• Any problems with online payments of entries please contact Wendy Kerr [email protected] rather than event organiser.
“Praise often, praise the smallest try. A touch, a walk, a break, a gallop, a long rein. A word filled with friendship and pride. Nothing builds confidence in horses like the acknowledgement of their good will and efforts to please”. Manolo Mendez (dressage rider) via Caroline Hunt (Bicester PC Dressage Instructor). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mounted Games Rally
Friday 11 August – 2 pm Kelburge, Weston on the Green. OX25 3TH (on the corner of the road which goes towards Kirtlington Polo Club – a mile or two outside Weston on the Green on the left– going towards Middleton Stoney).
Mounted Games Rally with Emily Gresty and Claire Minett. Open to all. There’s a great buzz with Mounted Games at our Branch and we now have a team. Come along and join in the fun whatever level you are. Organiser: Claire Minett ([email protected]) Cost: £10 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pony Racing Rally / Fitness Training for Hunting + Eventing
Friday 18 August Twyford Mill, Twyford, Buckingham, MK18 4HA PONY RACING RALLY. It will be a low-key rally with the emphasis on learning about balance and position. You can go on the gallops at a sedate pace (or otherwise if you prefer!) with ponies going separately if appropriate. It’s a good chance to learn about how to ride at speed safely but in a controlled environment. And it will be good fun too!
FITNESS TRAINING. Those of you who are planning on hunting this season will have already started getting your ponies fit. Come and have a go on the gallops with an instructor and learn about the correct way of getting your pony fit. This is also suitable for those who are eventing and want to maintain their pony’s fitness for the end of the eventing season. Wear your cross country colours if you would like. Organiser: Helen Day ([email protected]) Cost: £15 (subsidised) Directions
Twyford Mill is situated between Twyford and Poundon just off the Bicester Road. From the A4421 take the turning towards Godington and Poundon (Coming from Bicester this is on your right, coming from Buckingham this is on your left).Follow this road for approximately three miles – until you reach a pub on your right hand side. Immediately after the pub you reach the end of the road. Turn left towards Twyford. After half a mile, on a sharp right hand bend you will see the tree lined driveway for Twyford Mill Equestrian on your left. The driveway is half a mile long – and we are on the left at the very top. Please do not attempt to access via Mill Lane (from Twyford village). The lane is --very narrow and not suitable for any vehicle larger than a small car.
Monday 21 August – 10.30 am Stone Court Barn, West Street, Steeple Claydon, Bucks, MK18 2LJ. Please arrive for 10.30 am, ready to ride at 10.45 am for an hour long fun ride and treasure hunt around our farm. There will be no riding on roads. All Minis welcome, adults on foot (your child will need accompanying). Please bring a picnic to enjoy afterwards. There is plenty of parking at the second farm entrance. Organiser: Ingrid Hodges ([email protected]) Cost: £5 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dressage Rallies at Pool Farm, Stratton Audley, OX27 9AJ
In case you’re thinking that dressage and stable management isn’t important, read the quote below from former Chef D’Equipe of the US Show Jumping Team, George Harris
“Today is the time of the cheap read, read the old books. In the next generation that knowledge will be extinct. We will have lost the horse care, the stable management, I love the old, simple, good horse management that proceeds riding. Then you can’t ever learn enough dressage and that precedes jumping, and it all meshes together. It’s what Charlotte (Dujardin), Michi (Jung) and Nick (Skelton) are, they all meticulous, detailed horsemen – it’s all detail, all detail. In modern jumping circles, 10% are interested in dressage – the rest are just fascinated by gadgets.”
Sundays 1 and 24 October TBC – put dates in your diary. Details to follow. Organiser: Katharine White ([email protected]) Cost: TBC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Show Jumping Rallies – Fox Covert Farm, Marsh Gibbon Wednesday 9 August (Show Jumping Rally 9). September date to follow. Show Jumping rallies are open to all members, from those just starting out over fences (even cross poles of 45 cm – you just need to be off the lead rein) to regular competitors and those jumping over 1m. They are held monthly, indoors in winter and outside at other times. Rides are of three or four people. We are lucky to have the very experienced Rhian Jones as our regular instructor. She is known for her energy, enthusiasm and how quickly she is able to improve your riding and your horse/pony. Those who are able to attend her sessions regularly benefit immensely from her consistent approach, and learn to train their pony/horse for competition success. Organiser: Heidi Smith ([email protected]) Cost: £15. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross Country Rally
Wednesday 23 August Plum Park, near Towcester, NN12 6LQ 45cm+. Open to all but if you’re entering the Tet/Hunter Trials at Plum Park on 9/10 September it’s especially useful to come along. One and a half hours. You will need a body protector and a hat without a peak (see box below). Organiser: Deborah Gregory ([email protected]) Cost: £27.50 (subsidised)
“Thank you for the great rally. Rhian is a miracle worker!”
Penny Stephens
Every session begins with a warm up appropriate to your riding level, younger members being guided to improve themselves and senior members expected to concentrate on improving their horse’s way of going and think about warm up exercises to use in competition. Each lesson then goes on to link fences together into full courses of jumps so by the end of your hour lesson you will have jumped several different courses. For the younger members this can be an achievement in itself. More experienced members are expected to do much more than just ‘get round’, they are taught to concentrate on helping their horse by keeping them balanced at all times, recovering quickly from errors and the correct riding of different fences and combinations.
For cross country (at all heights for rallies and competing) and for pony racing (including training and rallies) you will need to have a body protector which meets BETA 2009 Level 3 standards (purple label). You will also need a hat without a peak.
Monday 4 September Chetwode Manor (many thanks to Mrs Collins, Mr and Mrs Sweeting and Mr and Mrs Naylor) 10.30 am start. Gymkhana games / mini show jumping / handy pony etc etc. Hopefully we will be outside in the big field, but if it is pouring with rain we can reroute to the indoor school. Parents will need to stay to lead children. Riding will be followed by a picnic - please bring a packed lunch. After lunch they can do a bit of dismounted running around to digest lunch, followed by swimming. Not sure when it will end - early afternoon sometime - depends a bit on how long they want to swim… Parking will be on the side of the drive as usual. For those who have not been here before, directions on how to find Chetwode Manor are on the PC website under Rallies. (Postcode is MK18 4BB but this takes you to completely the wrong place). Dress and tack as for rallies - also on website. Organiser: Theresa Harper ([email protected]) Cost: £15 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Test Training
Wednesdays 16 and 30 August, 13 and 27 September – all at 5 pm Fox Covert Farm, Marsh Gibbon and Addington/Quainton for XC and full SJ course. B Test Riding sessions have now been set up for the summer holidays – with a view to taking the test at Sept/Oct time. You will need to already have passed the C+ Test if you are planning on taking your B Test but this is open to any riders of B Test standard if there is space (even if you haven’t passed your C+). Instructor: Claire Holt
Organiser: Wendy Kerr ([email protected]) Cost £20 (rides of one hour) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Working Rally – Logg Farm, Oddington
Wednesday 25 October First ride (an hour each) in the morning, continuing into the afternoon. A fun rally for half term suitable for all. Organiser: Sarah Lloyd ([email protected]) Cost: £8
Monday 18 December There will be a coach trip to Olympia Horse Show. There are lots of shopping stalls to visit in the morning and then all the fun of the horse show in the afternoon. Park your car at Horwell Farm, Baynards Green where the coach will pick us up. Bookings now being taken on line. Organiser: Hayleigh Ash Cost: £42 (subsidised) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN BOOKING RALLIES:
• Book in at least a week before the rally
• Times will available on the website under Rally Times.
• Members should be properly turned out for all rallies – hairnets, plain jodphurs, shirt & tie or
polo shirt, sweatshirt or rugby shirts.
• No hoodies or earrings for riding.
• Body protectors must be worn for cross country.
• Neckstraps to be worn for rallies.
• Remember to thank your instructor.
• Please don’t coach your children from the sidelines. This is the job of the instructor.
• No dogs at all at rallies and siblings should be with an adult at all times and not allowed to
play elsewhere. Rallies are often held on working farms which can be dangerous.
Other Events 5 Aug Blakesley Show http://www.theblakesleyshow.co.uk/BDAS_Schedule.pdf 5 Aug Unaffiliated SJ – Cherwell Competition Centre 12 Aug Brailes Show http://www.brailesvillageshow.com/horse-show.html 13 Aug Bicester Hunt Mini Pony Show, Country Fair and Team Relay – The Kennels, Stratton Audley 16 Aug Unaffiliated SJ – Cherwell Competition Centre 19 + 20 Aug Eventing Weekend, Dallas Burston Polo Club (LandS Eventing) 19 + 20 Aug Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride 20 Aug Oxford Riding Club Dressage Show http://oxfordridingclub.co.uk/ 20 Aug North Oxon Riding Club Show, Bloxham http://www.northoxonridingclub.com/show/ 27 Aug ODE, Elmwood Equestrian, Bampton 27 Aug Warwickshire Hunt Team Chase, Watergall (north of Banbury) 28 Aug Winslow Horse Show 9 + 10 Sep Unaffiliated ODE, Crown Farm, Ascot under Wychwood https://www.horse-events.co.uk/ 9 Sep Whaddon Chase Hunter Trials and Tetrathlon, Plum Park, Nr Towcester 10 Sep Kirtlington Sponsored Ride http://kirtlington-sponsoredride.co.uk/ 16 Sep Super Arena Eventing, Dallas Burston Polo Club (LandS Eventing) 16 + 17 Sep Cotswold Farm Park Ride 17 Sep My First ODE, Woodland Hunt PC, near Henley on Thames 24 Sep Flamstead PC, ODE 30 Sep, 1 Oct Unaffiliated ODE, Swalcliffe 1 Oct South Oxfordshire Sponsored Ride (entries open 1 Aug), Kimblewick Hunt 7 Oct One Day Event, Offchurch Bury (LandS Eventing) 8 Oct Combined Training, Elmwood Equestrian, Bampton 15 Oct Beachborough Eventer Challenge, NSEA qualifier for Hickstead, Foxhill. 40 cm – 90 cm 28 Oct Hunter Trials, Elmwood Equestrian, Bampton 11 + 12 Nov Arena Tetrathlon (OBH Chilterns), Quainton Stud 25 Nov Strictly Come Dressage, Quainton Stud
