CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT RIDING CLUB. March 2006 Newsletter

Transcription

1 CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT RIDING CLUB March 2006 Newsletter Ramblings from the Chair By Karen Froud The lull of winter is over, and the Riding Club calendar is rapidly filling. The Area Novice Indoor SJ Qualifier has just taken place at Lordsbridge, with a large entry of teams. Competing here for the first time in several years I had the dubious pleasures of getting my lorry stuck in the mud of the horsebox park on arrival, followed by becoming the discard score of the team in both rounds! Not my most successful day ever. However the rest of my team performed faultlessly so we will be due to trek to Gloucestershire for the finals after Easter. Shortly after that will be the Annual Show at Cottenham on April 30th. The schedule is enclosed with this newsletter. It s a great family show, so do come along. As ever it all runs more smoothly with help, so anyone who could assist in setting up on the Saturday afternoon at 2pm, or clearing up at the end of the Sunday would be gratefully appreciated! Contact myself or Sharron Dyke. Although a confirmed sceptic when it comes to alternative medicine and healing techniques, my horses and I have recently sampled an Equine Touch body balance. From my own personal experience it was a most relaxing session, after which I felt considerably more supple, and was able, for once, to look over my right shoulder as far as my left! Read on for more details.. Good Luck to the Hunter Trials Team that has qualified for the finals at Alconbury in May. Do let your relevant Team Organiser know soon if you wish to compete in the summer Area Qualifiers. We want to send a good number of CDRC Teams! See you at Cottenham! Karen - 1 -

2 Area Novice Indoor Show Jumping Qualifier By Karen Froud This was hosted by CDRC at Lordsbridge Arena on Sunday February 26 th. It was a long and busy day with 17 junior teams and 12 senior teams competing for places at the Championships at Hartpury in April. We sent 4 teams: Senior teams: Cambridge Trinity Nicola Shaw Wendy Beal Sarah Simmons Karen Froud Cambridge Fitzwilliam Sarah Simmons Cathy Stringer Harriet Morris Teresa Knapp Junior Teams: Cambridge Sapphires Peter Collier Charlotte Horne Hannah Wing Holly Jukes Cambridge Rubies Hannah Wing Madeleine Dyke Daisy Frame Alice Ellison The courses, designed by Malcolm Buckingham, caused their share of grief and rolling poles through the day. The juniors jumped in the morning with victory going to Aspley Guise who had a zero score, second were the Holly Hill Jets on 4 faults and third were Huntingdon Orange on 8. Both the top two teams qualified. Cambridge Sapphires were 4 th. In the afternoon victory went to the home team of Cambridge Trinity who had a zero score, second were Rockingham Rebels and third Rockingham Raiders. Cambridge Fitzwilliam were 6 th. Many thanks to Judi Shaw and Sharron Dyke for organising the event; to all those who helped on the day and also to Teresa Knapp who was called in to ride at the 11 th hour on the Friday evening! Training - Novice Jumping This will be held at Ely Eventing Centre with Tina Ure on: Sat 8 th April Sat 6 th May Sat 10 th June. The first session is held at 2pm for 1 hour with a maximum of 4 riders per session. More than one session can be arranged if there is enough interest. These sessions are designed to improve horse and rider confidence, starting from poles on the ground, so everyone is welcome, even if you haven t done this before. Just let me know if you are interested and I will try to put you in a group of the same standard. Each session is 15 per person (separate cheques please for each lesson, payable to CDRC). Cheques and booking details to be sent to Alison Leonard (see diary)

3 Dressage - Training and Area Teams / Individuals By Alison Leonard If anyone is interested in dressage training we have the following sessions booked with Ruth Hurst: Sunday April 9 th Sunday May 14 th Sunday June 4 th These will take place at either Coveney or Isleham [both Ely way Ed.], tbc nearer the time. One session for a maximum of 4 people is currently booked for each date, but if demand is high enough, extra slots can be arranged. Cost is 15 per person per session. CDRC is again hosting the Area Dressage this year on Sunday 16 th July at Cottenham Racecourse. Classes are from Prelim to Medium and you can enter as a team or an individual. Please send me your name and details if interested (by post, phone or ) with the level that you are working at. If you have not competed at dressage before but would like to have a go, the Prelim tests consist of simple walk, trot and canter movements. You could always have a go at the dressage classes at the annual show on April 30 th to see how you get on! The Area Dressage to Music Qualifierrs are to be held on Sunday 18 th June at Fenning Farm, Soham. Dressage Tests for 2006 Qualifiers: Class Area Championships Novice Dress. Prelim 13 Prelim 14 Open Dress. Novice 21 Novice 21 Novice 26 Novice 26 Novice 30 Novice 30 Elem 43 Elem 43 Medium Dress. Med 64 Med 64 Pairs Dressage BRC 2004 BRC 2004 Rural Riders -- European Champs Test Dress. to Music BRC 2004 BRC 2004 Pairs to Music BRC 2003 BRC 2003 Riding Test RT6 RT7 RT8 RT9 Junior Dressage Prelim 13 Prelim 14 Novice 26 Novice 30 Junior Riding Test RT6 RT7 Junior Pairs BRC 2004 BRC 2004 Junior to Music BRC 2004 BRC 2004 Riding Test Teams We are hoping to send both senior and junior area teams for Riding Test this year. Several people should have benefited from the training with Kay Graves and Jane Baker on March 11 th by the time this is printed. Anyone interested contact Barbara Snowball or Lyndsay Smith

4 STOP PRESS! Riding Test and Equitation Jumping Update Following an interesting first training session at Ely Equestrian Centre, Kay Graves and Jane Baker have agreed to instruct at two further clinics, designed to aim riders specifically at these competitions. This time we will run both sessions on the same day, with the Riding Test in the morning and the Equitation Jumping in the afternoon. Riders can participate in one or both lessons, each of 1 hour. The dates are: May 6 th, 7 th or 27 th and June 10 th or 25 th. Contact Barbara Snowball to book places and to confirm dates. Bianca Seward-Morris Show Jumping Clinics Bianca is a young rider who has offered to run some jumping clinics at Mepal (nr. Sutton, Ely) using the club s show jumps. She has jumped at the Pony of the Year Show and been selected to jump on the England Squad twice. She has trained with Paul Nunn, Di Lampard and Barrett Watson. She has worked with all types of horses and ponies from novice to JA/Grade A and has reschooled a number of problem horses and ponies. Two sessions have been organised focusing on jumping exercises and jumping a course, but individual sessions at other times can be arranged. Contact Karen Froud to book. Senior Horse Trials Teams By Sonia Hanson The Horse Trials Qualifier is on 4 th June at Milton Keynes. This year there are classes for Novice, Intermediate and Open teams and individuals. The new Intermediate class has a maximum height of fences of 1metre in the show jumping and XC phases. The Novice and Open remain the same at 80cm and 1m10 respectively. All classes qualify for the Championships at Offchurch Bury on August 4 th -6 th. Dressage tests are Riding Club HN1 for the Novice, HI2(2006) for the Intermediate, and HO3 for the Open. (Juniors ride HN1). Anyone interested please contact me: soniahansen1970@hotmail.com or by April 25 th. Please note that all competitors need to present an up to date flu vaccination certificate; you will be asked to pay a contribution towards entry fees, and each team will need to provide at least one helper at the Event for part of the day. Junior Horse Trials Team This also runs at Milton Keynes EC on June 4 th and is over an 80cm course. Those interested please contact Sue Speller on or sue.c.speller@gsk.com before the end of April

5 Poplar Park Holiday By Alison Leonard Once again the Riding Club has booked Poplar Park for the Bank Holiday weekend May 26 th to 31 st. I have been for the last 2 years and have had a great time!!! [...to Ipswich and keep going. Ed] The horses are all stabled there and you can stay either in the house (limited space available) or sleep in lorries, tents, caravans etc. in a field near the stables. We have always been able to use the XC course with fences of all sizes and there is great hacking for those who don t wish to jump. The hacking is mostly through woodland with lovely ground and no need to ride on the roads. It is suitable for all types of riders and horses. Many people take young or inexperienced horses for a bit of fun and education (although if Pat Woodman offers to go with you for a quiet hack Beware!...our quiet hack soon resembled the members race at the local point to point once she spotted some fallen logs! Sorry Pat!) The venue usually runs a show on the Monday, with SJ, dressage and working hunter classes, so if anyone is interested we can try to obtain some schedules. There are lots of lovely pubs and walks in driving distance and weather permitting we can get together in the evenings for barbeques or similar. The holiday is booked from Friday afternoon to Wednesday lunchtime. Places are limited so please let me know if you are interested ASAP to avoid disappointment. The cost is 25 per night for a stable, straw, camping and use of the XC and show jumps. A limited number of B&B places are also available at 15 per night. Cindy's Big Adventure By Cindy Wells Oh dear, I've done a mad thing and have signed up to go to Iceland on the BHS Welfare Viking Challenge in August Details of the challenge ride can be found here: Welfare (along the top) Challenge Rides (down the side) "Riders who take part in this fundraising Challenge will have the chance to ride the famous Icelandic horses on their own territory. Negotiating Glacial Rivers, riding along the seashore and climbing mountain trails make for a varied and action packed event. These 13hh purebred horses are strong and sure-footed." Apparently I'll be spending approximately 7 hours in the saddle each day... well it is supposed to be a challenge! You can follow a link from that web page to a report written by someone who went last year, if you are interested in reading more about it. Not sure how I'll cope, but I'm really looking forward to it, although rather apprehensive too! Mind you, I'm not sure that Mr Fudge will appreciate the intensive training I have planned for the summer holidays to get me fit enough to ride for 7 hours a day! I am a little concerned that I might be the oldest rider going too :- (There are still places left if anyone out there would like to join me (please!). I am seeking sponsorship and/or donations. I have to raise a minimum of 1800 to go, but of course it is in a good cause. Offers of sponsorship and donations are gratefully received, thank you. I can accept cheques payable to the British Horse Society please. Otherwise perhaps you have something lying around at home, in the tack room or in your trailer or lorry that you don't want any more, but would still be useful to someone else. I am happy to accept goods donated which I can re-sell to - 5 -

6 help raise the money, they don't have to be horse-related! To contact me: call: ; by post: 22 Evergreens, Cambridge, CB4 1UP EQUINE TOUCH By Anna Cook July 2005 saw the start of my Equine Touch journey and ever since I have been amazed by the results of this gentle, hands-on discipline every time I carry out the routine on a horse. So what is Equine Touch? It is a series of gentle moves performed in a pattern over the whole of the horse s body, which can help the horse to rebalance from a cellular level. Which horses can this be of help to? Generally we do not keep our horses as nature intended, we keep them in paddocks and stables, strap saddles on and then sit on top and ask them to run, jump, dressage etc. If this sounds like your best friend then he or she may enjoy and benefit from an Equine Touch session. Equine Touch has helped horses overcome many problems, it can reduce pain, boost the circulation and lymphatic drainage and give the horse the chance to heal himself. What happens during a Touch session? Firstly the body worker will talk to the owner of the horse, then introduce themselves to the horse, look at and feel all over, start with a Basic Body Balance and go on to address any areas of concern. It is important to work with the horse and allow times for him to process the work during and after a session. Each horse is different, some go to sleep, some wake up, others are very interested in sniffing you. Pepper s story. Pepper is a small black pony who lives across the road from me. He is about 14 years old and had suffered from laminitis for some time. His owners had got the laminitis under control with restricted grazing, foot trimming and bute for the pain. He looked like an old pony, lay down for most of the time and had a very pottery stride. I offered him a basic body balance and did not find any areas of concern. He yawned, licked his lips and went off for his tea. Three days later I found him grazing on my front lawn having burst out from his post and rail paddock, he looked rather pleased with himself! As I returned him I noticed that he was nearly tracking up, not at all pottery, his coat was shiny and skin supple, he now had an outlook on life. At the time of writing he has been off bute for 3 months and when called in gallops across the paddock, bucking, to the gate. I am currently studying to be an Equine Touch Practitioner, if you would like me to body balance your horse, please give me a ring. Anna Cook or or albanycattle@btopenworld.com Find out more on the web site: or The Equine Touch National coordinator, Lyn Palmer, Home Farm, Westhay Road, Meare, Somerset, BA6 9TL. Tel: homewayfarm@aol.com Wanted I am looking for someone to accompany me on Pleasure Rides. If anyone is interested they can contact me, Fiona Christmas, on or by flc22@cam.ac.uk - 6 -