Firstly – Don’t forget – coming up very soon – Showing clinic, Spring Show, Poles are Fun, Cross Country Clinic, Stud Visit, Summer Dressage Series & much more – so please read on! 

Once again our Supper Night at Dainton Park was very popular & everyone seemed to be enjoying the chance to get together for a chat over a lovely meal.  We had 36 prizes donated for the draw, which raised an amazing £130, beating last year!  So thank you everyone.  The Club has topped this up to £200 & it will be donated to the Devon Air Ambulance – a charity we all like to support, but hopefully will never have to use.

There was another good turnout for the “How to Ride a Dressage Test” lecture demo.  Thanks go to our guinea pigs Elaine & Jenkins, & to Sandra, who was kept busy with a continuous stream of questions.  It overran by ½ hour, but Sandra managed to cover all the queries raised.  Although it was requested at the AGM, the trot only dressage had to be cancelled due to lack of entries, though this may have been because it was over Easter.

Congratulations! Our Dressage Teams did very well at Hartpury on 4th March and 4th April–

Our team won the fun dressage to Music Championship.  It was organised by Nikki Morgan of Equitech Software Ltd - 'Dressage Divas' - The team was Becky Wright riding Papatu, Bernice McCance riding He's All White and Alison Moorhouse riding Ben.

On 4th we sent a team to the British Riding Clubs Winter Dressage Championships.  They did very well and came third.  It consisted of Lucy Baker on Go Large, Karen Long on Mastercard, Alison Moorhouse on Ben and Dani Wills on Mayhill Cuan.........Well Done Everyone!

There are still a few places left on Carmen Shah’s Showing Clinic at Redpost on 10^th May – details & application slip were in the February newsletter, or you can telephone Diane on the number below, as it is now very close to the date.  This is a good chance to pick up some pointers for your show presentation & ring craft skills before the main showing season begins – i.e. our Spring Show!!  

Don’t forget to come to our Open Spring Show, Bank Holiday Monday 26^th May at Redpost – Either to enter, to help or preferably both!!  The schedule is enclosed.  We hope there are classes to meet the needs of everyone – so please come along & support it.  If you are unsure about showing & would like a few tips before the Show, come to the Showing Clinic on 10^th May – see above.

If you are able to help, even for a short time PLEASE contact Diane Beer on 01364 652763 – NOW!!!

We would like to thank the following for very kindly sponsoring the Show this year Centrax Newton Abbot, The Palace Hotel Torquay & Old Manor Inns

Whoops!! - Please note the Flatwork Fun clinic with Sandra at Stonelands is on Saturday 5^th July & not the 6^th as advertised in the last newsletter.

Riding Club Camps

The May camp at Stockland Lovell is proving very popular again & 32 riders & seven non-riders have booked places, so Jenny has had to recruit Chris Johnson as an extra instructor to cope with demand.  Our thanks go to Jenny Jones & Lyn Edwards for organising these increasingly popular events.  If you are interested in going to the camp on 8^th-10^th September, please contact Lyn Edwards on 01626 351939 – as soon as possible, as places are filling up fast & will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  So, if you are interested –don’t hesitate.

Clinics

As Alison Abbey is going into hospital for an operation on her shoulder we have had to cancel her dressage clinic in May at Stallage.  She will be out of action for a while, so we haven’t arranged any more of her clinics over the Summer months.  But, she informs us that she should be fit for clinics in the Autumn & Winter – so keep an eye out for them in the August newsletter. We all wish Alison a speedy recovery.

The Poles are Fun clinic with Heather Venmore at Stonelands on 31^st May is aimed at those of you who don’t like to leave the ground – so it is not a showjumping clinic – the poles will be on the ground or just raised to cavalletti height – so go on – give it a go!  The application slip was in the last newsletter.

Justin Tuff’s Show Jumping Clinics – As Justin has been travelling further afield this year, we have only been able to secure provisional dates with him as they depend on his success abroad.  These dates are in the Diary Date section, but if you are interested please contact Michelle Harris on 01803 698471 before sending in you application slips.

Clare Sansom is taking Showjumping clinics right through to September, (so far!) Karen Lisk has a XC Clinic at California Cross on 24^thMay & Sandra Davis a Flatwork Fun Clinic at Stonelands on 5^thJuly.

Area Competitions

If you are interested in taking part in any of our Area team qualifiers please contact Becky Wright – beckyfwright@hotmail.co.uk .  Remember, to be eligible to enter, you must have been a club member for at least six weeks before the competition.  Your horse’s vaccinations must be up to date & you will be asked to produce proof of this & also produce your horse’s passport at the event as the organisers will need to inspect them – so check now & keep everything safe.

The dates are – 18^th May - Horse Trials & 12^th October – Cross Country, both at Southcott Farm, Winkleigh.  22^nd June–Show Jumping & Style Jumping & 6^th July–Dressage & Riding Tests, all at St Leonards, Launceston.

Competitions

A Dressage & Combined Training competition will be held at Coombe Park on Sunday 15^th June.  The Dressage will be indoors, the jumping on grass & warm up as usual in the outdoor school.  This was requested at the AGM – so please come along & support it!

Schedules are also enclosed for the Summer Dressage Series, which starts with the evenings of Wednesday 11^th June & Thursday 17^th July at Stonelands, followed by Sundays 3^rd August & 7^th September at Coombe Park.  There are plenty of trophies to be won.  Please read the restrictions carefully as they have changed from last year.

Horsey Car Boot Sale

This is being held at Stonelands on Wednesday evening 18^th June – so dig out all those unused horsey items you’ve stored away somewhere & make some cash – then you can buy some more!  It is £5 for sellers & £1 for buyers & it starts at 6.30pm but car boots can have entry to the field from 6pm.

Stud Visit

Sadly, last year we had to cancel our visit to Charles Upham’s Langaller Stud as heavy rain was forecast.  However, we have been invited back again this year on Friday evening 20^th June at 7pm.  Charles & his team always make us feel very welcome.  The evening will depend on the weather conditions, but usually starts with individual displays of his stallions, followed by a walk in the fields amongst the mares & foals & finishes with a good old chat over some very welcome refreshments!  It is open to members -£2 & friends -£3, with money being collected on the evening, but please telephone Annabel Ross by 13^th June (01626 821146) to let her know how many are coming, so that Charles knows how many to cater for. 

Pleasure Ride

We have permission to use the Duke of Somerset’s land at Berry Pomeroy in August for an evening pleasure ride, mainly across wooded areas, with the only road crossing being manned. We recommend you wear highly visable clothing so others are able to see you ahead & adjust their speed accordingly.  The start times will be staggered & there will be checkpoints along the way.  You may go at your own pace, but please bear in mind the wishes of others & pass other riders slowly & only after asking their permission.  Parking is at Coombe Park, which is only a short hack from the starting point.  Further details will be in the August newsletter or contact Michelle Harris 01803 698471 for date, times, cost etc – as these haven’t been finalised yet.

Quadrille

Elaine Cleverdon is aiming at putting together a Quadrille team for the Club this year.  This is a display of horsemanship that tells a story.  It is set to music, with a team of four riders all wearing costume.  Four teams will be selected at a selection trial, at the Dressage to Music Championships at Addington in October, to go forward to a Final at the Olympia Christmas Show.  The club has not done this for many years, but we did qualify for the Final in 1968.  Our team was called ‘Checkmates’ & performed movements to the ballet ‘Checkmate’ by Sir Arthur Bliss & came third.  Annette Frazier was part of the team then & she will be assisting Elaine this time.  If anyone is willing to help, in any way, with costumes etc. & would like to get involved please contact Elaine NOW – 01803 813428.

Although it seems a long way off, there is a lot to do & preparation needs to be started right away. 

Exams & Training  As usual if anyone is interested in any training leading to Riding Club Exams at any level please email Becky Wright – beckyfwright@hotmail.co.uk 

Help Needed

A student at Chester University, Ruth Jobling, has asked if any club members would be interested in taking part in her academic research project on ‘Equine Behaviour’.  There are two questionnaires to complete approx. a fortnight apart.  If you are interested, please contact Ruth on r.jobling@chester.ac.uk or 07795168488.

Gentle Reminders!

In order to satisfy our rapidly increasing membership we are arranging more & more events, & to share the workload, several committee members are acting as secretaries, so – Please read your newsletter carefully & make sure you send your entries, for clinics & competitions, to the correct person.

Once again we need to remind you about wearing the correct headgear when mounted.  This rule is for your own safety.  Please do not allow others, (children, friends etc) to ride on your horse – we must emphasise that due to very strict health & safety guidelines & insurance conditions, anyone mounted at any of our events – competing or not– must wear up-to-date standard headgear & properly adjusted & fastened – at all times.

Lastly, there should be no one on foot in the warm up area – e.g. instructors, helpers etc.– therefore boots, jackets, bandages etc. should be removed once you have left the practise area.  Thank you.

Hope you all have a very successful summer!

Diane and the Committee