“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”.
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OCTOBER HALF TERM PROGRAMME
Sat 22 Show Jumping Team Training, Quainton – 80 cm + (FULL)
Mon 24Cross Country Rally, Swalcliffe – 70 cm +
Tue 25WHPC Show Jumping and Dressage Show, Bury Farm
Tue 25Mounted Games Rally, Aynho Fields
Wed 26Halloween Working Rally, Dry Leys Farm (see info about on line payment)
Fun, friends, chocolate, laughter, coffee, chatting…oh and riding!
Thu 27Children’s Meet
Fri 28Spooooky Halloween Mini and Younger Juniors Fun Ride, HorwellFm
Sun 30Dressage Rally with Tom Graham, Pool Farm
There’s just time to book in for most of the above events if you’re quick!
Email the organiser to see if there are spaces / waiting list.
- Annual Branch Awards Party – Sunday 27 November, 4 – 6 pm. Fringford Village Hall.
Save the date – invitation to follow.
- Festive Christmas Working Rally – 20 December, Logg Farm. This is going to be for everyone: run by Theresa Harper and Wendy Kerr so it’s going to be fun! More information in the November Newsletter but save the date.
- Lost Property - there was a hacking jacket left behind at camp at Quainton. It almost definitely belongs to a senior. It was found hanging on the fence at the entrance to the camping field and has a C Test felt on it. Someone must be missing it! Contact Bridget Evans . Last chance to claim it before it goes to the Pony Club shop!
- Reports: Cross Country Rally at Gawcott, Bury Farm Showjumping, Bicester Hunt Team Chase, Blenheim Fun Ride.
CAMP DATES 2017
CampVenueOrganiserDate
MiniHorwell FarmTheresa Harper25 – 27 July
JuniorQuainton StudHelen Day31 July – 4 August
SeniorQuainton StudSue Leach30 July – 4 August
Information to come out in early 2017
NEWS AND REPORTS
Cross Country Rally – Primrosehill Farm, Gawcott
Katie Robinson on Wee John at the Cross Country Rally
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OBHPC Show Jumping, Bury Farm
Bicester members had a great day at this show – with lots of rosettes being brought home.
Sadie Lloyd, Phyllie Dolan, Susie Dolan – Team 3rd 60 cm
90 cm: Another fantastic placing for our Branch – Katie Robinson, George Smith, Helena Pryce and Saskia Mohan came Team 4th. Saskia Mohan came 7th individually with Lucie Oakey and Isabella Smith also jumping great rounds.
Bicester Hunt Team Chase, Newton Morrell
On Sunday 9th October Billy and I took part in the Bicester Team Chase. Our team, organised by Helen Day was called the Dapper Dobbins Dinkies and consisted of Keeley North and Ella Bowerman from Bicester PC and Abi Byrd who is from the Cotswold PC and me. Sadie Lloyd was in another team called the Dapper Dobbins Young Guns. The sun shone for us and we had a fantastic round going clear over the biggest hedges I have ever jumped! It was amazing and such good fun. Sadly we weren't placed but Sadie’s team came 10th in the Novice which was brilliant! George and Isabella Smith came 4th in the Pairs. We can't wait to do it all again at the Grafton Team Chase Sunday 23rd Oct.
Megan Churchill
Age 11
Blenheim Fun Ride
Well done to Hayleigh Ash for organising her first Blenheim Fun Ride last month. The day went well and over 300 riders took part. Thank you to our volunteers who helped to make it a success. We have received this week a £1000 donation from Blenheim Horse Trials for organising this for them. Well done Hayleigh and the team!
Lottie Tutt Wins Newcomers at Horse of the Year Show
Lottie Tutt is in the news again with the following article appearing in the Horse and Hound this week. We are all beyond impressed. This is so well deserved, particularly as she has had this pony from a three year old and has done all the work herself.
If backing and producing the winner of the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers by the age of 15 wasn’t impressive enough, the precociously talented Lottie Tutt achieved the feat just days after a hunting fall left her unconscious. There was no indication that simply making it to HOYS had been in the balance as Lottie laid down a tight and clean jump-off performance on Derek Ricketts’ home-bred Market Angel. They carved a 1.43 second advantage over midfield leaders.
“I knew it was going to be a fast jump-off. I just took a gamble and it paid off,” said Lottie. “I wasn’t expecting it at all as Market Angel is only young and green, but I knew she had the scope.”
The daughter of Argento was bred to be a horse but didn’t grow, and was passed on to Lottie to produce when she was a three year old.
“Derek gave her to me straight away and I’ve doneeverything with her right from the beginning – which I like as you know them inside out,” said Lottie, who now plans to aim the British warmblood at European Trials next year. “She has theright brain and takes everything in her stride,” she added.
Caroline Hunt Wins at Sheepgate Home International Dressage
Caroline also features in the Horse and Hound this week with a high scoring win at Novice on Santa Rosalia.
Caroline, a BHSII freelance instructor, teamed up with Wendy Smith’s Sandro Hit mare a year ago. “She was bought from Germany and has been out of work for a while on maternity leave,” said Caroline. “Now she’s back competing she’s coming on in leaps and bounds. It seems that having a foal has done her good. When we arrived at Sheepgate she was very scared of the pond and ducks, so I wondered how she’d cope in the arena,” added Caroline, who runs a yard on the outskirts of Oxford. “But she was a really good girl – her attitude is what I’m most thrilled about.”
Volunteering
We organise events for the benefit of our members so they can have fun competing and also to raise funds in order to subsidise rallies and camps. Junior and Senior Camp particularly are hugely subsidised (to the tune of £3000 in 2016). We expect every family to give at least one day to help.You will need to be available to volunteer at least once. Many volunteers have a fantastic day at these events – so it needn’t be dull! We need all sorts of people to help – fence judges, sandwich makers, scorers, dressage writers, score collectors.
2017 BRANCH COMPETITION DATES
Sunday 19 MarchShow Jumping and Dressage Show, Addington Manor
Date TBCBignell Hunter Trials
Date TBCGawcott One Day Event
Date TBCMarsh Gibbon Pony Show
Do You Have a First Aid Qualification?
All of our instructors and Committee members have a first aid qualification. Kirstie Wakelin is currently updating our list and it would be helpful to know if any other parents are also first aiders – perhaps as teachers or at work. It needs to be at least a one day course. If you could let her know () that would be fantastic.
Coach Trip to Olympia – 19 December– half a dozen tickets left
Hayleigh Ash is organising a trip to Olympia for our Branch on Monday 19th December (the schools will have broken up) for the afternoon performance. We will arrive when the venue opens at 10 am which will give us plenty of time for shopping before the show starts at 12:30 pm. The coach will then bring us back after the show at 5:30 pm (finishes at 4:40 pm so plenty of time to get to the coach.)Email Hayleigh () in the first instance to confirm your interest, then immediately send off your reply slip along with your cheque. Hayleigh cannot book you a ticket until you have sent her a cheque (payable to Bicester Pony Club).
Tickets: £35.30. The cost of the coach is being paid for by the Branch (priority will be given to those parents who have volunteered this year). You need to be able to accompany your son or daughter. The coach will collect from Horwell Farm, Baynards Green, OX27 7SQ at 8 am and return from Olympia at 5:30 pm meaning we should get back to Horwell Farm at approximately 7:30 pm depending on traffic. Monday’s programme includes The Holly Speed Stakes, the Kennel Club Dog Agility, BSPS Mountain and Moorland Championship, Shetland Pony Grand National, Six Bar, International Displays and the Christmas Finale.
FORTHCOMING RALLIES AND EVENTS
DIRECTIONS AND POSTCODES FOR RALLIES AND EVENTS ARE ON THE BRANCH WEBSITE
Please book and pay for rallies well in advance of the cut-off date (usually two weeks beforehand). Please book early to avoid disappointment as the venue and instructors have to be booked weeks ahead. If the rallies are full there will be a waiting list and if there are cancellations there may be a last minute space. Once the times have been sent out there can be no refunds unless you have a vet’s or doctor’s certificate.
Halloween Working Rally– Dry Leys Farm, Quainton, HP22 4DL
Wednesday 26 October-Minis, Juniors and Seniors
This will be held indoors on a surface. There will be hourly slots 10 – 2 pm (Minis at 10 am, then Juniors, then Seniors). Times will be posted on the Branch website a few days before. Come dressed up if you want to (safely of course!).
(NB post code does NOT take you to the venue. Directions from the point indicated by the postcode: travel north towards Middle Claydon and Dry Leys Farm is on the left hand side after about 1/4 mile. PC signs will be out!!!!!!
Organiser: Wendy Kerr () Cost: £10
You can book in to and pay for, this rally online using our newOnline Entriespage (you will need a Paypal account). PLEASE have a go at this if you can and give me feedback. We are hoping to start taking all entries in this way by the new year at the latest (including renewing membership). Please be patient as we get to grips with the new system (and resolve the inevitable hitches!!!)
Update: We have been informed that the on line payments system is up and running and that it actually works!!!
You can, of course, still use the reply slips and send a cheque if you would rather!!
Mounted Games Rally
Tuesday 25 October
Aynho Fields, OX17 3AU
MOUNTED GAMES: Would you like to have some fun and play some games; do you enjoy the thrill of gymkhanas? Well now is your opportunity. Mounted Games are fun, fast and fantastic and suitable for all levels of riding. There’s bending, tyre, ball and bucket, flag and many, many more games to be enjoyed.
1 – 3 pm. Please be ready to ride by 1 pm.
Organiser: Claire Minett () Cost: £5
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Mini and Younger Juniors Spoooooky Halloween Fun Ride
Friday 28 October
Horwell Farm, Baynards Green, OX27 7SQ
A spooky gentle funridearound the wood with treats! Dress –Halloween!
Parents will need to stay to lead your child if they’re on the lead rein.
2.15 – 4 pm
Organiser: Theresa Harper ()Cost: £5
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Dressage Rallies at Pool Farm, Stratton Audley, OX27 9AJ
DRESSAGE RALLIES
The Sunday dressage rallies are held on a surface at Pool Farm and run approximately twice a month with either Caroline Hunt BHSII or Tom Graham. Caroline’s rallies (usually in the afternoon) are less expensive as she has threein a ride. Tom has a maximum of two (usually in the morning) and therefore costs slightly more.
Dressage rallies are a great way of keeping your pony/horse fit over the winter months, getting used to a new pony/horse and building a solid relationship, ironing out any problems or niggles you have in your competitive riding, challenging yourself and your pony with new movements or improving on movements that need more finesse. It also makes a huge difference to the way you ride, improving your own strength and stamina as well as your seat and your aids. All who have attended regularly notice a vast improvement in their riding, their pony’s way of going and, for all those competing, in their results, especially show jumping.
Tom Graham is our Dressage Team Trainer and he also coaches the morning sessions at Pool Farm, usually held on a Sunday. Tom’s rallies are conducted in pairs and he always asks what you would like to work on to help you make the improvements you seek. You do work hard and it is very worthwhile! We often run Test Clinics in the summer months too which is a great way of improving for competitions or trying out a new test before a competition or even dealing with competition nerves! Cost per rally with Tom is now £25 (two in a ride)
Caroline Hunt BHSII is another of our popular Dressage instructors (and her daughter is a member too) and she coaches the afternoon sessions at Pool Farm on a Sunday. Caroline conducts her rallies with 3-4 riders depending on age and experience and size of the pony. Again, working together you will improve and progress as she explains it all so clearly for all ages and capabilities. Cost per rally with Caroline is £15 (three in a ride).
Julia Catling who has coached our Grassroots and Prix Caprilli teams to much success, is a Dressage instructor and judge and again has a daughter in our pony club. She has very kindly agreed to introduce some Dressage to Music sessions over the next few months. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to try this out, have some fun with their pony, discover more music and probably surprise themselves too….maybe there are some more Dujardins out there just waiting to be discovered. ….
All are welcome to attend any of the rallies, whatever your age or experience, so do fill in a slip and book in for a rally. We hope to welcome familiar faces and new faces and encourage you to get the most out of your dressage experience. If you have any questions, do contact Katharine White on 07814 185779 or email her at
TOM GRAHAM
Sundays 30 October, 27 November and 4 December
CAROLINE HUNT
Sunday 6 November
Organiser: Katharine White () Cost £15 (Caroline) / £25 (Tom)
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Show Jumping Rallies – Logg Farm, Oddington, OX5 2QU
5 November(change of date from 12 Nov), 10 December
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.
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.
Organiser: Heidi Smith (). Cost: £15.
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Cross Country Rallies – Swalcliffe Park Equestrian, Nr Banbury
Monday 24 October, Saturday 26 November, Sunday 4 December
These rallies are for those who are safe in an open space and jumping 70 cm +. The land at Swalcliffe drains well so we are usually able to go ahead with our rallies.
Organiser: Bernadette Evans () Cost: £25
You will need to wear a body protector which meets BETA 2009 Level 3 standard, tagged hat and a neck strap.
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Show Jumping Team Rallies 2016/2017
Saturdays 22 October(full), 19 November, 17 December
Organiser: Sue Leach ( ) Cost: £30
Open to all members who are confidently jumping 80 cm plus. We are joining in with Mandy McGlynn’s BSJA sessions at Quainton in October, November and December. If you have any interest in attending please let me know - reply slips will also be posted on the Branch website. Reply slips need to be received by the Monday before the sessions so that groups can be co-ordinated and timeswill be published on the Wednesday beforehand. In order to be as viable as possibleplaces will only be allocated if cheques have been received - once times are published cancellations will not be refunded as it’s tricky to fill places at short notice.
In addition to the above Mandy has also offered to run some sessions at her yard in Edgcott with just two riders in each class. As there is no arena charge we are able to run at just £25 per child - this is great value so do let me know ASAP if you are interested so that I can assess demand and work out appropriate pairings anddates with Mandy.We will be holding an assessment rally in the Christmas holidays to see who looks likely to be ready to have a go at Area teams which run at four levels:
Grassroots: 80 cm
Novice:90 cm
Intermediate:100cm
Open:110cm
Show Jumping Rallies are open to members, but from Easter will be by invitation for Team Training. If you wish to be considered for Teams next year, you must attend three rallies from
1st July 2016. Camp counts as one rally. Please attend as many of the show jumping rallies as possible, either with Mandy or Rhian.