Harewood Combined Training Group

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Newsletter No 179– February 2008

Dear Member, 

It’s time to look forward to warmer weather, longer days and getting out competing, so our programme takes account of that. Our monthly dressage competitions finish for the summer next month, but we’ve some combined training competitions planned, jumping training, both cross country and show jumping and our usual lessons and clinics. 

We also have a planning group who meet every quarter to discuss the future programme, and it’s important for us to put on events that you want to go to. Nothing is more disheartening for the organiser or the person doing the demo if we have a poor turn out, and this has happened on a couple of occasions this winter.

 So, if you have suggestions, please call or e-mail. But, I’m working abroad in a different time zone between Feb 22 and March 10, so please don’t call my mobile during that time.

 Of course we have had a huge success story this winter with our Carl Hester demo. Over 500 people turned out to Ledston to see Carl and his horses, and we could have sold quite a few more tickets if we’d been able to fit people in. I hope you found the afternoon as inspirational as I did. Apart form the sheer spectacle of seeing world-class horses at various stages of their training, Carl’s attitude and philosophy was refreshing. He doesn’t ride with a whip, apart from using one on the ground to teach passage, and he doesn’t punish his horses if they get something wrong. He just quietly asks if they’ll do it again, and he accepts a horse that likes a buck and a squeal because he prefers hot horses! They all hack, go on the walker and go in the field. Quite the most heart-rending story he told was of the horse he bought from Germany who had to learn how to be turned out. Because the horse had been stabled all its life, when Carl took the head collar off in the field, she stood in the same position for two hours until he came to bring her in. Gradually she learned she was allowed to canter off, graze and be a horse.

 As usual, we’ve donated a portion of the income to charity, and the Air Ambulance has been sent £500. We’re also investing in extra jumps, so we’ll have a really smart set for the one day event.

 Still on the good news. I wrote last newsletter about Kenneth Clawson, the British Eventing team show jumping trainer, who did regular clinics for us until he was diagnosed with leukaemia. He was waiting for a bone marrow transplant, and when they found a donor, they discovered his blood had improved so much that he’s in remission for now. So, he’s looking forward to the Olympics and a new lease of life (literally). He will also be coming North for us again, so as soon as we have dates for a clinic, we’ll let you know.

ONE DAY EVENT

 Our annual one day event is coming up on April 27 at Felixkirk. We’re already on with the organisation, and we need your help as it takes over 70 volunteers to put on. If you are competing, perhaps you could help set up which we normally do on the Friday/Saturday before. If you aren’t, and you can spare a few hours in a really picturesque corner of North Yorkshire, your help would be really appreciated.

 Here are the jobs we need to fill.

 Dressage writers/stewards/runners: If you haven’t written this before it gives an insight into what the judge is looking for, so is instructive as well. Please call Sue and Andy Keane 01423 734449 if you can help. 

Show jumping stewards/help in course building/dismantling: Please call Judith Bennett if you can help 01423 815647.

 Cross country fence judges: Full instruction will be given, and the cross country steward will be on hand to help, offer advice etc. We need 20 pairs of people, so pack a picnic and come and spend a day in the country with a friend! Please call Richard Thompson 07867 934227.

 We also need score board writers, runners and extra help for the excellent scoring team. Please call Sue Emsley 01423 869414.

Finally, Trish Heaps is once again organising sponsorship. Last year we introduced fence sponsorship for a very modest fee – and we’ve 20 or so fences in each class to go at. Our commentator is great at name checking sponsors too, and we can put banners and branding in prominent places. So if you’ve a business you want to promote, or you’re family would like to put a bit back into the sport, it’s an ideal opportunity. Trish is on 07786 261308. 

For competitors, the schedule is attached. Please enter in plenty of time!

QUIZ NIGHT/TEAMS INFO   

 Only a small number of members ventured out for the teams and quiz night but it still proved to be a fun social evening.  This year members faced questions based around the seasons with an obligatory horsey round and tea break picture round added in.  This year's worthy winners were "Tania's Terrors": Tania Tulloch, Sue McNamara and Rachel Sykes.

 Judith and Claire ran through the significant rule changes on of the welcome changes being a widening of the eligibility criteria for horses in riding tests and dressage. This should give some previously excluded horses the chance to compete in these competitions.  Two new competitions have also been introduced this year, a novice pairs cross country competition and a novice winter dressage team competition.

 If you were not able to go to the teams and quiz night and are interested in teams you should complete the Members Interest Form, which you can find on the web site and send it to Judith.   

The Novice Indoor Show Jumping Area qualifier is due to run on 24th February but for the first time Harewood will not be sending a team due to lack of interest from members.

 After this, the next Area competition is the Cross Country which will be held at Epworth on 20th April, team places are limited so if you are keen to take part please get your forms back to Judith as soon as possible.

 Please remember that to compete you must have a valid flu certificate, all the dates right back to the first injection will be checked prior to competing and any error will result in disqualification.  If you are unsure about your certificate, Judith has flu vac checkers and can go through your certificate with you but this should be done well in advance you any competition as to compete your horse must have had the first two injections with the latter of these being not less than 7 days before the competition.

 As always a reminder about helping.  Teams have to provide help at all the events and we know that Harewood's job for all the area qualifying competitions will be scoring.  If you want to compete in a team you will need to be able to either help yourself or bring a helper to an event. Scoring has some advantages, firstly it's inside, definitely a bonus if the weather is not so good and if you haven't done this before don't worry, we always have an experienced scorer there to show anyone new the ropes and you don't have to be fantastic at maths.

 An IMPORTANT NOTE for anyone wanting to take part in the horse trial teams this year.  The Area Horse Trial at Bishop Burton runs the week after Bishop Burton holds their spring British Eventing event. Because of the timing of the two events if you compete at the BE event, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE in the Area competition with the same horse.

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Last modified: March 21, 2008