STAFF COLLEGE & SANDHURST HUNT PONY CLUB
Information
As a Parent of a Pony Club Member, there are several things you will need to know about to ensure that your child gets the most out of their Membership.
There is also some important information regarding the
safety of your child such as the correct equipment and clothing as well
as
insurance information.
The Rules of The Pony Club -You should familiarise yourself with the rules of The Pony Club.
|
Do you
carry an Equine 1st aid kit with you when you're travelling and
attending events with your horses/ponies? |
Branch Newsletters
July - August 2008
September -October 2008
Staff College & Sandhurst Hunt Branch Annual Review 2010.
Welcome to the S.C. & S.H review for the 2010 season. This has been a challenging season, with new members joining the committee, new instructors, new ways of doing a few things within the branch, and of course me being new too.
This is my review of the events and activities that you all made possible with your efforts and enthusiasm.
Membership at 31st January 48.
We kicked off 2010 with Dressage training in January at Wellington. This covered three ability groups, finishing with a competition.
Mounted Games training started, so did the training for the National quiz.
February, we held a show jumping course at Wellington, again covering three ability groups and finishing with a clear round competition.
March, National Quiz and Horse and Blue Cross Pony Care Qualifiers hosted by us. This took place at the R.M.A. What a great place. The amazing hall was an ideal venue. This competition was the first of the 2010 Area Competitions, and what a start! Our senior team of Clare K, Dan, and Hayley W, qualified for the finals in Warwickshire. Well done to them.
Our annual parents’ meeting was held at the R.M.A. A lot of effort went into this; unfortunately it was not well supported. I think possibly a change of venue for next year, and throw it open to local children and parents to come along and meet us, see what goes on in our branch and join us.
March also saw the start of the Polocrosse rallies. Pollocrosse is proving to be very popular in our branch; we now have members who are very good.
Younger members started training for the “feeding achievement badge”. All passed the test at the end of the course.
April, the working rallies open to all, commenced in the pony club field. We have had a fantastic turnout for rallies this season. I was grateful for the use of the field next door to cater for such numbers. This has kindly been lent to us. I do think it gives the younger and less confident members something to aspire to, seeing the more senior rides at the same time. So for next year we will continue inviting ALL members to attend at the same time.
Introducing tack and turnout marks to the working rallies, initially viewed by some as a chore, has proved a great success. I have been very impressed by the effort put into this. Members who hold their C test and above are required to plait for a working rally. Plaiting now takes half the time it did do, for these members. I take great pride in the fact that members of the S.C. & S.H branch are always well turned out, and have done well in the tack & turnout competitions held this year against other branches.
Minis had a great time at the Easter egg rally.
A group took their riding and road safety badge.
May 23rd Area 13 mounted games. Our teams were competing to qualify for the zones held down in Taunton. Although trying their very best the senior team just missed qualifying. The members who took part were Samantha, Lucy B, Georgia, Chloe D, Michaela, Dec, Rachel, Oliver and Annie.
Training for D, D+, and C tests began, at the end of May the D and D+ test was taken.
Road rider course and exam taken.
Off to Wincanton for some racing. Oliver won; Dec won best technique, unlucky day for Clare K who had a false start.
At Lingfield races the boys were up against the pros but did us proud.
In June members enjoyed a hack around the Queens back garden, Windsor Great Park. This was followed by a picnic. They all had such a lovely time a request was put in for another one please!
C test exam.
C+ and B test training started.
July was a very busy month.
Pre area dressage competition both the novice and intermediate [this was a mixed team with two members from another branch] teams won. Novice team was Michaela, Clare K 3rd in her arena Camilla 2nd in her arena and Natalie was 4th. Intermediates were Hayley P.H who was 4th in her arena and Dan.
Area 13 Dressage at the B.C.A. If you remember this was one of the driest July months on record hence the ground was not at its best!
Intermediate team members were Charlotte, Rebecca, Dan, and Hayley P.H.
Novice team was Camilla, Ashley, Clare and Natalie they were 4th
Clare Kavanagh was 2nd in her arena missing the top slot by one collective mark! Clare went on to the National Novice Championships held way up in Cheshire, and was a fantastic 3rd she got to stand on the hallow winner’s podium. WELL DONE.
Michaela Wilson rode at the area as an individual she was 2nd in her arena so she too qualified to ride at the Championships. WELL DONE.
Our annual show was held in July this raised £1819.00 for branch funds.
The C+ test was held.
Area 13 Eventing held at Coombelands.
Novice team Camilla, Georgie, Ashley.
Camilla was 8th in her arena with 4faults SJ and clear XC.
Georgie was 4th in her arena with double clear XC and SJ
Ashley Harrison was 2nd in her arena, winning best dressage and clear SJ and XC.
Ashley qualified to go to the National Novice Championships up in Cheshire, where she did the branch proud. WELL DONE.
August yet another busy month for the branch.
Mini camp 17 members had a great time. Senior camp at Tweseldown, we joined up with members from the O.B.H.South branch and centre members from the R.M.A.
Until you get involved with a pony club camp, you will have no idea of the organisation that makes it possible.
Area 13 Show Jumping again held at the B.C.A.
Mini team was Rachel, Oliver, Jessica Stephens, and Nicole.
Novice teams, A team Georgie, Clare, Dan, and Natalie. B team Charlotte, Camilla, Dec, and Michaela. This team were placed in the tack and turnout competition.
Intermediate individuals were Ashley and Hayley P.H.
All rode very well.
Members put on a demo at the R.M.A. showing off their skills at M.G. and Pollocrosse.
September, I thoroughly enjoyed our fun afternoon. We had a handy pony, clear round jumping and a quiz. This event raised £233.00 for branch funds. Great fun!
Southern Mini Championships at Goodwood for the 12 and under of Area 13, we sent one show jumping team and one dressage team.
Southern Novice Championships we sent one eventing team and one show jumping team.
I’m sorry I haven’t listed in this review, the names of all the members who have been successful in passing tests. The E,D,D+,C, C+ tests, achievement badges, and the various riding and road safety tests, I would like to say to you all WELL DONE.
The test that follows the C+ is the B test, leading on to the lunge exam, the A test horse and pony care and the A test riding. Training and taking the B test and above, requires serious dedication. The tests are of an extremely high standard.
Dan Magee, Clare Kavanagh, Ashley Harrison, Hayley Phillips- Hart and George Walker all passed their B test.
Hayley Wilson passed her lunge exam. WELL DONE to you all, a fantastic achievement.
October, members enjoyed another hack around The Great Park at Windsor.
Hunting, we had members out at a meet with the R.M.A Drag Hunt, some were actually under control!
We held a fun Halloween afternoon; the costumes were very difficult to judge they all were so good.
D test taken, and another Riding and Road Safety test course, with a test at the end.
November, we braved the weather and the directions! to go XC schooling down near Winchester.
We held our first equine car boot sale; this raised over £200.00 for branch funds.
I was surprised not to see more of you supporting this.
Coming up we have our minis Christmas fun afternoon, with a musical ride.
Plans as I write these are being made, to hold Dressage and SJ courses early on next season, book XC schooling, and much much more.
I have only mentioned the Area Teams. Many of you were in teams competing against other branches up and down the country, doing a fabulous job representing our branch. THANK YOU.
Please accept my apologies for missing any of you out, or an event you feel I should have mentioned.
I would like to point out we held 10 working rallies open to all, had 32 discipline specific rallies open to all, and so far this year held 15 mini only events. I lost count of the number of team training sessions!
21 members represented the branch in teams.
24 members passed achievement badges.
19 members passed tests.
Membership to date 69!
My thanks go to the instructors, volunteers, Mums and Dads, my very hard working committee, and most importantly you the members for making it a great year.
My turkeys look plump and delicious so it must be time to wish you all a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a GREAT NEW YEAR.
Gina.