Teme Valley Hunt News

Teme Valley Hunt Pony Club Newsletter

March  2008

* Firstly let me say sorry for getting this newsletter out later than I had hoped.  There just are not enough hours in the day.  It means some of the Easter activities planned are coming up very soon, so please can you contact either Pussy (01597 810230) or Jackie Williams (01597 851519) to let us know which you are coming to, as soon as you possibly can.

*Again this year the Pony Club are going to have a Cake Stall to raise funds at the Teme Valley Hunt Point-to-Point at Brampton Bryan on 22nd March at 2 pm.  Last year we raised a wonderful £140 due to the fantastic cakes you all made; please, please, please can you try to bake us a cake or flapjacks or any sweet things you like.  We will be collecting cakes from anyone who cannot make it to Brampton Bryan; just let us know and we will come and collect from you.  Please ring Jackie or Pussy.  It would be great to see as many Pony Club members as possible come to help on the stall; it is a really enjoyable afternoon and helps raise much needed funds.

*If you would like to take part in training for any of the Area events please contact;

Heather Jones 01544 370228 for Show Jumping

Pussy Baird-Murray 01597 810230 for Dressage

Donna Jones  01544 267807 for Senior Eventing

Jackie Mundy 01544 267251 for Junior Eventing

*Rallies continue to cost £10 - however we sometimes lose money on rallies when people drop out at the last minute.  Please try to let us know as soon as possible as the number of instructors may have to be changed.  We will continue to charge £15 for late bookings.  Also could you all make sure that members arrive for rallies in plenty of time; lately there have been delays in starting by late arrivals, which means you all get less teaching time.  Try to get there 30 mins before the start in order to be mounted and ready on time.

Don't forget your Tack and Turnout points at each rally will be added up and prizes given out at Camp

*Reminders - remember that you will need your pony's passport for Camp and that all ponies should be fully vaccinacted for 'flu.  Vaccination certificates will have to be checked.

*Our plans for Senior Camp have been changed due to low take up.  Instead of a three day camp at Tack Farm we now plan a series of three day rallies over June and July.  We will contact Seniors when the dates are confirmed

* The next Committee Meeting will be at Billy's on April 29th at 7pm

*Dates for the Diary

March

-22nd  Teme Valley Hunt Point-to-Point, Brampton Bryan 2 pm - can all Pony Club members    contribute a cake please

-24th  Team Show Jumping Competition at Hartpury - contact Heather Jones 01544 370228

-25th  Dressage Rally at Heart of Wales with Wendy Wilcox-Jones.  B testers 9.30-11am (then Stable Management with Jackie Naughton til 12) 11-1pm all others.  Please ring Pussy as soon as possible on 01597 810230 to book a place.  Cost per session £10-15 depending on numbers

-26th  Rally at Heart of Wales for younger members ie. 10 and under.  11am til 3 pm Fun day planned with lessons,Treasure Hunt, games and gymkana.  Please bring packed lunch and haynet.  £10 each,  book with Jackie Williams on 01597 851519

-30th  Radnor Riding Club Fun Ride, Radnor Forest

-31st  Shooting practice, St Harmon 3-4pm,  for all those interested in Tetrathlon.  Book in with Pussy (01597 810230)

April

-2nd  Show Jumping Rally at Heart of Wales with Mark Haines 2-5pm (three groups for one hour each £10 per rider)  Please ring Pussy to book in as soon as possible

-3rd  Show Jumping competition at Underhills.  Kath for details

-5th  Fun Ride at Caradoc near Ross-on-Wye  ring 01981 580562 for details

-6th  Tack Farm Hunter Trial and Show Jumping Competition

-12-13th Brecon and Talybont Hunt PC  Tetrathlon

-13th Brecon and Talybont Hunt Pony Club Hunter Trials, Felinewydd, Llyswen

-20th  Monthly Pony Club rally at Heart of Wales - book in with Jackie Williams

-26th Team Show Jumping competition at Hartpury, Glos

May

-1-4th Badminton Horse Trials

-4th  Fun Ride Clifton-on-Teme - ring 01886 853651 for information

-5th  North Hereford Pony Club Hunter Trial - Hilltop, Ledbury

-24th Kingsland Show

-25th Ledbury Pony Club Cross Country Competition, Gadbury

-26th Llanbister Show

-30th  Eventing Training, Triley Fields Equestrian Centre, Abergavenny.  (Ring Sandra Fisher 01633 881019)

June

-15th  Fun Ride Brampton Bryan (Teme Valley Hunt)

July

-6th  Golden Valley Hunt Pony Club Show, Clyro Court

-25th  Area Tetrathlon

-30th Area Eventing

August

-3rd Pilleth Show

-3rd  Area Dressage

-5th  Area Show Jumping

-10-15th Pony Club Camp at Heart of Wales (set up 10th, ride 11th onward, competitions 15th)

-17th-21st  Pony Club Championships, Draycott House, Derbyshire

FOR SALE   - please let me know if you wish to put any horses or ponies in this section of the next newsletter

Murphy - 15.3hh 9 year old Bay Gelding Irish Sports Horse.  Exceptional Show Jumper, ideal teenagers PC/RC.  Ready to Affilliate SJ.  Good to Shoe, Clip & Catch.  Fully Vaccinated, Hacks alone or in company. Regretable sale as youngstock coming through. 

Lola - 14.3hh 6 year old Black DalesXCob type Mare.  Forward going, snaffle mouthed, lovely paces.  Will make excellent allrounder for an experienced rider.  Hacks alone and in company.  Good to Box, shoe, clip

for both ring Jess/Kath 01597 851890 (day) or 07745647225 (eve)

Tests

The Pony Club Training structure encourages Members to take tests which enable them to learn progressively about horse and pony care, and riding.  The tests are taken at recommended ages and are designed with certain objectives in mind.  I thought it might help members and parents if you had a brief note of these.

D Standard

Objectives; To have a basic understanding of ponies, to achieve condifence in handling and riding a pony, to improve and enjoy learning about ponies.  Recommended minimum age 8

D+ Standard

Objectives; To be working towards developing a balanced seat independent of the reins, to understand elementary aids and be able to apply them.  Recommended age 10

Riding and Road Safety

The Pony Club is a leader in the promotion of road safety.  Members are taught the importance and need for care and courtesy on the roads and prepared for The Pony Club or British Horse Society's Road Safety Tests.  A booklet called 'Junior Road Rider' has been produced by the Pony Club and is essential reading. The British Horse Society publication 'Riding and Roadcraft' can also be bought from the Pony Club Office and covers the subject in greater detail.  Members should all have a copy.  Recommended minimum age 11

C Standard

Objectives; To understand the importance of, and be working towards a secure seat independent of the reins, to apply simple aids correctly, to have a knowledge of the care and working of a pony off grass, to be in control of the pony on the roads and in the countryside.  To have a proper regard for country lore.  Riding and Road Safety test must be taken before beginning training for C Standard.  Recommended minimum age 11

C+ Standard

Objectives; To become an educated and practical horseman, to ride over fences at all paces, to gain practical experience and knowledge of the care of a stabled pony and of a pony at grass.  To be capable of riding a well-mannered pony out hunting and in all Pony Club activities, to ride intelligently and with due regard for others on the roads and in the country, and with a knowledge of of pace, distance and discipline when riding alone and in groups.  Recommended minimum age 14

B Standard - comes in two parts;

Horse and Pony Care; Objectives; To gain practical experience and knowledge of the care of a stabled pony and of a pony at grass.  To look after a pony before, during and after a day's hunting or other activity.  Recommended minimum age 15

Riding; Objectives; To become an effective horseman who knows the reasons for what he is doing.  To ride over fences at all paces, to be capable of riding a well-mannered horse or pony out hunting, in horse trials, or on a long distance ride.  To look after a pony before, during and after a day's hunting or other activity.  To ride intelligently and with due regard to others in the countyr, with a  knowledge of pace, distance and discipline when riding alone or in groups.  Recommended minimum age 15

NB  Members holding the full B Test are allowed direct entry to BHS Stage III

AH Test -This replaces the Horsemastership part of the A test and these are the highest Test of horsemanship available in the Pony Club

A Test - Riding; this is a world wide recognised  qualification and much sought after.