Brent Knoll Riding Club
March 2007 Newsletter

Hello All, Thank goodness the weather is a bit dryer, I was about to start building an Ark!
You will find I have enclosed your membership card for 2007, please sign it and keep it safe.

We finally got to do the Valentines ride which was windy but dry. There were 9 brave people turn up for chocolate and fizz, along with hot dogs and cake. Most had made an effort to have a heart visible and the junior winner was Claire Nightingales daughter Fae with a clipped heart on her pony. Laura Cavill won the senior prize, chocolates, which I think got home before they were all eaten. Toby and Brownie won the pony treats for their matching hearts on their bottoms!

The talk night by Scott Milnes from Bushy Equine was well attended with about 30 people spending a very informative evening, although some of the pictures had one or two looking the other way!! Scott went though various common illness and accidents and gave some very good advice on what to do and what not to do, ie don't put purple spray on something the vet is going to have to have a look at!! Scott then went on to answer a few queries that people had after finishing the slides. The pictures of wounds didn't stop the off the mound of food I'd made being eaten up!

Next on the agenda is the Inter Club Skittles evening, Wed March 21st at the Walnut Tree pub, (2 mins from Weston hospital) Woodspring have got 2 teams of 4, still waiting for Wessex and Blackdown to get back to me, we have got enough for a team, but could do with another 4 , so come on say you'll have a go, I've never even seen a match but will have a go!! It costs £5 including choice of light supper. If you want to come and just socialise/support that's great.

Paul Nicholls has said we can go for a visit to the yard in April. We are going on Sunday 29th so both the Cheltenham festival and the Grand National are out of the way. No charge, although they may ask for a donation to a charity, as Mary King did when we visited her. Meet 11am over there.

The Spring Show is on April 15th at the Hand EC, I've enclosed a schedule. If you are able to come and help PLEASE let me know, it would only be for a morning or afternoon, not all day and if enough help it would only need be for a couple of hours each, so please try to spare a bit of time.

I have arranged a Showing Clinic, Presentation & Ringcraft with Mike Tyrer being held at Vine Cottage, Clapton, they have a nice new indoor arena 3miles/5mins from the M5 jct 20, Clevedon to Portishead road, on Thursday 29th March 7.30pm. Mike will give tips on how to make the best of your horse and impress the judge, £5 ( £7.50 non members) including light refreshments. We will need 1 or 2 horses/ponies for a demo purpose, call me if you would like yours used. Mike is also looking for people interested in learning how to judge and is going to be running a training day, with people later on being able to assist a judge for practise. Directions, see Diary Dates.

We are going to run a members only dressage competition at Vine Cottage, Clapton, on Sat 28th April. We haven't had a members only dressage for some time so please come and support it. We will need writers, so let me know if you are able to help. I have enclosed a BKRC Walk & Trot test.

There are more lessons with Mary and Anna arranged, see Diary Dates for details. These have been very popular and will soon be going to evenings as the nights get lighter, so weekends will be free.
Andrea Sexton is doing a dressage clinic for us, Sat. 26th May at Clapton, 2 or 3 per 1hr session, cost £25 pp. Brilliant opportunity to brush up your skills or solve that little problem! We'll be indoors so can cope with whatever the weather throws at us.

The Area 12 Dressage to music is at Kingston Maurward on 28th May, contact Laura for details.
There is a Riding Clubs Team competition at the Badminton Dressage Championships on Thursday 19th July at Badminton Park, if you are interested in being on the team let Laura know.

Still need more details from you if you want to go to camp with your horse so we can choose when and where, please call/email with your preferred dates/place. Only have 2 people at the moment!
Anyone interested in taking their horse on holiday to Wales, Builth Wells, I have some leaflets from New House Farm, they do B&B, evening meals, camping, pub rides, maps and routes, escorts, a real variety for you to choose from, so visit www.new-house-farm.co.uk or sae to me for a leaflet.

I think that's all from me for now, see you soon,

Hilary

Brent Knoll RC Diary Dates

March
Wednesday 21st Inter Club Skittles night, Walnut Tree Pub, Hutton. Teams of 4 £5pp to include supper, choice of, curry, spaghetti bol or veggie option. Tel: Hilary 07703 289129

Saturday 24th Show jumping with Anna Gallie at Lympsham, 1 to 3pm, £12 max to book, contact Sally 07789 072433

Thurday 29th 7.30pm Showing Clinic at Vine Cottage, Clapton £5 BKRC £7.50 non includes light refreshments, Tel: Hilary 07703 289129 to book your place.
Direction- from M5 jct20, at roundabout take your last exit, to Nailsea, at next roundabout, take 1st exit, town/Portishead, at next roundabout (200yds) take last exit, Portishead, after about 1/4 mile there is a sign on the left for Clevedon School, opposite this is Nortons Wood Lane, turn right into it and continue for about 1mile, you will pass a field with hurdles in it and see post rail paddocks on your left, Vine Cottage is the next white cottage on left, but go past about 10yds and turn Left, between a low wooded gateway, you'll see what I mean! and drive down past the indoor school on your left.

Saturday 31st Lessons with Mary 10.30, max 4 let Bev know ASAP 07770 930067

April

Friday 6th Lessons with Mary at 5pm, details as March

Saturday 7th Show Jumping with Anna at Lympsham, details as March.

Sunday 15th Spring Show at Hand EC Clevedon

Saturday 21st Show Jumping with Anna at Lympsham, details as March

Saturday 28th Members Only Dressage competition at Vine Cottage, Clevedon.

Sunday 29th Visit to Paul Nicholls Racing Yard at Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet. Meet there 11am
contact Hilary 07703 289129.