Category: News/Blog

TDRC October/November 2024 News

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Welcome to the latest newsletter. There are lots of things to report and lots of events coming up.

Autumn Showing Show

We couldn’t have asked for a better day for the weather the sun shone all day.

A massive thank you to our two lovely Judges Lindsay Opperman & Charlotte Warman.

It was great to see members dipping their toes in to the world of showing not technically a BRC event but great effort in turnout and presentation by all those taking part.

Kathryn Martin took the morning in hand championship with Samuel Jackson who looked superb in the autumn sun following his retirement from racing. Gail Rawlings & her little TGC type Sir Scoffalotte at Ombre taking reserve.

Morning Ridden championship was won by committee member Ros Whiskers and her lovely grey mare Willow (great to see them back out after minor injury) and reserve champion Chloe Fisher with her own Fleetwood Chance Encounter.

The afternoon finale was won by Chloe Fisher & Fleetwood Chance Encounter who managed to go 1 better than the morning session with TDRC member Celia Bellamy pulling in Reserve with committee favourite toptime Taliesin (Tally to his friends)

An update from Colleen

Congratulations to all our members who took part in the Area 12 Novice Qualifiers. We had 2 senior teams and a junior team, and there were lots of lovely rides and great scores across the board! Such a wonderful day and well-run competition – huge well done to everyone!

Saturday, 9th November 2024 – DTMusic Qualifiers at Bicton College

Upcoming this weekend DTMusic Qualifiers at Bicton College is all levels (Area 12 Dressage to Music Qualifiers). Intermediate Qualifiers, with levels from Prelim to Elementary, are Feb 2nd so please put it in your calendar!

Evenings at West Buckland Village Hall

We have some educational and fun Social Evenings upcoming at West Buckland village hall from 7pm – 9pm. They are £10 a head including nibbles and drinks, and a 2 hour lecture or discussion with different topics:

Tuesday, 19th November 2024 – Is My Horse Happy?

Popular and knowledgeable equine osteopath Bryony Burt will be giving a talk titled ‘Is My Horse Happy’. This hot topic is relevant to all horse owners as we navigate our social licence to operate within all equestrian disciplines. Discover what our horses need to live a happy life, how to recognise a happy horse, and an unhappy one, how posture is a key indicator of global wellbeing and how your horse’s happiness can affect its performance.

Ticket Link: Unmounted Social Evening – Bryony Burt, Equine Osteopath

Tuesday, 7th January 2025 – Evaluating Horses for Sport

Learn how to evaluate any horse for their potential in sport – Dressage, Eventing, and Showjumping. Looking at various aspects of conformation and movement to give you a “crystal ball” into their future and judge their likely ability at their chosen discipline.

Tuesday, 18th February 2025 – Breaking Down Test Movements

An in-depth look at the new BD tests at various levels, picking out specific movements to analyse their purpose – what they are testing for, what skills you need to perform them well, and what the judges would like to see. Knowing the purpose of the movements can help give your training direction and help raise your scores!

Upcoming Training:

Jump training available in November (Both with Gaynor Lomas).

Saturday, 9th November 2024 – Showjumping – TDRC Training Day

Sunday, 17th November 2024 – Showjumping &/XC Technical – TDRC Training Day

We know there are some members with new and young horses if you would like a polework/cross pole lesson please do enter the above and add in the notes POLES.

Friday, 22nd November 2024 – Evening Dressage Training at Conquest (pairs) – TDRC Evening Dressage Training @Conquest EC- Members only

Friday, 13th December 2024 – Dressage Training at Cordings Farm 

Saturday, 21st December 2024 – Christmas Themed Pole Clinic at Conquest – Fun Xmas Indoor Pole Clinic w Colleen Knox

We have 2 competitions left for 2024

Sunday, 1st December 2024 – Dressage Championship (including open classes) – Unaffilated Dressage

This dressage competition comes with a HUGE incentive; you could win £50 per Championship class!!

Any rider who has gained 64% or higher in any TDRC dressage competition throughout 2024 is eligible to enter this Amazing event. 

Just head on over to Equoevents.co.uk and scroll down to this unaffiliated dressage competition and ENTER; it’s as easy as that!

There are also warm up classes to enter which can help get you and your horses movements just right for the grand finale. And it’s all at Stockland Lovell EC.

What a great way to start the Christmas season.

Jane, Ros and the rest of the TDRC committee look forward to seeing you there.

Sunday, 15th December 2024 – Xmas SJ (Xmas Jumpers encouraged) – TDRC Xmas Showjumping

Both held at Stockland Lovell Equestrian

TDRC Socials

We ran Halloween Bingo – thank you to all those who made the evening spooktacular !!

Amazing Fancy Dress on show and brilliant big beefy burgers.

Our next social evening is Xmas Party/Quiz – look out on Equo soon for tickets.

Wednesday, 18th December 2024 – Bishop Hull Hub.

Hopefully we will see you there. 

The next newsletter will be at the start of December. Where has the year gone!

TDRC September/October 2024 News

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Below are a few updates as well as some future dates to look forward to.

Please remember to contact a member of the committee if you wish to volunteer at any of the events.

An update from Colleen

Thank you to everyone who came to the Dressage Camp at Stockland Lovell in September. The Camp events included test riding, training, poles, hacking, quizzes, a rider simulator, sports massage and even a mini-competition. It was such a lovely few days with wonderful people, lots of laughs and learning, and less rain than we thought we’d have! Huge thanks to instructors Julie Chapman and Andrea Dobson, who also judged for us.

Upcoming Area 12 competitions:

20 October – Intro Qualifiers at Coxleigh Barton, run by SMRC (Intro and Prelim levels)
3 November – Novice Qualifiers at KSEC (Intro, Prelim and Novice)
9 November – DTMusic Qualifiers at Bicton College (all levels)

Please let me know if you’d like to be on a team – everyone is welcome! If you would like to try and qualify for the Spring Champs at Arena UK, I need to know 21 days before the event to get your prelim entry in.

Evenings at Conquest are back! Always a great time out of the elements – one per month from October through January. Discount for 2024 volunteers.

Upcoming Dressage Training:

11th Oct – Day Training at Cordings Farm
11th Oct – Evening Training in pairs on Conquest EC
19th – Pole Clinic at Cordings Farm, afternoon/evening only
25th – Training & Test Riding at Cordings Farm

Area 12 Camp – 26-28th April 2024 (Stockland Lovell Equestrian)

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A chance to spend a lovely weekend away with your horse and like-minded people.

What’s included:

  • A massive 6 hours of instruction over the weekend (with a flat-only option)
  • Accommodation in beautiful wooden log cabins
  • Glorious home-cooked meals
  • Stable, bedding and hay/haylage
  • Evening Entertainment for both nights
  • Topsec in attendance to provide feeding help and support

Lesson choices will range from the following:

  • XC
  • XC Technical (Arena Based)
  • Poles & Grids
  • Showjumping
  • Dressage & Flat

Instructors Confirmed

  • Jane Reed – Performance Coach BHSI
  • Jayne Smart – BHS Fellow
  • Clare Chamberlayne – BHSI, RoR coach, Sports psychologist.

Cost: £275 – Area 12 Members (£290 for other BRC Members) £50 deposit via Equo to secure space.

Dressage update (February 2024)

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Well done to our competitors at the Area 12 Competitions this last month!

At the Intermediate Dressage Qualifiers at Kings Sedgemoor EC on Feb 3, we had riders placed in most classes, including Caroline Tilley, Ella Weeks and Cheryl Green, all in the top 10 of a large Prelim 18 NQ class. Julie Chapman also placed 3rd in her close Elementary class on 68.13%, and won the Medium 63 on 65%. Amazing result!

The weekend before, junior member Claudia Knox tried her hand at the Dressage to Music Qualifiers at Bicton College, riding at Novice level. She gained a 71.94% and earned a qualification to the DTM Championships at Bury Farm in March.

The next qualifier for Dressage is the Summer Qualifier at Chard on 6 July. Until then, we have lots of training available with Colleen Hoekstra Knox at Cordings Farm in West Buckland (bookings up on Equo shortly):

Sat 16 March – Pole Clinic 

Sun 24 March & Sat 20 April – Test Riding – practice current or new tests, with or without poles and cones to “guide” you through the movements

Sat 4 May – Pole Clinic

Fri 17 May – Test Riding – practice current or new tests, with or without poles and cones to “guide” you through the movements

As always, ad hoc training is available with Colleen on Fridays at a discounted rate for pairs (£25 each) and individuals (£35). 


We also have 3 Social Lecture/Demos upcoming at West Buckland Village Hall from 7-9pm, themes TBC but will include Rider Psychology and Judging the Sport Horse: Movement, Conformation and Bloodlines:
Fri 22 March
Fri 12 April
Fri 31 May

We will be looking to run training days at other venues as well, so please keep an eye on the FB page and Equo!

Finally, we would like to announce TDRC’s first Dressage Camp 20-22 Sept at Stockland Lovell, which will include your choice of personalised training sessions, rider position/biomechanics, pole work, test riding, rider psychology, evening speakers, sports massage, and more! Confirmed instructors are Colleen Knox, Julie Chapman and Andrea Dobson, and sports massage therapist Catherine Jones. Full details, including bookings, will be released shortly! 

TDRC AGM COMMITTEE MEETING – 10 February 2024 (minutes)

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Meeting open 7:15
Apologies : Sarah Thorne, Zoe Stanbury

Chairman’s review of 2023

Downside

  • The loss of the ODE at Pontispool
  • Loss of the use of membership mojo – if you are having issues with renewing your membership please let committee members know so that we can help

Ups

  • Fantastic training – using instructors such as Jayne Smart, Andrew Lovell etc.
  • Success from Area 12 shows – winners in 70, 80 and 90, senior dressage also had great results
  • Socials – barn dance, bingo, quizzes, car boot sale
  • Dressage shows, showjumping – we had lots of these
  • Camp run in conjunction with Quantock

2024

  • Training – there will be training with instructors such as Andrew Lovell and Jayne Smart
  • We will be running Area 12 ODE in conjunction with Quantock at Mendip Plains
  • Dressage/pole work camp
  • TDRC on tour – members will be returning to Cricklands, please contact a committee member if you are interested

Finance overview

  • Email Amanda with any queries
  • Please see sheet given out at AGM
  • 27 Rallies, camp, four dressage shows (we made a slight loss due to having to pay a first-aider), showjumping shows (very profitable), showing show, express eventing, socials (very well attended)
  • Membership – looking at how we can make it more user-friendly
  • 91 current members

Voting of Principal Officers 2024

Chairman: Emma Jane Williams, proposer Gemma Smith, seconded Jane Gurr
Vice Chairman : Colleen Knox, proposer Amanda Gallacher, seconded Angela Heard
Secretary: Gemma Smith, proposer Jenny Moore, seconded Pam Willis
Treasurer: Amanda Gallacher, proposer Zara Murphy, seconded Daisy Parker

Meeting concludes 7:26

Unaffiliated Dressage Competition- Sunday, 25th February 2024 (Heazle Equestrian Centre)

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Unaffiliated Dressage Competition – Sunday, 25th February
at Heazle Equestrian Centre, Clayhidon, EX15 3TH

An indoor school competition covering Intro, Prelim (restricted and open), Novice and Elementary levels

A friendly competition. Warm-up arena, plenty of parking. Open to everyone

Bookings via equoevents.co.uk

Registered judge.

Discounted entry price for TDRC members.

For more info, please contact Jane – Email: jane_maria@btinternet.com mob. 07743973843

TDRC Dressage Championship Show 2024

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All dressage riders who gain 64% or a higher score in any TDRC dressage competition throughout 2024 will be eligible to enter the Championship Dressage competition to be held at Stockland Lovell on Sunday, 1st December and stand a chance of winning £50.

There will be an intro class (open to any beginner/novice horse or rider), a prelim class, a novice class and an elementary class and in each class, the chance of qualifying for the Championships and winning a £50 prize. This is open to TDRC members and non-members.

So what are you waiting for? You could be £50 better off by the end of the year! 

Book now on Equoevents.co.uk and start honing your dressage skills.

The first TDRC dressage competition for 2024 is on Sunday, 25th February, with the next on Sunday, 12th May. More dates to follow.

Good luck everyone, and I look forward to seeing you soon. 

Jane Gurr

TDRC Newsletter January 2024

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By now you will have already received information relating to the AGM at Bishops Hull Hub. Please take the time to let us know if you are able to come so that Colleen can cater accordingly. To those who attended last year you will remember how amazing the food was, don’t miss out!

As not much has happened since the start of the year, we will focus on a few of the up-and-coming events and changes. I know we are all waiting for the weather to improve so that we can get back out and about on our horses. We have an exciting few months ahead with competitions and rallies.

Our first Dressage competition of the year is to be held at Heazle Horse Riding Centre on 25.02.24. Enter at Unaffiliated dressage (equoevents.co.uk)

A message from Jane:

The TDRC Dressage Championship Show
All dressage riders who gain a 64% or higher score  in any TDRC dressage competition throughout 2024, will be eligible to enter the Championship Dressage competition at Stockland Lovell on Sunday 1st December and stand a chance of winning £50.
There will be an intro class (open to any beginner/novice horse or rider), a prelim class, a novice class and an elementary class and in each class the chance of qualifying for the Championships and winning a £50 prize. This is open to TDRC members and non members.
So what are you waiting for? You could be £50 better off by the end of the year! 
Book now on Equoevents.co.uk and start honing your dressage skills.
The first TDRC dressage competition for 2024 is on Sunday 25th February, with the next on Sunday 12th May. More dates to follow.
Good luck everyone and look forward to seeing you soon. 

Some of you may also be aware that new BD tests will be coming into operation from 1 July 2024. These have already been published and are available to download to BD members. They are free for the first six months, this will expire on 31 May 2024. The number of tests  has been consolidated with four at Introductory, six at Preliminary to Medium, and five at Advanced Medium (plus two at Advanced). The new BD tests will be numbered from one to six, one reflecting the entry test at each level, progressing through to six the most advanced. Each test has a video on youtube, for example:

Intro 1 – 2024 test (youtube.com)

Back Protectors

A body protector is mandatory in all cross-country competitions/training (where fixed fences are used).
A BETA Level 3 displaying a Blue 2018 Label must be worn where a body protector is mandatory. From 1 Jan 2024, the BETA 2009 Purple Label will no longer be accepted. The ONLY exception to this requirement is that the Exo Body Cages will continue to be accepted, provided they have a BETA Level 3 Purple 2000 Label.
If a rider chooses to wear an airbag style body protector for cross-country it must be worn over a BETA Level 3 2018 Blue Label body protector. Hybrid Air-jackets and air jackets incorporated into a blouson style jacket are permitted.
Where body protectors are not mandatory i.e. dressage/show jumping the rider may wear any level/standard body protector.

Membership

The new membership platform has arrived. If you have not joined then I will attach a link. Existing Members – Welcome back, you will have received an email form British Riding Clubs powered by Sport:80.
Taunton District Riding Club | The British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)

Volunteers
We are a busy club and run lots of events. We are looking for Volunteers to help. In particular at the One Day Event, TDRC are running the Dressage and Showjumping. We are looking for our members to help for either a full or half day. We will be offering money off a lesson for half a day’s help or a full lesson for free for those who help all day. Volunteering at these events is a fun and enjoyable experience and a great help to our club. Let any of the committee know if you are interested.

And finally……..

Up and coming Events (so far)
3rd February – TDRC A12 Intermediate Winter Dressage – King Sedgemoor Equestrian
9th February – Friday Night Dressage Training – Conquest Centre
10 February – TDRC Annual Awards Evening & AGM
11 February – TDRC Jump Training Stockland Lovell (instructor to be confirmed)
18 February – TDRC A12 Winter Showjumping King Sedgemoor Equestrian
24 February – Training with Andrew Lovell (Venue to be confirmed)
25 February – Open Dressage Competition Heazle Horse Riding

2 March – Jump Training with Jayne Smart Stockland Lovell
17 March – Social Through the Levels Dressage Demo Cordings Farm
23 March – Training with Andrew Lovell Comeytrowe Equestrian
24 March – A12 Combined Training Qualifiers Chard Equestrian

5 May – A12 Combined Challenge Qualifiers Mendip Plains Equestrian

2 June – A12 Eventing Qualifiers Mendip Plains Equestrian

Have a good month.

Gemma and PB

Member Review – Showjumping competition

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By Carar Tyer and Red Hot In Colour

Winners of 70cm Class

So my day started driving out of the yard to beautiful sunshine. We were heading off to Comeytrowe equestrian to attend the Taunton and District RC fun showjumping show.

The venue was very easy to find and we were greeted to a warm welcome. All I can say is thank-you for a fantastic well organised show.

Everyone was very helpful and supportive to every rider attending and gave us the reassurance that every detail was covered by the covid 19 regulations. The day ended fantastically with us coming home with a red and blue rosette.

Guided Fun Ride 07.08.2020

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The Guided Fun Ride on 7th August 2020 was a great success. Thank you to everyone who came.
We rode approximately 12miles over the beautiful Quantock Hills taking in some breathtaking scenery. Great trekking, cantering, galloping and a few optional jumps were also experienced on grassy tracks and trails.
Next Guided Fun Ride will be 31st October led by Dracula! So watch out for the spooky details coming soon. Fancy dress optional