What’s on this fortnight

Please check the fixture list on the website https://fndponyclub.org.uk/2019/01/fixture-list-january-2019-may-2019/ (I’m doing this on my phone in an airport and it will take ages to copy! I will update this weekly news when I get home on Wednesday, Fran)

Area 5 Dates

These dates can also be found in the online Area 5 Calendar: https://branches.pcuk.org/area5/area-5-events-calendar/

Membership Renewal

Thank you to all the members who have already renewed their Pony Club membership, which was due on 1st February 2019.

Iona would like to ask the 40 members who have not paid the renewal or let her know that they are NOT renewing this time, to let her know either way by the end of the week.

Annual Parents and Members Meeting

The annual parents and members evening will be held on Thursday 21st February at 7 pm at The Brookhouse Mill, Denbigh. A finger buffet will be provided.

Mrs F Bradshaw will be coming to demonstrate how to tie a stock correctly. Please bring your stock with you and a small mirror if you have one.

Other entertainment as well.

This is an ideal opportunity to ask questions about your branch.

Llanasa Rally

Llanasa have flat rally at Northop with Rosemary Clarke on Monday 25th February 6-8pm. Please call Jude on 07960 008601 to book a space.

Half-term Event Training

With Richard Carruthers at Forest Gate Farm on Friday 1st March. Good fun informative training session with a plan for the coming season. Names to Louise Shepherd.

First Aid Training Course

A few spaces are available on this First Aid Course at Gellifor, Nr Ruthin on Friday 1st March. Please contact Iona if interested. secretary@fndponyclub.org.uk

First Aid for Riding Instructors: A One Day First Aid Training Course

Designed for Instructors & Pony Club Mounted Games Participants (trainers/parents)

Syllabus is a considerable enhancement of the  HSE Emergency First Aid at Work. The syllabus is as follows:

  • Scene assessment / management / assertiveness / procedures
  • First aid kits & necessary / legal record keeping re incidents
  • Person to person & environmental infection risks / management
  • Casualty assessment / unconsciousness / monitoring
  • Recovery Positions & Log Rolls
  • Management of bleeds (Including “Catastrophic Bleeding”)
  • Management of burns
  • Management of injuries to bones, joints, soft tissues
  • The 3 main ‘Shocks’
  • Hypoglycaemia / Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Strokes
  • Asthma & Hyperventilation
  • Hypothermia / Hyperthermia

Training is both theoretical & practical. Training is assessed practically & via a written Assessment (Familiarisation in the use of a Defibrillator is also be provided. Certification (including HSE designated Emergency First Aid at Work qualification)  lasts for up to 3 yrs.

Area 5 B riding and B+ Training

The above Training is being offered to PC Members at The Cheshire Riding School Nr Northwich on the afternoon of 23rd March by Tom Fray who will be delivering the CPD in the evening. One group of B and one group of B+ depending on interest. £20 for an hour. Contact Meg (area5@pcuk.org) to book.

PLEASE NOTE CHESHIRE HUNT NORTH WINTER LEAGUE and DENGIE – 2nd MARCH

Bold Heath, like most equestrian venues, is asking for all horses and ponies to have completed the first two vaccinations of an initial course or had a booster against equine flu within the last 6 months, with 6 clear days following vaccination.

All passports will be checked before any horse is unloaded. If any horse fails the check and has travelled with another horse, NO horses from that lorry/trailer will be allowed to compete.

We ask, in advance for your patience on the day while the checks take place.

Many thanks for your support.

Meg Green, Area 5 Rep

Waen y Llyn Winter League Show Jumping

Northop Equine Centre have taken precautionary measures to protect their horses and are currently closed. Having spoken to Karen this morning, they have said that if there are no further outbreaks in the area, then we will be able to run our competition next Sunday 24th February.

However, their Vaccination Policy will be strictly adhered to. All horses must have been vaccinated in the last 6 months or had a recent booster. Please speak to your vet about a booster, if it has been longer than 6 months since the last vaccination. Also owners must ensure their vaccination records are up to date, as passports will be checked at the venue before any horse is unloaded.

We are extending the closing date for entries to Wednesday 20th when a final decision will be made as to whether we can go ahead or not. In the meantime, if your horse/pony meet the above requirements please do send your entries in, so we can have a head start on the admin side, waiting for Wednesday’s decision leaves very little time for this.

Should the competition be cancelled Northop will not charge us so we will destroy/return all cheques received.

Update from PCUK

National Quiz Qualifiers are underway. Dates and rounds on the website at http://www.pcuk.org/index.php/activities/national_quiz/

If anyone is interested in the Blue Cross Care Competition more information can be found on the website at http://www.pcuk.org/index.php/activities/activities_horse_and_pony_care_competition/

Qualifiers start in April.

Last chance to qualify for the Dengie Dressage and Show Jumping Area Competitions! Dates can be found online: http://www.pcuk.org/wld and http://www.pcuk.org/wlsj

The rosettes have started to arrive and are looking amazing.

TETRATHLON EASTER TRAINING COURSE: 15th – 17th April 2019 at Monkton Combe Prep School, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 5DL. There will be training with specialist coaches for swimming, shooting and running, as well as strength and conditioning, hydration and nutrition.  Applicants must be current Pony Club members. Letters of application should cover the following: your commitment to training, your commitment to your Branch, your Pony Club Ambassadorial skills, which Pony Club Tests you have passed, and your goals for 2019. The cost is £250 per person which includes tuition, accommodation and meals.

Pony Racing Authority – Equine Influenza Update: The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Point-to-Point Association (PPA) have issued new requirements for all horses / ponies attending racecourses with regards to vaccinations. Please see the attached update for further information.

PC/PRA Training Days: The Pony Club and Pony Racing Authority (PRA) have several training days coming up that are open for members to attend. The day will provide tuition to pony racing which will enable a combination of pony and rider to qualify for Pony Club Race Days and Point to Point Pony Races staged throughout the 2019 season. Pony Club Race Days are listed below. The days will start at around 9am and will finish at approximately 4.30pm. The children will take part in a number of sessions including both riding and non-riding exercises to teach them about balance and fitness required for racing. If both the rider and assessor are confident and happy, the combination will then be able to ride up the gallops in the afternoon. If the assessor is satisfied the combination of pony and rider are safe and in control, they will also qualify for Pony Club and Point to Point Race Days. We have the following training days coming up:

  • 22nd February at Broxton Old Hall Farm. Entries close 10am on 18th February
  • 22nd February at Thorndale Farm. Entries close 12pm on 15th February
  • 17th April at North Lodge Racing. Entries close 11am on 10th April

Further information about these days can be found on the website.

Pony Racing Race Days: Following the successful qualification at PC/PRA training days, runners continue on to Pony Club Race Days as below.

  • Lord Leconfield at Ascot Racecourse on 8th April
  • Area 9 at Cheltenham Racecourse on 19th April
  • Area 4 at Haydock Park Racecourse on 12th May
  • Wylye Valley at Wincanton Racecourse on 18th May
  • South Durham Hunt at Newcastle Racecourse (date TBC)
  • Area 7 at Wolverhampton Racecourse on 22nd September
  • Holderness Hunt at Beverley Racecourse on 29th September
  • Eridge Hunt at Lingfield Park Racecourse on 28th October

Racing to School Race Days: Following a highly successful pilot scheme The Pony Club and Racing to School are continuing to work together on Racing to School’s Riders’ Programme. We are pleased to be able to again offer FREE workshops for Pony Club Members aged 12 years and over this coming holiday break, and during other school holidays in 2019. We will be running three Riders’ Programme Events during the February break, as follows:

  • 19th February 2019 at Taunton Racecourse (Area 14, 15 & 16) – please contact Ollie McPhail, ollie@racingtoschool.co.uk
  • 20th February 2019 at Doncaster Racecourse (Area 3 & 6) – please contact Carrie Ford, carrie@racingtoschool.co.uk
  • 22nd February 2019 at Warwick Racecourse (Area 7, 9 & 12) – please contact Ollie McPhail, ollie@racingtoschool.co.uk

We will be running three Riders’ Programme Events during the April half-term, as follows:

  • 8th April 2019 at Kelso Racecourse (Area 1, 2 & 19) – please contact Carrie Ford, carrie@racingtoschool.co.uk
  • 15th April 2019 at Pontefract Racecourse (Area 3 & 6) – please contact Carrie Ford, carrie@racingtoschool.co.uk
  • 18th April 2019 at Ripon Racecourse (Area 2, 3 & 4) – please contact Carrie Ford, carrie@racingtoschool.co.uk

* When contacting the event organiser, please include: your son’s / daughter’s name and age, and the Pony Club Branch or Centre where they are a member.

Pony Club Art Competition: The theme for the annual Art competition is Heritage through Horsemanship. The competition is open to all Members, including our Overseas Centres and Branches and divided into three categories: 11 and under, 12-16 year old, and 17 and over. The finalists will be exhibited at The Pony Club National Championships at Cholmondeley in August where the overall winner will be selected.  Watch this space for further details of how to enter.