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OLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUB NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

octooctooctooctober ber ber ber 2011201120112011

Who’s Who at ODRC

Chair Person Sue Hollingworth 07970 857739 chairman@odrc.co.uk Vice Chair Amanda Godwin 07754 742232 membership@odrc.co.uk Steve Hopkinson 07973 268261 Treasurer Nicola Gregory

07976 062566 treasurer@odrc.co.uk Secretary Abi Atherton 01457 810211 secretary@odrc.co.uk Membership Amanda Godwin 07754 742232 membership@odrc.co.uk Instruction Krystina Bamber 07970 813193

training@odrc.co.uk

Becky Hebb 0161 622 1005 / 07845 016264 Friezland User Group Sue Hollingworth 07970 857739 Arthur Prowse 01457 870407 fug@odrc.co.uk Teams Vicky Hollingworth 07970 857739 Sarah Mottley 07960 510742 teams@odrc.co.uk NLG Rep Arthur Prowse 01457 870407 nlg@odrc.co.uk Newsletter Editor Minda Wigley 01457 870421 newsletter@odrc.co.uk Bridleways Peter Carter 01457 873344 bridleways@odrc.co.uk Website Michael Wigley 01457 870421 website@odrc.co.uk Help Coordinator: Alana Bennett 07872 583182 help@odrc.co.uk Child Protection Haydee Seton-Jones 07734 405258 childprotection@odrc.co.uk

Show Organisers Members Only Novice Lauren Rothwell 07584 301253

Steve Hopkinson 0161 624 5269

noviceshow@odrc.co.uk Show Jumping VACANT Showing/Working Hunter Tracy Shaw 07927 044804 Norma Roberts 07894 470537

showingAndWH@odrc.co.uk Dressage: Rachel Roebuck 07968 043539 Heidi Newton 07866 673205 dressage@odrc.co.uk Combined Training: Sue Hamer 07889 156171 combinedtraining@odrc.co.uk Jill Bradley ODE: Sue Hamer 07889 156171 onedayevent@odrc.co.uk Sponsored Ride Peter Carter 01457 873344 bridleways@odrc.co.uk Riding Club Camp Sue Hollingworth 07970 857739 Minda Wigley 01457 870421 camp@odrc.co.uk

Other Committee Members: Tim Partridge 07976 561632 Lesley Illingworth 07951 172913 Bridget Tibbot 07814 327016 Denzil Edwards 07899 054799

From the Editor:

Welcome to the October edition of the Newsletter. The season has now drawn to a close with the Combined Training Show being our last show of the year.

Items this month include:

• pg 2 Teams update and the experience of an ODRC member going to the BE80 Championships in our “Out & About” feature

• pg 3-5 the report and results of the Fun Trec held on 17/18 September attended by quite a number of ODRC members

• pg 5-6 notice for collection of trophies in time for Presentation Night, and the report and results of the last Dressage show of the season on 25 September

• pg 7-8 Some tips on how to remember where the letters are around a dressage arena, and the story of how they got there

• pg 9-10 the report and results of the Combined Training Show on 2 October

• pg 11 report on the Charity Sponsored Ride held on 11 September in aid of “Karen’s Cause”

• pg 12 Camp 2012 Update and news of what’s new for 2012

• pg 12-13 Have you noticed how many horsey expressions are part of our everyday language?

• pg 14-16 Small (& not so small) ads including a charity fundraising ball

Over to you ...

items for newsletter If you have any items you think might be of interest to other members of ODRC please ring Minda on 01457 870421 to tell her what you want to say or e-mail them to newsletter@odrc.co.uk.

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teams update by Sue Hollingworth

The NLG Area 3 Winter Dressage competition is to take place at Bold Heath Equestrian Centre on Saturday 26 November 2011. This year there is to be an extra Prelim class which will be a qualifier for Windsor. If you are interested in being on a team for this event please contact Vicky Hollingworth on 07773 432471 or e-mail teams@odrc.co.uk. [Please note that you need to contact the Teams organisers to notify them of your interest – they cannot ring all ODRC members to find out who is interested.]

As always three stewards will be required to enable us to send teams to this event, so if you would like to volunteer as a steward please contact Vicky Hollingworth on 07773 432471 or e-mail teams@odrc.co.uk . You may be aware that we have had difficulty finding enough stewards for recent team events, so those who wish to be on a team for a particular discipline will be asked to volunteer as a steward for a team event in which they are not competing.

reminders

Make sure these dates are in your diary and keep an eye open for when tickets go on sale for both Presentation Night & the Horsemen’s Carol Service:

15 November Annual General Meeting, Church Inn, Uppermill 3 December Presentation Night, Saddleworth Cricket Club (see details on page 5) 10 Decmber Horsemen’s Carol Service, Friezland Arena

out & about

BE80 Championships by Vicky Hollingworth On the 25 September Buffy (the horse), my mum (Sue Hollingworth), Poppy (the dog), Kyle (the boyfriend) and I all set off to Leicester to the BE80 championships at Melton Mowbray College after qualifying at Bold Heath.

It wasn't a very early start which was a nice change but never the less it was a two and three quarter hour drive. We got there in plenty of time to walk the cross country course which was very nice, quite a few uphill gallops though which wasn't too good for us three and Poppy walking it beforehand!

Coming into the dressage Buffy had more pressing things on her mind (cross country) but after a few toils and an explosion right before we went in we did ok getting 37.5 penalities with some very nice comments from the judge indicating that she thought I handled Buffy quite well in view of how tense she was. We then went clear in the showjumping in a good time which just left the cross country - our favourite! At that point Buffy knew where we were going and the bouncing jack-in-a-box came to life! My mum was holding on for all she was worth desperately singing nursery rhymes and Manchester United's football anthem in an attempt to calm her down ... I'm not too sure Buffy is a United fan now though! Finally, after waiting what seemed like an eternity, we got in the start box and away we went. We went clear cross country with no time penalties finishing 17th overall. Buffy was a little superstar! A big thankyou to Kyle and my mum for being fab grooms !!

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Fug fun trec – 17 & 18 september by Liane Robinson, Organiser

The 12th annual Friezland User Group Trec took place on the 17th and 18th September. Fourteen pairs, with mounts ranging from 12.2 to 17.3hh took part with people coming from Skipton and Chesterfield in addition to the more local riders.

On the Saturday the riders initially completed their Control of Paces (COP) – cantering slowly over a marked track of 100m, then returning over the same track walking as quickly as possible. Points are scored on a sliding scale up to 30 for both the canter and the walk depending how slowly or quickly the are completed. Then, in their pairs they took their turn at copying their routes from the master map before embarking on their orienteering phase (POR) on a route that took them up the Pennine Bridleway to Holly Grove before making their way back towards Friezland via Running Hill and Gellfield Lane with some little kinks on the route to test their map reading skills.

There were a couple of checkpoints on the route where the ideal speed at which the riders are travelling at is altered. In addition, there were half a dozen “ticket” points where checks are made to see if they are accurately following their route, with penalties being given if the riders wrong routed or missed a ticket point.

Unfortunately, the weather on Saturday was not kind, with very heavy rain making the map marking and the subsequent reading of the maps a challenge in addition to trying to keep them dry! But, despite the weather, ODRC members Samantha Bentley and Louise Frary gained an excellent COP score, closely followed by Lesley Sanders and Alison Read (also ODRC members).

Local riders Heather Marshall (ODRC member) and Alex Robinson successfully navigated the POR finding all the tickets from the correct direction and jumped up the leader board to just one point behind Samantha and Louise, and ODRC member Julie Swindells and Tom Frary (husband of ODRC member, Louise) also had a great score on the POR.

Corralling is common place at most trecs with riders sleeping in their boxes, trailers etc. and the horses being corralled close by and this had been arranged at Well I’th Lane Caravan Site. An evening meal had been arranged for those staying over and a few local riders also came along to the social event where the more experienced riders (as always) were happy and eager to share their experiences and give advice to the newcomers and novices.

Sunday morning saw a big improvement in the weather and a gang of volunteers erecting the obstacle (PTV) course. This part of the competition had been re-planned the evening before because of the heavy rain so as not to do too much damage to the grass and so several of the obstacles were set up in the arena. In order to encourage more people to come and have a go at Trec the PTV was opened up to people who just wanted to have a go at that, and the 14 pairs were joined by another 9 riders on the Sunday, including several Pony Club and Riding Club members.

The obstacles on the PTV are typically ones that may be found whilst out on a hack and include a mix of ridden and led obstacles, such as riding over a bridge or through water, over a jump, underneath low branches, reining back, remounting etc. If there is an obstacle that you do not wish to attempt, then politely informing the judge means that you simply do not score for that obstacle and are not eliminated. The PTV saw some excellent scores from riders, with Nicky Bunting scoring 142, closely followed by Elaine Dawson and Carol Gray on 140. (continued overleaf)

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Fug fun trec – 17 & 18 september contd

Once the provisional scores were checked the prize giving took place, with an ever growing array of trophies:

The Friezland User Group Trophy for the overall pairs went to Elaine Dawson and Nicky Bunting, with Elaine also taking the Cindy Memorial Shield for the best individual and Nicky taking the Nimve Tremelling Memorial for the best PTV score.The White Diamond trophy (which had been presented the previous year by Julia McHugh, who had kindly come to help on the Saturday and efficiently ran the map room) was awarded to Heather Marshall and Alex Robinson for the best score on the POR by “novices”. They also took the Tulliver Memorial Trophy for the best overall score by “novices”. The full results are:

Pairs 1st Elaine Dawson and Nicky Bunting 2nd Heather Marshall and Alex Robinson 3rd J Samantha Bentley and Louise Frary 4th Julie Swindells and Tom Frary 5th Deborah Connell and Andrea Harwood 6th Helen Howard-Smith and Emma Myatt

Individual: 1st Elaine Dawson 2nd Heather Marshall 3rd Julie Swindells 4th Louise Frary 5th Nicky Bunting 6th Tom Frary

Best Junior Alexandra Robinson

Best Newcomer Helen Howard-Smith

PTV: 1st Nicky Bunting 2nd Elaine Dawson/Carol Gray 4th Heather Marshall 5th Sarah Cheetham/Julie Swindells I must thank all the volunteers who came along to help on both days, whether to help set up, man a checkpoint or ticket or judge an obstacle, with some coming from as far afield as York and Blackpool to help out. In particular, I’ve got to give a huge thanks to Heather’s brother Chris who manned a ticket point on the Saturday without the cover of a car in that torrential rain! and to Dave McNeeney who came from his sick bed to help also and manned the COP in the rain along with Clare Norman. Without the volunteers then it wouldn’t be possible to stage such an event. I’m already starting to plan a route for next year for the orienteering and will book the same weekend, so get the dates in your diaries now:

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September 2012 Thanks from competitors have been flooding in, with comments such as “had a great time, it was fun and friendly, informative and just a bit challenging. It was such a nice change from jumping and dressage, I loved the POR the best . Thanks a lot’.”

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ANYTHING TO DECLARE? by Abi Atherton, Presentation Night Organiser

If you have a trophy, medal or other shiny award on your mantelpiece, please return them to any member of the committee before the next meeting on Tuesday 18 October, drop them off in person at the meeting, or call Abi Atherton on 07740 776 565. All trophies need to be returned by 31st October so that we have time to engrave them for this year's Presentation Night winners on 3 December. We'll provide full details of the night itself in next month's newsletter, but for now please remember:

• the Presentation Night is a social event for all our members and friends, not just for those amongst us who are collecting a trophy, so make sure it's in your diary!

• we'll be holding a raffle to support the North West Air Ambulance, so please have a hunt around for a raffle donation. You can bring these along with you on the night or hand them to Abi in advance - all contributions are gratefully received

• that all trophies need to be returned by 31st October at the latest.

Dressage show – 25 september by Heidi Newton, Joint Show Organiser

A great day was had by all. We had great feedback, and even had people asking for more dressage competitions! Thanks to all our helpers: Nicola and Charlotte Gregory Sarah Harwood Anne Henshall Alison Read Abi Atherton Jane Lees And Vicky Tibbot, who did a great job calling the tests for people. Many thanks to them all, and further thanks to Deb Aspinall, Jane Stringer, Janis Collins, Karen and Tim Partridge. Also a big thank you to our judges for the season: Ruth Gartside, Jodie Rawsthorne, Debbie Sykes and Pat Dewhurst. A big thank you too from Caroline Coldwell to all those kind enough to help her get her car and trailer off the grass at the competition, particularly Denzil Edwards. If I have forgotten anyone, I am very sorry – it was a busy day! Thank you all very much, and I do hope some of you will volunteer next season to run some compeitions. We will all help and support you. If nobody volunteers then we will not be able to do any shows, so come on and have a go. It’s great fun and very rewarding. Many thanks from Heidi Newton and Rachel Roebuck Dressage Show Organisers

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Dressage show – 25 september - results Intro B – Juniors 1st Sarah Cheetham Echo Lady 61.30% 2nd B Harrison Spice of Life 58.70% 3rd Alana Rothwell Spirit 57.39% 4th F Lees Cinnamon 53.48%

5th Saphina Mohammed Georgina 53.04% 6th H Williams Thistledown Blue 52.17% Intro B - Seniors 1st = Diane Allcock Annie 63.48% 1st = Sarah Harwood Suzy 63.48% 3rd Inga Hulme Titch 62.17%

4th Janis Collins Apache P 58.70% 5th Hayley Baker Bienandante RPB 55.22% 6th Anne Townsend Max 54.35% Prelim 18 - Juniors 1st J Davidson Kizzie 74.58% 2nd Martha Tibbot Mischief Maker 71.67%

3rd Emma Stewart Tia Rose 69.59% 4th F Oldfield Harry 64.17% 5th Charlotte Heaven Reuben 62.08% 6th C Mather Ziggy 61.67% Prelim 18 - Seniors 1st Jayne Romanzcuk Jimmy 72.92% 2nd Kim Salmon The Billster 70.42%

3rd Bridget Tibbot Brad 67.50% 4th Sharon Hardisty Valentino II 65.83% 5th Lucinda Markendale Amos 65.42% 6th Jennie Lancashire Bryn 64.58% Novice 30 Juniors 1st Martha Tibbot Mischief Maker 60.35%

Novice 30 Seniors 1st Jayne Romanzcuk Jimmy 68.46% 2nd Kim Salmon The Billster 61.54% 3rd Bridget Tibbot Brad 58.07% 4th Krystina Bamber Big Time Brody 57.69% 5th Tim Partridge Sox 55.00% 6th Janet Shaw Ballad 52.30%

Elementary 49 1st Krystina Bamber Big Time Brody 59.33% 2nd Lauren Rothwell Enduring Dream 58.33%

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Dressage arena markers - how on earth are we supposed to

remember them?!? The way I was taught to remember the short arena letters was “A fat black manx cat had eleven kittens” if you follow the letters anti-clockwise around the arena. But it appears there are many variations:

• All Fat Brown Mares Can Hardly Ever Kick

• All Fat Black Manx Cats Hate Eating Kippers

• A Fine Bay Mare Came Home Eating Kale Or if you want to go clockwise around the arena, try these:

• A Kindly Elephant Has Crushed My Blinking Foot!

• All King Edward’s Horses Can Move Beautifully Forward

• All King Edward’s Horses Can Make Beautiful Foals

Then there are the centre line markers: A – D – X – G – C. How about this one for starters?:

• All (A) Daddies (D) Kiss (X) Grannies (G) Carefully (C)

But, of course, it gets worse. There are all the extra

letters of the long arena, should you feel ambitious enough to progress up the levels or compete at Area, Regional or Affiliated dressage competitions where they have bigger arenas and so can use tests which are designed for the 20m x 60m arena. Maybe one of the following might help you:

• (clockwise) Any Kind Vet Enjoys Sharing Horse Care Methods Recommended By Professional Farmers

• (anti-clockwise) A First Place Blue Ribbon Makes Common Horsemen Savour Each Victory Keenly

• (clockwise) All King Victor Edward’s Superb Horses Can Make Really Big Perfect Fences

And for the centre line markers A – D – L – X – I – G - C:

• Ali’s Dad Loudly X-rayed Incoming Gambian Cows

• All Dads Love eXotic Indian Girls’ Curls I have found that having a “mnemonic” to help me remember the order of the letters is a real help when trying to learn the dressage tests before a competition. I hope one of them will help you too.

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Dressage markers – where on earth did they come from?

Some of you may have seen this article by Peter Connolly in the January/February edition of the BHS magazine “British Horse” but in case you missed it, it might help some of you budding dressage riders of the future. You may have wondered who on earth dreamed up the crazy system of lettering around the dressage arena.

Among several theories explaining the origins of the markings of the arenas, there are two probable explanations for the lettering surrounding the dressage manège, both complementary to each other, which have more credence than other theories. Markings found on the walls of the Royal Manstall (mews/stables) of the Imperial German Court in Berlin (prior to 1918) – see below – suggest that they indicated where each courtier and/or rider’s horse was to stand awaiting their riders. The Manstall stabled 300 of the Kaiser’s horses, plus carriages and sledges. The HOF (stable yard) was large enough for the horses and their riders to parade for morning exercise or to assemble for ceremonial parages. The Hof was three times longer than the width, namely: 20m x 60m.

The German Cavalry is also credited with establishing the markings. The space between the stable blocks in many German cavalry barracks were also measured 20m x 60m. This space was also used for assembly and morning exercise and it is not unreasonable to think that the cavalry would adopt similar markings as used in the Kaiser’s Manstall. However, the German cavalry manual (HDV 12, Reitvorschrift (RB)

1882, revised 1912 and 1937), shows a diagram of the Reit Bahn (indoor school) as 40m x 20m, with marking ABCD in the four corners and E F on the half school line. These markings were to indicate school figures for the training of riders and not for competition. As the cavalry officers wished to compete with others, the 60m x 20m arenas became the standard size for Dressage competitions for the Olympics in 1932. The early rationale for competition was to use the marking in the long arenas where movements are to be performed in a prescribed series according to a laid down set of tests. These were to demonstrate their skills as riders and prove the progressive training methods, natural athletic ability, and willingness of their horse to perform the required movements in a relaxed and effortless manner. Initially the tests comprised movements required for military mounted combat, to test the courage, calmness and obedience of their mount. These consisted of collected and extended gaits, turning on the hocks, rein back and performing four flying changes on a straight line. They were also required to jump over five small obstacles, one of which was a barrel rolled towards the oncoming horse. Up to 1952 only commissioned officers were allowed to compete at Olympic levels; civilians, including female riders, could not compete at this level of Dressage. Following the disqualification of the Swedish Dressage team in 1948 because one of the winning team was a non-commissioned officer, the rules were changed to include civilian riders and female riders [Ed: Heaven forbid that women should be allowed to ride!] The standard or “long” arena is used for the Olympic Games and International FEI competitions, and in recent years has also been used for tests at lower levels. Many national organisations

Markings on the Walls of the Manstall A Ausgang Exit K Kaiser Emperor F Fürst Prince P Pferknecht Ostler or Groom V Vassal Servant / Squire / Equerry E Edeling / Ehrengast Chieftain or Honoured Guest B Bannertrager Standard Bearer S Schzkanzler Chancellor of the Exchequer R Ritter Knight M Meier Steward H Hofmarshall Lord Chancellor

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Dressage markers – where on earth did they come from – contd still used the shorter arena 40m x 20m for the lower tests (Preliminary, Novice and Elementary) and for three day eventing in dressage phase. The markings for this shorter competition arena are A K E H C M R F with D X G on the centre line. In 1932 the Olympic committee introduced the markings familiar today and exactly the same markings found on the walls in Berlin many years before. The following letters were added to the centre line the same year – D L M I G C. There is no written record as to the meaning of these extra letters other than they were to indicate points for the purpose of the test being undertaken at the time. The measurements of the markings of the two arenas in use today are shown here in diagramatic form, to facilitate the type of test being used: a) the short arena – 20m x 40m; b) the long arena – 20m x 60m. [Peter Connolly, from Lancashire, is on the BHS Register of Instructors as an International Level 3 trainer. He researched the origins of dressage arena lettering during a recent snowy spell!]

Combined training show – 2 october 2011 – results

Class 1 Intro

Name Horse Place

Jane Stringer Dandy Dick 1st

Lucy Bland William 2nd

Jane Lees Marlie 3rd

Emily Aylett Blueboy 4th

Janis Collins Apache Paddy 5th

Class 2 Prelim

Name Horse Yvette Lee Dillon 1st

Martha Tibbot Mischief Maker 2nd

Jane Stringer Dandy Dick 3rd

Minda Wigley Claude 4th

Krystina Bamber Ballybee's Another Idea 5th

Janis Collins Apache Paddy 6th

Class 3 Novice

Name Horse Kim Salmon Billster 1st

Yvette Lee Dillon 2nd

Martha Tibbot Mischief Maker 3rd

Sue Hollingworth Zander 4th

Andrea Harwood Georgia 5th

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Combined training show – 2 october 2011 by Sue Burnett (formerly Hamer), Show Organiser Firstly, I would like to thank the judges, stewards and helpers for doing such a wonderful job - I couldn’t have done it without you. Not forgetting a huge thanks to Minda for ensuring that the ground was good for us to use.

Judges Jodie Rawsthorne (Dressage) & Leah Barnes (Showjumping)

Stewards Janet Oddie, Cameron Barnes, Jack Burnett & John Thompson

Helpers John & Anne Thompson, Lesley Jackson, Krystina Bamber, Janet Shaw, Alana Bennett, Kim Salmon, Lauren Jackson, Sue Hollingworth, Minda Wigley, Cath Calvert, Jane Stringer, Janis Collins & Jane Lees

The Combined Training was almost cancelled following discussions regarding the ground at Friezland, both in terms of safety and preserving the land. However, following an inspection by Minda who sorted out the rolling of the field, and with the tropical weather we have had this week, we were ready for off!!! The last show of the season and the weather was on our side, although the day got off to a shaky start. I was running late (nothing new there I hear some people say!! LOL) but after a very hectic weekend consisting of a Beavers Sleepover in the company of approximately 120 children and no sleep I was struggling on the morning. However, I arrived at Friezland at approximately 8.20 and was greeted by John & Anne Thompson and Lesley Jackson. The three of us got to work by pulling all the jumps out of the container and setting them up. By 9.15 other help had started to arrive and by 9.50 the course was ready and the dressage arena set up. There was however a slight problem, Sue Hollingworth had very kindly helped setting up first thing and had brought the timing equipment and unlocked the gates, however the gate to where the dressage judge sits was locked and Sue had returned to the stables to get her steed ready. James, my husband came to the rescue and set off to Judith’s yard to obtain the keys from Sue. Jodie agreed to sit on chairs for the Intro class so we could get started, there was then another problem, I don’t know how it happened but I had left the test score sheets at home!!!! (I am blonde!!) Finally, with all problems solved we were ready to run by 10.30. Anne Thompson did a fantastic job of booking people in and John took charge of the timing equipment and what brilliant jobs they both did. Everybody did extremely well today and those of you who competed should be proud of yourselves. The ground seemed to be riding well. Even the scary (oh s**t) filler didn’t cause any problems! Well done to the winners of each of the sections. Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to both Members and Non-Members of ODRC for the support which the Combined Training Shows have received this year both with entries and assistance. I took a big risk this year, firstly by taking it on and secondly by completely changing the schedule, but with your help it has been a success and I have thoroughly enjoyed running it.

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sponsored ride in aid of “karen’s cause” - 11 september by Vicky Smallwood

Well, as you know, the ride took place on the 11 September. As usual the good old British weather was threatening to be a bit of a let down but, despite that, 4 riders still turned up - a little disappointing at such low numbers. I personally thought more would show up when the show jumping got cancelled, anyway ......

What must the people of Greenfield have thought when a Zombie police woman, complete with handcuffs, cuts and grazes and a pony looking like something out of the gates of hell, a sword wielding Ninja, a pirate and “Where's Wally ?” all met up on the Conservative Club car park !!! It was OK. The world hadn’t gone mad. It was Shannon Coope on Luke, Amy Winterbottom on Mrs D, Emma Quimby on Abbey and Helen Howard Smith on her Abbie. Due to the weather we decided to do the judging before the

ride so that, should the weather force us to cut the ride short, no one would miss out. The prize of a box of Celebrations and a bag of meadow herb treats (the horse and rider can argue between them as to who is having which) went to Emma Quimby and Abbey for their efforts. She was a very impressive pirate. Anyway the girls set off up Greenfield bridle path and treated the bystanders to a whoop of "yeahhhhh we are off" and a quick gallop up the bridleway. At this point I was very jealous as I was meant to be with them :(). The support vehicle met the gang at Saddleworth School, there were still smiles all round although the cold had started to set in and Amy was the first rider to opt for the sensible option of a coat. We then left the riders and arranged a meeting at the Diggle Hotel, the perfect chance for the support crew to have a cheeky half of cider and a bowl of chips :) By the time the girls arrived Emma's horse, Abbey, had thrown a shoe and so it was decided she wouldn’t carry on due to the rough terrain of the next bit of ride. The dreaded sideways rain had set in and the wind was strong. Despite that, the remaining girls decided to front it out and head up Boat Lane to the Floating Light where we said we would make a choice on whether to cut the ride short for their safety. Shannon being only 9, and her mum and dad being the support vehicle, obvious parental worries had set in. The girls made it safely up Boat Lane and over the back of the Floating Light to Bleak Hey Nook. Luckily at this point the sun had come out again and it was decided that the original ride route would carry on. After some quick refreshments the girls were off again round Castleshaw reservoir, up the bridleway at Low Bank over what was described afterwards as “the gallop roller coaster field”. I think they enjoyed this bit the best. We met the riders on Lodge Lane where, very kindly, Shannon’s Grandad let everyone use the toilet and provided us with cans of pop. I think the horses also appreciated the rest. After that they where homeward-bound, straight down into Delph village and onto the bridleway at Station Approach. The support vehicle at this point branched off and we arranged to meet them back at the Conservative Club. They arrived back at about 5.30pm. The ride in total had taken 4 hours but at least there were still smiles all round. Can I also thank Mark and Rachel Coope for driving me round the ride in the support vehicle and Ingrid Howard-Smith and her partner who, unplanned, decided they too would join in the ground crew and cheer the riders on.

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camp 2012 update - full (for now)

To our astonishment all 35 places (the newly increased size) at Camp 2012 have been taken up. Bearing in mind that this is the first time we have taken so many riders, we are very aware that there may be several campers who encounter problems before June 2012 and who may need to pull out nearer the time. We are therefore very pleased to hear from you if you would be interested in being on the Reserve list. If anyone does need to pull out they will be very relieved to know we might be able to fill the place and refund their Camp payments. So, if you are interested in being on the reserve list please text or ring either Sue Hollingworth on 07970 857739 or Minda Wigley on 07811 795793.

Just in case you’ve missed the item about Camp which appeared in the September Newsletter, we’re doing our best this year to give everyone who’d like to go to Camp the very best chance of having a place. Here’s what’s different:

• We’ve sent the application forms out 5 months earlier this year to give everyone as much time as we possibly can to save up. You can pay in 8 monthly instalments to spread the cost over a longer period.

• We are hoping to take 35 riders this year so nobody will be disappointed

• It might be possible in 2012 to give a small number of riders the option not to have to do cross country, and to replace their cross country lesson either with another showjumping lesson or another flatwork lesson (but this will be dependent on taking 35 riders)

• From 2012 onwards Camp will be on the new Camp facility at Somerford Park which has the stables, pavilion, showjumping and dressage arenas and the vehicle parking area all adjacent to the cross country course. It will save a lot of walking(!) and will make spectating of all disciplines and helping as ground crew much easier as all lessons will be taking place only yards from the pavilion. There will be more showers available than previously and a new laundry room should you need to wash or dry any clothing.

• We have access to part or all of the Farm Ride throughout Camp to use as a warm up before lessons or cool down after lessons.

Horses – as much a part of the English language

as shakespeare & the bible

I’ve just finished reading Simon Barnes’ book “The Horsey Life” published by Short Books (and kindly passed to me by Cath Calvert). In one chapter he discusses how many horsey expressions are part of our everyday language. Below is an extract which you might find of interest:

Horses are part of the way we think, part of the way humans understand the world. You can tell this from the horsey terms still current in the English language. Words are things I am always aware of, being a “hack”. A “hack”, of course, is a journalist, a penny-a-liner: someone who knows he’s not Milton or Shakespeare, but reckons he can put one word before the next as well as anybody else. OK, but no great shakes.

The word comes from a horse you hire: a hack, or to be more formal, a hackney. That is why a taxi is licensed as a hackney carriage. One suggestion is that suitable horses were raised on pasture near Hackney, in Middlesex. A hack or a hired horse will not win you the Derby, any more than you get a Ferrari as your hired car. By extension, to hack out, or to go hacking, is to ride about without any grandiose plans, and a hack is a horse eminently suitable for such a purpose. A racehorse trainer will observe the exercising of his string of racehorses from the back of his hack.

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Horses – as much a part of the English language

as shakespeare & the bible – continued Before you set off on any major project, it is, of course, essential to “do the groundwork” first. Groundwork is just that: the work you do with a horse while you are standing on the ground. You teach a horse to walk, trot and canter at your request long before you sit on his back. It is safer: it is also quicker, more direct, giving you more control of the options. And of course, horsepeople use the term to each other in its literal sense just as often as the rest of the world does so metaphorically: I’ve been doing the groundwork and he’s going really well.

A riding horse that encounters problems may need you to do some work from the ground, rather than from the saddle. In which case, you will “take him in hand”. When you run an eye over a new employee, the first thing you do is to “put him through his paces”: see what he can do. In literal horsey terms, this means you get a horse to walk, trot and canter: the basic requirements. Anyone seeking to buy a horse for ridden work will first get on top and put the horse through his paces. From these paces you can see not only the horse’s ability, but also his potential: how much more he can do.

Perhaps you have a friend or a colleague who is inclined to be impetuous, overkeen on his own opinions. You’d call him “headstrong”: a term borrowed from the horsey world, in which a headstrong horse leans on the beat, constantly asks to go up a gear, and is generally inclined to pull your arms out. With a headstrong human, as with a horse, the more opposition you give him, the more marked the characteristic you are trying to erase. In fact, keeping a headstrong horse on a tight rein is only going to lead to a fight, a confrontation. The secret of such confrontations is to “give in while still winning”. But we still talk about “keeping a tight rein” on the colleague, the budget, our ambitions, on anything.

Sometimes the best thing to do with a headstrong person or horse is to “give him his head”: to stop the fight and see how he copes with a little bit more freedom, a little bit more responsibility. With fighting, there is always the danger that you will “put his back up”. This is an uncomfortable phenomenon in the horsey life: a horse who has put his back up is bunched and tense underneath you, ready to throw in a buck without a second’s notice. You can actually feel a horse’s back arching underneath you, feel the state of extreme tension, and you know that something very unpleasant is likely to happen if you are not extremely careful. In such circumstances, I’m inclined to drop the reins – give him his head – and conspicuously relax myself, sit deep and easy, and aim to get the horse back into serious work without him really noticing. Make a point of any confrontation and you are generally going to come second. Best answer: don’t put his back up in the first place.

A horse that is feeling the effect of a high-protein meal is full of beans: or he may be feeling his oats, particularly if he is a working stallion. Human two-year-olds don’t leap about much: they toddle. It’s horses of the same age that leap about like two-year-olds. But when they get older, the shape and angle of their teeth change, and they appear to become longer: hence “long in the tooth”.

If you “pull up short” on a horse, it’s not just that you have made a sudden stop. The horse has stopped because he has gone lame. It is not the stopping distance that is short: it is the length of the horse’s stride. It’s a horrible feeling and you will generally get off and lead your horse home.

But say it’s a good day. You get back to your yard in good shape. The horse has walked a long way since your canter, and is relaxed and cool. There is no sweat on the horse’s neck. Everything is absolutely excellent: and you are “home and dry”.

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ALBION EVENT SADDLE FOR SALE 17.5/18th” – medium width, brown leather, good condition. This is a good quality saddle designed by Abion specifically for eventing but is great as a jumping saddle. It is ideal for a TB type as it has a high head, and sits well on high withered horses. It is forward cut, with adjustable knee blocks. Brown leather with suede knee flaps. Has been well looked after, and still has original red Albion cover. Priced to sell. Contact Cathy Heaven on 07976 318430. Can bring to ODRC events or send photos if required.

STABLES FOR RENT Stables and grazing available at High Lee Farm, Strinesdale – 4 large stables (£20/week). Part livery available if needed. Please contact Lesley on 07764 151616

Equi-Therapy UK & Hands2Health are

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15

HHOOLLLLYYWWOOOODD TTHHEEMMEEDD CCHHAARRIITTYY BBAALLLL

IINN AAIIDD OOFF

BBRREEAASSTT CCAANNCCEERR PPRREEVVEENNTTIIOONN Marie Phillips’ “The Guardian Angel Fund” supporting The Genesis Appeal

(see below for background to this charity)

Be a STAR of Hollywood for the evening at theHollywood/Oscar Themed Night

Saturday, 15 October 2011

At The White Hart, Lydgate

7pm for 8pm sit down till late

“Castell Blanch Cristal Brut Cava Rosado” Reception 3 course meal (vegetarian/special dietary requirements catered for)

followed by Your Host for the Evening Mr Andy Lee

5 star Evening Entertainment together with DJ

Charity Memorabilia Auction

(including top quality genuine sporting memorabilia) Raffle

Surprise Celebrity Guest

Tickets £38.50

Ticket information: www.shhheventplanning.co.uk

Ticket purchase please tele Sue Hamer on: 07889 156171

Background to Marie Phillips’ Guardian Angel Fund

Marie, a local lady and also former member of ODRC, living in Mossley reached her 55th birthday in 2010. As we all get older we reach the age where mammograms become the norm. However, Marie was not due for her mammogram until 2011. The Nightingale Centre in Manchester is a Centre set up to fight against Breast Cancer. People from all walks of life attend the centre for different reasons all relating to breast cancer. In 2010 the Nightingale Centre was offering selected people the chance to partake in tests as part of their research into breast cancer. Marie was invited along to take part in these tests. Unfortunately and most surprisingly, Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer and, following her treatment, Marie was advised by her Consultant that, if this had not been detected until 2011 when Marie would normally have attended for her mammogram, then the breast cancer would have been terminal. The Nightingale Centre saved her life! Marie has set up an appeal fund called “The Guardian Angel Fund” in order to raise monies for The Genesis Appeal which is part of The Nightingale Centre. Unfortunately, centres like these rely on the generosity of the public in order to assist with funding different research programmes, treatment and the ability to provide the care for people suffering with cancer and also the aftercare once someone has undergone surgery and treatment.

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Changes to 2012 dressage tests Just in case you want advanced notice of changes to the Dressage tests likely to be used in competitions in 2012, Sue Burnett (formerly Hamer) has kindly passed on this notice from British Dressage. This is the list they will either be supporting with score sheets next year or deleting. Show organisers whose shows include any dressage should take note of this before selecting the tests for next year’s show schedule.

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