February 2025

Belated Happy New Year everyone – though its not got off to the best start as this year has certainly thrown all possible weather elements at us.   Hope you’ve all survived the snow, ice, rain and wind.   Have seen a few of you out hacking and its good to see that its not only riders who are completely rugged up in all weather gear !   We’ve started to plan a programme for 2025 and details are as follows :

PAST EVENTS

AGM at Crowton Village Hall, Friday 22 November

This really does seem quite a while ago but proved a really enjoyable evening.   The meal was excellent and well deserved prizes were awarded to many riders and horses.   Speeches were kept short so it was good that this meant there was time for evryone to have a good catch up and exchange riding achievements over the previous year.

Committee update

Most of the existing Committee agreed to stand for another year – although two will be retiring tat this year’s AGM..  This will leave the committee short on numbers and, as a knock on effect, will make it harder to run events as each  member takes it in turn to be responsible for the day in question.   So if anyone would like to volunteer, they will be more than welcomed but, if you would like to chat this through first, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Having said the above,  we were delighted to welcome Pam Harrison to the group as she brings a wealth of experience over many disciplines and a bit of “new blood”  will be welcome !

Christmas Dressage

Although numbers were down a bit this year, those members who attended the Christmas Dressage had a good day and we appreciated their involvement at this very busy time of year.   

AREA  EVENTS

Area Qualifiers

Past Event :

The Area Dressage to Music competition took place at Reaseheath on 9 February and DFRC members achieved exceptionally good results.    The Club was not only delighted to send out such a talented group but really proud as to how they were placed in the various sections with special mention of Clare and Rosie who were really  fantastic :

Sharon Houghton was 4^th in the Intro

Clare Fox was 4^th in the DtM Elementary and 1^st in the Novice DtM

Rebecca Kneale was 3^rd in the DtM Prelim

Katie Holden was 3^rd in the DtM Novice

Rosie Ibbett was 1^st in the Medium/Advanced Medium DtM .

Future Events

Area Intermediate Dressage

Dressage in the Club seems very strong at the moment and we are sending two teams to the Intermediate Dressage Qualifier on 2 March at Higher Farm – so wish all members a successful and fun competitions

Area Winter Dressage at Northop on 22 March

Elaine has sent round an email asking of anyone would like to take part in the Novice Dressage at Northop.  The entry date is very close (end Feb) so please urgently advise Elaine if you wish to take part.

Helpers at Area Competitions

As many of you know, its a condition of entry acceptance by Area that we also supply helpers on the day.  Please may we request that anyone taking part in an Area competition (both now and for future events) makes sure that this duty day is completed.    For anyone whose horse is not ready to take part at the moment but could be a target in future,   its always possible to “bank” a help day and use that credit against a future competition.

FUTURE EVENTS

Dressage at Forest Gate Farm

Dates for the year are :

9 March (at 1.30pm)

13 April  (at 1.30pm)

8 June   (at 2.00pm)

6 July     (at 2.00pm

3 August   (at 2.00pm)

12 October  (at 2.00pm)

2 November  (at 2.00pm

7 December  (at 2.00pm)

As always, details of the tests will be on the web site – along with all details as to how to enter.

Combined Training

This is scheduled to take place at Church Farm on Sunday 18 May.    However, if we experience the torrential rain that descended last year on CT day, it may have to be postponed due to potential difficulties in parking and jumping.   However fingers crossed that we are due a dry day this year.   Full details will be on the web page nearer the time.

Horse Camp

Again this will be held at Somerford Park from 30 May to 1 June.    Its always really popular and places are quickly taken so, if you’d like to be included, please contact Cathy London as soon as possible.

MISC

CLUB HELP DAYS

Unfortunately, because memberships are now processed through Sport80, Cathy has been unable to send out the tick box document so that everyone can elect which discipline they’d like to help at for their duty day.   However we have now added a Help Day Form for completion on the Membership page of the website.  Please can you all fill this in and send to Cathy as soon as possible.   Thanks, in advance, for this and apologies for sending this reminder to all who have returned the email.