Hpec newsletter sept 2017

Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club Newsletter September 2017 We are nearly at the end of the show season and thoughts are turning to autumn and winter based activities including organised rides and hunter trials. Whatever your ambitions for the next few months it would be great to share some of these with other enthusiasts. Don’t forget the club has its own closed Facebook page as well as the Forum to discuss ideas and it would great have reports of some of these activities along with photos so please contact the editor with your news at alisonpayne909@btinternet.com

place against the backdrop of Andy Scott’s magnificent Kelpies, will mark Scotland’s relationship and reliance on the horse.

This will be an amazing day showcasing food, history and archaeology from the area.

Horsepower star attractions include two stunt shows from Les Amis Stunt Team featuring stunt riders from the Outlander TV series 2 and 3, who will bring history to life through impressive jousting techniques. There will be many displays of animals and other features and also a 40 minute display with Highland ponies and other native breeds.

Horsepower - The Festival of the Horse in the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology

Stop press...

The venue - Helix Park, Home of The Kelpies, Falkirk.

The date - 9th September 2017.

If you are fortunate enough to be in Scotland at the right time this is an event not to be missed.

Horsepower is an imaginative celebration of Scotland’s equine heritage taking place at The Helix Park in Falkirk. The event, set to take

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It's that time of year again and another trip to Red House Stables for a weekend of fun and carriage driving has been organised on the 21st to 22nd of October. We meet at 10am and participants will need to bring a packed lunch for Saturday. The cost is £140 for B&B and driving instruction. We will be going out for our evening meal at a local hostelry.

Sunday we will be driving again and there is a chance to sit up behind a pair of Gelderlanders for a short drive around the local countryside. Lunch will be provided on Sunday and all will receive a certificate on completion of the course. There are a few places still available if anyone is interested. If you are interested contact Christine Bassett 078855433119.

races, let me know preferences for which meetings and I will organise.

Rebecca O'Rourke e-mail rebecca.orourke@btopenworld.com or text /phone 07774076077

Events for Autumn in North East England Dear Friends, I hope this finds you and your ponies well. I am writing with information about some activities we are organising for the autumn and winter.

An Outing to the Gallops Sunday 15 October 2 -3.30pm at Philip Kirby Racing, which is off the A1 near Leeming Bar/Bedale DL10 7QE. Eight places are available for either the gallops only (£10 per pony) or gallops and jumps (£20 per pony). There are 25 Working Hunter jumps. Your pony must have up to date vaccinations. We will plan to have a steady group and a faster group round the gallops. It would be good to have some people on the ground to help out, take photos, put jumps up/ down and replace poles (should that prove necessary!) Firm bookings by October 7 Spa Day - Several hotels in our area offer mid-week spa days or half days (with brunch, lunch or afternoon tea) at reasonable prices - from £24.00 - £95.00 per person. Depending on who is interested, and when they are available, we will choose and book a group outing - ideally before Christmas.

Some spas have a limit on group bookings of 6 or 8 people.

Socials - We would like to organise a lunch for members in January/February - always a bit of a miserable time of year so it’s nice to have something to look forward to. Are people happy with the Coore Arms, near Leeming Bar? Should we go further north (or south)? If so, let me know - preferably with a suggestion of where would be suitable for up to 25 people.

If anyone has requests/offers for activities which we can provide for the area let me know. Also if anyone fancies an outing to the

Olympia Visit The HPEC have made a block booking for tickets for this year’s London International Horse Show at Olympia to watch the M&M Ridden Final on Monday 18th December. We have a limited number of tickets available at £31 each. If you would like to join the highland pony party please get in touch with Chris Grant to reserve your tickets either by e-mail cwgrant@outlook.com or text 07787 124413

Welcome to……. ……. new members and those returned after a break:Caz Thompson, Linda Impey, Karen Fuller, Jen Wood, Kirsty Faulkner, Olivia Faulkner, Kim Gough, Amy Whidburn, Sally Anne Doxey, Caroline Beech, Ian Baily, Helen Mitchell, Julie Osborne, Mary Whittingham, Jean Eades and Miranda Foster.

And the winner is…..

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To help us improve our communication with members we invited members to enter our free prize draw. The July/August edition winner was Dawn Farnish. To enter the September/ October draw, simply e-mail hpecsecretary@gmail.com with your name and quote the words “September/October”. One person will be drawn from the list and receive a £5 HPEC merchandise voucher.

Holmedown Honours Well I have had a really good season with the ponies in 2017 – have only done a few shows with the highlands – mainly Holmedown Carolina (H.Cobweb x Glenmuir Buzzard), Holmedown Wyoming – aka “Wilma” (H.Clearwater x Highland Chief of Whitefield) and Carolina’s yearling daughter Holmedown Isabella (by Lyncrest’s Rhrodri).

Holmedown Chicago also came out of retirement to do a few shows as well.

Our first show was SWPA on Good Friday where Wyoming won the large breeds youngstock and Chicago – her first time in a ring since 2012 .. won the adult class. Chicago then went on to take the Reserve M&M Championship with a Sec A stallion taking the top spot. Chicago also had a go at jumping this year and went on “Eventers Camp” with a friend whose horse had gone lame – I did say she would probably do well dressage but don’t know if she jumps ! Well she does – really well cross country! She had only been back being ridden 3 weeks before.

Carolina did 4 shows this year – starting with Bath & West – may as well go straight in at the deep end! – where she won the adult class and went Highland Champion with HM Queen’s beautiful 3 year old filly Balmoral Angel in the reserve spot. Wyoming was 3rd in the youngstock class.

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Next stop was Yealmpton Agricultural Show with Carolina and Wilma – which started the day with pouring rain (and I mean pouring!) which meant mud – followed by humidity and then sunshine. Carolina won the 4 & over mixed M&M large breeds class and much to my amazement Wilma won her class and then went M&M Champion and overall M&M to take the NPS Silver Medal!

Onto Okehampton Show which was a lovely sunny day but not too hot with Carolina who again won the M&M large breeds, took the M&M Championship and then hung around for the Silver Medal – didn’t think we stood a chance as apart from some very nice Welsh we were up against the Jordan’s Moortown Dartmoor stud and Hodge & Walters Shetland mare ... low and behold we took the Reserve Silver Medal spot to the Jordan’s lovely Dartmoor broodmare the 2017 Cuddy’s finalist Moortown New Romance .

Last trip was a long one – all by myself to the Iceini Show at Bromyard left at 5am with Carolina and she won the Highland adult class in very good company and went Res Champion. .... eventually I got home just after midnight after losing part of the roof of the lorry on the motorway with the horrendous winds – luckily the mare didn’t seem to notice or mind!

Wendy Bridges

What’s on

Southern meet at Chepstow Races

September 9th - The Festival of the Horse in the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, Falkirk October 4th - 8th - Horse of the Year Show (HC) 7th - Rare Breeds Show, Grantham (HS) 14th - Chepstow race course - southern region social gathering 15th - Pennine Area End of Season Show (HS) 21st—22nd Carriage Driving at Red House, Derbyshire

The southern Area of the HPEC would like to invite members to an afternoon at the races for the Winter Jumping Season at Chepstow Racecourse. We will meet before the first race at 1.55pm. The last race is at 5.20pm and this meeting represents the start of the winter jumping programme in the UK. You will have an opportunity to watch some good racing with top horses and trainers as well as plan and talk about what events and visits the HPEC would like to plan for 2018 e.g. Stud visits, maybe a ride or possibly a Hairy pony camp?

We are a big group spread over many miles so planning needs to be thought about!

HC - Highland Class or classes HS - Highland Section Please note most of these shows are not run by the HPEC. This list simply informs members where highland classes are being run. All of these shows have their own websites and contact should be made directly to their secretaries.

Pennine Area End of Season Show This show has been based at Adlington EC near Stockport for some years as it is a super venue with safe parking and unloading, a brilliant indoor surface with a secondary arena outside for working in and a good café and seating area. This year there is to be a return of inhand classes purely devoted to highland ponies whilst the fell and dales ponies have joint classes. There are also condition classes and a variety of ridden classes plus the utility class to finish off the day. This year the judge will be Heather Prescott and the show will be affiliated to the HPS. It is an ideal venue to bring on a younger pony ready for next season or to just come and have fun. Spectators are always very welcome.

For a schedule contact Amanda Hart by e-mail hartsika@btinternet.com

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We would like to meet up as a group, then walk the course. Individuals can then either go to the grandstands or stay by the paddock and then meet up for tea later. The final itinerary however will be guided by you!

The cost for entry is £22 for the grandstand and paddock view but we might be able to purchase a group ticket more reasonably on day.

For more information and a to show a level of interest (you’re not committing yourself!)

Contact either Helen Best e-mail maxmystic@aol.com, Tel 01905 621144 (after 7pm) or text 07809 100772 or alternatively Nina Hoad 07962 217460