BHS Staffordshire Summer 2010 Newsletter now online

Including
Results from February Dressage evening   ~ Spring Pleasure Ride Report
Spotlight on Bridleways ~ Your Staffordshire Committee # Forthcoming Events  
Download the newsletter
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Fancy taking up the reins?

BHS Staffordshire is looking for a volunteer to join us on the committee and help us plan and run our events.  In the longer term, we hope the right person would be able to step in to the role of Chairman, building on the excellent work undertaken over the last six years by our previous Chairman, Marcus Clinton.
Read more. . .
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CHAIRMAN’S FAREWELL REPORT

Seasons greetings to you all, I write with sadness as this is my last report but also excitement at all the events we have done recently and a new year in the offing. Staffordshire is blessed with an extremely vibrant horse community and it has been an absolute pleasure to live and work in Staffs the last 12 years, 11 of which have involved being on the BHS Staffordshire Committee and the last 6 as Chairman.  I’m off to Northumberland to work as Assistant Principle at their land based college and am looking forward to new challenges and areas to get to know, I leave behind an excellent committee and a team that although all volunteers have found the time and energy to put on numerous events each year as well as all the work on welfare, safety and access. 
                        
Recently we had a positive annual meeting and have held successful introduction to dressage and first aid evenings. Planning is already underway for our annual summer show on Marquis Drive which has been well supported the last few years.

I know all this activity will continue and I wish everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting over the course of the last 12 years all the best for the future and thanks for all the support I have been shown. Thanks to my fantastic committee, their friendship and for all the hard work over the years.

On behalf of everyone at BHS Staffordshire can I wish you a wonderful xmas period and all the best for the new year for you and your equine friends ! and hopefully you will both get to some of our events in 2010.

Marcus Clinton
Chairman – BHS Staffs

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2009 Summer Show

Report on Annual Meeting 2009

Once again, a good turn-out at the committee’s Annual Meeting, held at Ingestre Stables.  Chairman Marcus Clinton summarised the key areas in which the committee had been active throughout the year.  This included our busy events programme as follows:

• The annual spring and autumn pleasure rides (the spring pleasure ride being particularly successful with a record turn-out) – see page 4 for photos from the autumn pleasure ride.

• The “showing skills” demo with Andrew Collins (see Summer 2009 Newsletter for report).
• The summer show – covering showing, show jumping, and dressage, as well as some fun dog classes (see page 6 for photos).
• The “Introduction to Dressage” evening – focusing on walk/trot and prelim tests (see page 9 for report).

At a number of these events, to support this year’s safety and security campaign, free tack stamping was available where riders could have their tack stamped with their postcode or initials making it identifiable in the event of it being stolen and subsequently recovered.
The agenda also covered all the other key areas in which the Staffordshire Committee is active, including reports from Eileen Foy on Riding and Road Safety and from Brian Smith on Bridleways issues. There was also an update on the Committee’s financial position from Treasurer David Wheatley.  BHS members in attendance were invited to get involved by volunteering to assist with the work of the committee.  A number of volunteers put their names forward.

Following the formal meeting, we adjourned to the indoor school where Tim Downes from Ingestre Stables gave an excellent and inspiring demonstration on improving the rider’s position.

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2009 Pleasure Ride

Click here to view photographs from the Autumn 2009 pleasure ride
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