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Author: graeme@33hz.co.uk

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Grass Roots

Jack at Bicton Eventers Camp

Jack at Eventers Camp Bicton
Jack at Eventers Camp Bicton

Last time I wrote the lorry was in lorry hospital having its MOT and some work done on it, its back and we planned on going to do and do a couple of dressage tests. Then I went down with a heavy cold which knocked me off my feet and wasn’t fit to drive the lorry so that went out the window.

Last week we had booked Jack onto a 3 day eventer’s camp run by Lucy and Padraig McCarthy at Bicton Arena. He had never stayed away and being 17hh we knew temporary stables would be a tight squeeze! So this was a chance to see how he took to being away before Badminton, as its just about close enough we could have taken him up and back in a day if he didn’t settle. He took it all in his stride and quickly returned to joker Jack we all know and love!

Jack at Bicton Eventers Camp
Jack at Bicton Eventers Camp

On the 1 st day they had a dressage lesson with Lucy and then in the afternoon they had a grid work session with Padraig, it ended with them jumping over 110m oxer at the end of the grid.

On the 2 nd day we worked to make the lorry more weather proof as Alex had found it quite cold over night with a draught, it’s got a basic living but I have never put bunks in it as we haven’t had the need to stay away. Which meant the back was turned into a bedroom!

They had a Show jumping lesson in the morning working on arena techniques and then in the afternoon they ran through a dressage test of their choice. Alex ran through the championship test although slightly squished into a 20x40ish arena! But this works well as we often have to put tests together in different orders or Jack comes around a corner and asks if he should be cantering yet or pre-empts movements! He thinks he is helpful!

On the 3 rd day they did Cross Country techniques in the arena in the morning and worked on how to ride difficult lines and then in the afternoon they went out in to the field and did some cross country practice. Then we packed up and brought a tired boy home.

Jack at Bicton Eventers Camp
Jack at Bicton Eventers Camp

He’s then had a day to chill out in the field with the sun on Sunday whilst a few of us went to support Maria Cooper from our yard who was competing in the Advanced Medium Petplan Nationals at Hartpury. We also visited Teletubby land on the way (anyone that has been to Gloucester Services will know what I mean!) I am so lucky to be on a fantastic yard where everything is like a huge family. Then back to it yesterday! Today they have a lesson planned and then he is having a Bowen treatment from Pippa Perry who has treated him every few months as a preventative to keep him feeling good for a couple of years. Saturday he is entered in the BE100 at Bicton to get another run before Badminton.

Badminton got very real this morning with the numbers and sections being released. It looks like he will dressage on Tuesday and then Show Jump and Cross Country on Wednesday as he is 8 th to go in his section.

Categories
Committee EHOA Owners

Chairmans Letter 2017

Dani Evans and Lokis Trumpet, Nunney June 2016
Cathy with her own horse Lokis Trumpet, Nunney June 2016

I sit here with great anticipation of an amazing season ahead writing about our great sport, comprising of fabulous people who have an immense passion for their horses. The Two Heart campaign launched for the Olympics in Rio 2016 was absolutely befitting but there was a part of me that felt a few more “Hearts” could be included, that of the Owner(s)! Unless you are one, and have experienced what it is like to sit on the side lines with your heart pounding whilst watching your horse and rider compete in any one of the demanding disciplines then I don’ t expect those that aren’ t to understand what it is like. For what it’ s worth, from my own experience, it was less stressful being a rider, albeit ‘ amateur’ than now my current status as an owner.

We now look forward to the season progressing, some changes a foot and we wish both Chris Bartle and Richard Waygood all the very best in their new positions as World Class performance coach and manager respectively. Likewise with other Nations who are currently appointing new performance managers, we wish them all every success and will be following all our Member Owners and their riders throughout the season.

The success of the EHOA over the past years is fundamentally down to the enormous support from our Sponsors. The Association is indebted to them for all they have done to enable us to evolve with the sport and to bring the “Owners” voice to the fore and to be now recognised as a leading stakeholder in the Sport. We thank you for your commitment to us and to the Sport and hope in some way that we have given you something back in return.

Finally, I would like to thank the large pool of stoic volunteers who year on year help us run the hospitality tents, once again without your enormous contribution we would have been unable to expand these Owners facilities across the Country. The EHOA is fortunate enough to have a membership that enjoys the sport at all levels, whether an owner/rider, owner, young rider, competing at the Grassroots level or on the International stage and part of a National Team, I wish you all every success in 2017 and look forward hugely to seeing you at the events and welcoming you once again to the Owners tents.

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Sponsors

Zip Travel Holiday Winner

Fern Hordern was the lucky winner of the prize draw at Badminton in 2016
generously sponsored by Zip Trave. The month of January would normally herald short, grey winter days, the joys of cold hacking and muddy turn out rugs. But not this time around…

Mister Luck shone brightly on me in May last year when my name was pulled out of the EHOA prize draw and I found myself booking an adventure to Sri Lanka with ZIP Travel.

My sister and I set off mid January, flying out to Colombo and meeting our guide, Ralston (whom we secretly named Wally on account of his Where’s Wally T-shirt). He became our translator, driver and all round hero for the trip. A perfect example was on our train ride from Kandy to Nurawala Eliya which was a stunning 4 hour train journey over beautiful
hillsides and through the tea plantations.

At the station, Ralston positioned himself perfectly on the platform in order to leap onto the train before it had come to a stop, push past all the passengers waiting to get off and grab us two seats on the side of the train which would have the best views. By the time my sister an I had boarded the train, all the seats were taken apart from the two guarded by Ralston.

Highlights of our trip included: 1000 steps up to the rock fortress at Sigiriya, and the ancient wall paintings and Buddha statues at the Dambulla Rock Temple. Cheeky monkeys live at these world heritage sites and one tried to pull my sarong off! The safari in Yala National Park was a bit more hectic than we had imagined it would be. The Jeep drivers raced around like rally car competitors in their frenzied search for the elusive leopard. This resulted in “Jeep-jams” and general chaos. However once off the beaten track, we were thrilled to see brilliant green and blue bee eater birds, unbelievably huge crocodiles, pelicans, mongooses, and a rare sloth bear (a shaggy black bear the size of a chimpanzee).

There were some unexpected moments too: A swarm of silent crows at dusk as we sat on our balcony in Kandy turned out to be a colony of fruit bats (also known as flying foxes). We saw wild elephants wandering along the roadside and at our hotel in Yala, on the edge of the National Park, we had to side step water buffalo, wild boar and a land monitor to
get to breakfast!

Although we were sad to leave the warmth, sunshine and beautiful sunsets, it is always lovely to get back to family, dogs and horses (clean or otherwise). A wonderful trip.

Categories
Horses International Profiles

Rider Profile: Willa Newton

Willa Newton
Willa Newton

2016 was a personal best for 26 year old Willa Newton, winning the prestigious 8/9 year old class at Blenheim (and 8th in the CCI class just for good measure) and the Young Horse Championships at Osberton were particular highlights.

Ambition for 2017:

To recruit some new sponsors and owners to help build on 2016 and work towards
my long term aim – to represent Great Britain in the Tokyo Olympics
in 2020.

Favorite event?

Burghley- it’s our local event and I always dreamed about riding there as a child.

Favorite horse?

I am very lucky to have ridden some lovely horses. Newmarket Vasco One was very special, a lovely person with a huge heart. I think it has to be Neelix though who took me from pony club to four star! Caja 20 is a real character though and also very special to me!

Best thing about the job?

Working with different horses every day and learning how to get the best out of each one.

And the worst?

Career ending horse injuries when the horses give so much and on a lighter note the cold weather!

Owners – how do you attract them?

I really appreciate the value of owners and I held an Open Day in November last year to showcase my yard and the benefits of ownership I feel very lucky as I have some very loyal owners who have been with me for a long time but I think owners are attracted to hard work, commitment and achieving results on many different horses and hopefully some fun!

What differentiates you from other up and coming riders – why should owners choose you?

Having a solid basic training in young horse production which I have been lucky enough to learn from professional riders and trainers. I believe this is the key to seeing horses successfully move up the levels and reach the top.

What does a fab owner experience look like to you?

Of course owners enjoying success is very important but at the same time I like them to enjoy the whole experience of the yard as well as being supportive of the whole team and other owners horses as well. I have set up syndicates in my
young horses and I feel that those involved (not necessarily horsey) enjoy the whole day out from the picnic, the wonderful locations as well as meeting like minded people!

Plans for the future?

The main aim for this year is to ride at Badminton for the first time. I would love to get closer to senior selection now my young horses are starting to move up the levels.

Categories
Committee Owners Profiles

Huw Lloyd – New Board Member

Huw-Lloyd
Huw-Lloyd

5 mins with Huw Lloyd who has joined the EHOA Board to lend expertise around the website and technology.

About Huw:

Brought up in Somerset and now live in London escaping whenever I can!

Job:

Tech focused investment banker.

What role do you play on the EHOA board?

New and finding my feet but helping with the new website and general enthusiasm for younger owners.

Last time you rode a horse?

Try and ride Mr Chunky at least once a month (the event horse co-own and is competitively ridden by Padraig McCarthy) and hunt a few times a season. We are heading on a riding safari in Botswana for our honeymoon in April.

Favourite event, and why?

Blair Castle – great scenery, the terrain makes for interesting and challenging cross country and in 2001 it was the last event 3DE I did as a rider come back?!?

Proudest moment in the sport

In the saddle, winning the JRN at Bicton in 1999, and as an owner or Mr Chunky winning his CIC3* at Chatsworth last year.

If you could look in to the future, what developments would you like to see in the sport/EHOA/BE/FEI in the next 3 years and why?

We must maintain the top level sport (including championships) as the ultimate test of horse and rider but for we have to be open to new ideas that allow more people to experience our very special sport (both riders and spectators). To use a cricket analogy can Twenty20 be used to save Test matches.

Secret weapon?

Wellies packed in the boot of the car at all times ready for a quick escape from the smoke.

Categories
Committee Profiles

Carol Turner – New Board Member

5 minutes with Carol Turner who has joined the board to help with hospitality

About Carol:

I spent my childhood in North London, learning to ride at Mill Hill Equestrian Centre and Patchetts Green. I was just a tomboy who loved ponies – never had any great aspirations in the equestrian world but loved pony club, gymkhanas, hunter trials and hunting. I have hung up my boots really – preferring to spend my time on the ground renovating rescue ponies!

Job:

I worked as an Air Stewardess – and married a pilot – we still run an aviation consultant company together. We live in north Bedfordshire – Close to the College EC and Sarah Bullimore’s lovely professional yard – she has the 4 year old son of my ex-eventer mare to produce – hopefully to event next season.

I keep my horses at home and have a lovely helper, Rosie who does them 3 times a week – I do everything myself on the other 4 days – and love every minute. – when friends call when I am in the yard my husband tells them I am doing my housework – it’s true – I take great pride in keeping the yard and its inmates clean tidy – and well fed.

What role do you play on the EHOA Board?

I am new to the board and will be involved with hospitality. My past experience as an air stewardess and my interest in hospitality makes it an obvious starting point for me. My past experience as an air stewardess and my interest in hospitality and catering may come in to play in the future.

Favourite event, and why?

My favourite event to attend has to be Burghley but I love being inolved as a volunteer fence judge/dressage writer at Keysoe, Rockingham, Blenheim, and Whitfield.

Proudest moment in the sport

Microburst with Sarah Bullimore at Tattersalls
Microburst with Sarah Bullimore at Tattersalls

My proudest moment – watching my home bred Microburst go round the testing 1* cross country course at Tattersalls (having done very well in the dressage ) with Sarah Bullimore – I was overwhelmed with emotion and will never forget it.

If you could look in to the future, what developments would you like to see in the sport/EHOA/BE/FEI in the next 3 years and why?

I feel very strongly that the sport of eventing needs to do more to attract and keep sponsors – particularly owners. If the way to do it is by making the sport more ‘show biz’ I hope those in the driving seat will stay grounded and not stray too far from the roots of eventing.

I would also encourage owners and riders to have agreements in place to avoid misunderstandings. There seems to be a move towards making all sport more honest and transparent and I think the horse world should embrace the idea.

Other hobbies/pastimes?

Connie
Connie

My hobbies are breeding sheep for unusual wool textures and colours, walking with my constant companion dog Jesse and playing with my two little rescue ponies, a Welsh section B Connie’ and a BSPS Welsh part bred ‘Melody’ they are both 12.2hh. I find it so rewarding watching them grow from terrified, thin, depressed little ponies into amazing characters and a delight to be around.

Secret weapon you couldn’t live without?

A very understanding husband!

Categories
Awards Sponsors

Annual Awards

Jeremey Lawton presenting Shearwater Insurance Services Owner Award in the 7 year old championship to Nick & Barbara Walkinshaw
Jeremey Lawton presenting Shearwater Insurance Services Owner Award in the 7 year old championship to Nick & Barbara Walkinshaw

A glittering dinner was held at the Saddlers Hall for the 2016 EHOA Awards in November. Congratulations go to all the winners for some fantastic results this season. Thanks also go to our tremendous sponsors for their continued support for the awards and the dinner.

The Plum Rowland Award

Emily King was the winner of our OI under-21 points accumulator in 2016, the Plum Rowland award. Emily said:

“I feel extremely honoured and lucky to have won the Plum Rowland award. I had a fairly up and down 2016 season, but there were some huge highs and it’s fantastic that there is an award to recognised this. It’s very kind of Plum to have given this trophy, so I would like to extend my thanks once again… and I’ll be trying my hardest to retain it this year!”

The prize each year is £950 plus a training bursary of £500 to be taken with a trainer of the rider’s choice.

Congratulations to…
Tessa Mackenzie Green, organiser of Aldon for over 30 years, on her recent British Eventing Award, which is presented for outstanding contribution to the
sport.

Penny Issac won a box at Ascot in the competition kindly sponsored by Weatherbys. Penny, along with 10 friends enjoyed a fabulous days racing and commented “we had an absolutely super day and I still cannot believe that I won a competition – Ascot looked after us so well – just a memorable day for all the best reasons!” It does pay to enter competitions sometimes!

Fern Hordern, winner of the Zip Travel prize held in the EHOA
hospitality tent at Badminton in 2016.

SAVE THE DATE

The Annual Awards Dinner wll take place on Thursday November 23rd 2017 at Ascot Racecourse. Details to follow in the Summer. Ascot Racecourse have kindly offered 50 complimentary tickets to our party goers to attend racing at Ascot on Friday November 24th 2017. Details to follow.

Categories
International

World Class Eventing Performance Appointments

Christopher Bartle in the newly created role of Performance Coach as part of the World Class Eventing Programme.
Christopher Bartle in the newly created role of Performance Coach as part of the World Class Eventing Programme.

The EHOA are delighted to welcome Christopher Bartle in the newly created role of Performance Coach and Richard Waygood MBE as Performance Manager as part of the World Class Eventing Programme.

Richard Waygood
Richard Waygood

Richard commented on the importance of owners: “Without the support of owners the sport quite simply would not exist in its’s current format or exist at all! Owners are the back bone of eventing putting a great amount of trust and faith in those who ride and care for their charges. Everyone involved in the sport has a huge debt of gratitude”. Chris commented: “I am really excited at having the opportunity to work with the British Eventing Team through to the Tokyo Olympics. I am really looking forward to building up strong relationships.

Categories
EHOA Owners Sponsors

Sharing the ownership of an Event horse: have certain terms in writing.

In order to keep up with the expansion and popularity of eventing, Knights Professional Services Limited have researched, reviewed and reinvented the types of legal ownership available to encourage and support new owners and riders into the sport.

Owning an Event Horse is now much more simple. Regardless of your background or knowledge of owning an event horse, Knights have created a series of legal precedents that can be tailored to the specific requirements of your ownership arrangement.

If you are looking to enter into an ownership agreement but are unsure as to how to start, we have created a step by step flow chart and Q&A to guide you into choosing the most suitable agreement for you and your riders. We encourage all owners and syndicates to put their terms and conditions in writing to prevent a uncertainty between owners and with their riders.

Should you have any further questions or would like to enquire about the opportunities available to you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Richard Pinney (richard.pinney@knights1759.co.uk) at Knights to discuss further. Primarily working out of the Knights Oxford, Cheltenham and Sherborne offices, Richard will also be available at Badminton Horse Trials to answer all your questions.

Categories
EHOA Events International Sponsors

Owner’s dinner at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

We are delighted to be hosting the Owners dinner on Thursday May 4th after the cocktail party at Badminton once again. The dinner will be sponsored by the new EHOA sponsor – Equine Construction – and will take place in one of the stunning Lakeside Marquees and will be limited to 150 people.

Please do reserve your tickets early! We will be maintaining a wait list. Details of how to book will follow shortly.