F&I SUMMER NEWSLETTER
Well, that’s Ladies Day at Hickstead done and dusted for another year. Not so many of us there this year, but the same amount of fun to be had. Royal Dublin Horse Show has finished with GB winning the Nations Cup on a really awful day, weather wise. So, is it really all downhill till Christmas?? The weather here is appalling there are acres and acres of harvesting still to be done with some very flattened crops looking very under ripe and l’m seriously thinking of lighting the drawing room fire!!
Back to more serious stuff, once again people have pulled out all the stops and provided this Association with some great days. On an evening in January I was lucky enough to watch Caroline Moore in action at ‘Wellies’ and felt very honoured to present her with the F&l Association’s Achievement Award as she had been unable to attend our AGM earlier in the month.
March then heralded the National Equine Forum which is always a delight to be able to attend. This was my second visit and I was interested to be there because of all the discussions regarding Brexit and the ‘hard border’ between Northern lreland and lreland, and these are still ongoing. Back to Wellies with Caroline in full swing for an F&l course so ably organised by David Sheerin.
May must mean the Badminton Course Walk and hard on its heels the ‘Judy Day’ with Judy Harvey. Both these fabulous events are organised by our Vice Chair Ann Bostock.
June was a busy month. A visit to West Kingston Stud, a first, and those who attended were amazed at the huge amount of information gained, not just a visit to a stud, thanks Debbie for taking that on and huge thanks to Tessa Clarke for her invitation. Whilst in the North West Kirsten Owen hosted the day with Andrew Bennie at Myerscough International Arena. Andrew his usual imitable self as he coached all day. Ruth Baxter engaged the talents of lan Stark for a Course Walk at Bramham, whilst if it’s June it has to be The lrish Day!! Once again Faith Ponsonby reached into her ‘sack’ of friends and colleagues and pulled out a visit to Jessica Harrington’s racing yard. Yo, that woman is some star Trainer with fabulous facilities. This was followed by a most interesting trip to the lrish National Stud with a well-versed gentleman giving us so much background knowledge of the history of the stud as well as up to date information on the stallions.
LOOKING FORWARD. So, the reason for a Newsletter at this time of the year is to remind you of what’s in store.
6th September Course Walk at Burghley with Eric Smiley. This day is organised by Ann Bostock, but hosted this year by Sandra Morrison as Ann will be judging in Poland. So, all contacts and bookings made through Ann please on 07889648478.
MEET Sandra at fence 2 at 9.45am With your monies if you are paying cash. £15 F&l £20 non – members, but preferably pay by cheque or BACS to Debbie our Treasurer.
9th September F&l Day at lngestre Contact Linda De Matteo A7798676769
16th September The Pammy Hutton day at Talland, Contact Debbie Follett on debbiekayfoll@email.com BY September 9th
24th – 26th September F&l Camp at Wellington Riding hosted & organised by David Sheerin Coach Eric Smiley Contact David.
13th September SADLY the day with Jenny Ward BD List 1 Dressage Judge, at the BD National Championships has had to be cancelled due to a lack of attendees. ln order for the day to be successful Ann Bostock needed to book a block of 11 seats under the covered stand. lt was then decided we would run with 6 attendees but we wanted these people to be F&l members. Jenny would then coach them through the lnter 1 tests being ridden in front of the judges, but with only three applicants we have had to cancel the day. Jenny is happy to accommodate us again next year so as soon as we have the date it will be advertised.
ALL THE ABOVE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON THE F&I WEB SITE.
CALLING SCOTLAND AND ALL POINTS NORTH OF CARLISLE.
Jen Burnet is in the throes of setting up the most fabulous day on NOVEMBER 6th AUCHTERARDER PARISH CHURCH HALL AUCHTERARDER PERTHSHIRE PH3 1DF.
SADDLERY & SADDLERS. Jen has invited the following manufacturers FAIRFAX, WOW, VOLTAIRE, CHILDERIC, DEVOUCOUX & BATES.
She has the most interesting day planned with speakers and the opportunity to visit the stands and get that discount as well as a ‘goody’ bag.
So, watch this space, we will advertise that day much more as we will open it to all comers. We are working on ticket prices but lunch will be included in those prices.
ANNUAL COURSE 2020. Addington Manor 7th & 8th January
Once again, our Coaches will be Corinne Bracken SJ Accredited Coach Show Jumping and Adam Kemp FBHS Dressage.
Please note the costs of the Riding places are held at last year’s prices. F&l Spectator fees are also held at last year’s prices as is the 4-course dinner. WHY? Because this is Your Association and we want as many of you to attend as possible. The local accommodation is good especially as it’s January so look on line and book as soon as possible.
After lunch on day 1 we envisage having a session upstairs for members to ask Corinne & Adam about their training methods and ethos. This will slightly affect riding numbers so get your entries in to Ann as soon as that door opens.
There will be a small increase in the stabling and this will be payable direct to Addington.
This time we are going to monitor more closely the riders’ grooms – so whilst owners are most welcome to watch their own horse being coached there will be one name badge per rider for their groom, after that spectator fees will be in place.
The Annual Course runs at a loss and the Committee are fine with that as there is money in the bank, thanks to the wonderful people who organise the training days throughout the year. The Membership has not been increased for YEARS and won’t be.
MEMBERS enjoy the rest of your summer and the autumn/winter competing. I look forward to seeing ALL of you at the Annual Course in January