Spring Newsletter – 2009

Dear Members

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2009. What a start to the year we have had. The Annual Course at Addington was for me and I am sure for the rest of our members, the best yet. Carl Hester and Di Lampard were on top form and the improvements both over the year and during the course were impressive. I do think that to have our trainers at the course for two years is a real benefit to our training and coaching skills.

To follow on from this in the coming year is not easy but I think our committee has come up with a really inspiring list of training days and social events. Please see the full list on our website and book the days off now. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by work, competitions or just life, but I know that to continue training and discussing training techniques must come at the top of the list for professional development and there is no other association that offers what the F&I Association offers so please keep supporting it.

The training days start with a first class opportunity on Tuesday March 3rd at West Kington Stud, Chippenham, Wilts, to see at first hand and ask questions about semen collection /AI, stallion work and mare reproduction with Martin Boyle, Tessa Clarke and Chris Shepherd. This stud day follows on from last year’s very successful day at Hartpury and is a must for all enquiring minds. Click ‘Events’ in the index for more info and for the full list of events.

Further autumn training days will be publicised in the next newsletter but book ahead Tuesday 22nd September – coaching sessions with Stephen Clarke at Cotton Hall, Congleton, Cheshire. Price £60 per session. Spectators – F&I members £15, non-members £20. What an opportunity! Contact Sue Pimbley 01253 701014 / 07717 017372 or email susan@spimbley.orangehome.co.uk

We will also be watching Carl Hester train at Newent – date to be confirmed.

Finally, the AGM and Annual Course next year will be on Wednesday and Thursday 13 thand 14 th January 2010. We are very fortunate indeed to have secured two wonderful coaches – Tim Stockdale for the jumping and Adam Kemp for the flat. We will be able to offer not only individual sessions with Adam but also sessions with two riders with younger horses so as to enable more riding places, as well as more to watch and discuss, which I think will be a great use of Adam’s time and skill.

All the training days are open to F and I Association members, occasionally to trainee BHSIs and often to guests; please contact the event organisers early to secure your place.

If you know of any BHSI’s who are NOT yet members of the Association – or who were once but whose membership has lapsed and we’ve probably lost their contact details – please prod them to contact us and rejoin!

If in doubt, please watch the website which has all forthcoming events listed, all the reports of events to date, and a list of committee members with email addresses and telephone numbers – and of course a membership form waiting for you! www.fandiassociation.co.uk

William

William Blane FBHS – Chairman, F&I Association