December was a busy month with Christmas preparations, the Autumn Series Unaffiliated dressage Championship Show, Christmas Holiday Programme as well as all of our normal activities. We also enjoyed the annual staff and liveries Christmas Party held at the house.
Unaffiliated Dressage Championship Show - Congratulations to the Champion and Reserve Champions for the Autumn Series:-
Intro Open - Champion Rebecca Wood riding Joey. Reserve Champion Karen Chambers riding Peg
Intro Veteran Rider - Stella Gittings riding Basil. Reserve Champion Vivian Smith riding Jimbo Boy
Veteran Horse - Basil - ridden by Stella Gittings
Prelim Short - Open - Champion Rebecca Wood riding Joey. Reserve Champion Karen Chambers riding Peg
Novice - Veteran Rider Champion - Nicky Barr riding Epetia
Our Spring Series will start in February 2026 on Monday 2nd
Staff - we bid a fond farewell to Sarah-Jayne King who left us at the end of December. She had been with us over 5 years and had completed her NVQ and BHS Stage 2 riding and stable management exams. We wish her every success in the future.
Affiliated Dressage - India competed Fizz (High Hoes Epernay) at Weston Lawns in Prelim Gold to gain scores of 76% and 72%. Fizz is qualified for the Prelim Gold Regionals
India also took Nalla (Vanilla P) out, this time the venue was Bury Farm, competing in the Medium Gold and achieved scores of 68.1% and 71.5%, completing qualification for the regionals at this level as well as at Elementary.
India also took Eddie (Escade) out for his first outing since the European Championships and they competed in their first ever Inter 2 together for a creditable 66.62%. One and two time changes all correct, now need to keep developing the Piaffe and Passage.
Verity took Gaya out to Swallowfield to complete qualification for the Advanced Medium Silver Freestyle regionals and then to Solihull to complete qualification for the Advanced Medium Silver Regionals
Maintenance - Some more work needed to be done to Verity’s horsebox - so essential to keep your horse transport in good repair to do the best possible to ensure a good experience for your horses when travelling.
Worming - we follow a yearly worming programme as recommended by our vets and all of the horses on the yard were wormed in December
Sue Carson Saddles came to do saddle checks for some of our air saddles - so important to ensure good saddle fit for the comfort of the horses