VISIT TO HUNT KENNELS 1ST JUNE 2010 The Surrey Union Hunt very kindly invited all the Pony Clubs in their hunting country to visit the Kennels at Okewood Hill, Near Ockley in Surrey for members to meet hounds and learn for themselves all about Hunting and what is involved. At the end of our visit we were all treated to a Surrey Union Supporters Club Tea - one of the best Teas in the South of England!!!

Several Chiddingfold Farmers' members joined the visit and had a lovely time. Penny Wilson and Alice Dunsdon, two of the Joint Masters, gave an interesting talk on turnout (using Olly to illiustrate their words of wisdom - a gentle giant of a Hunt Horse!), they explained all about hunting; what happens, what to expect and who to keep in touch with. They invited and encouraged everyone to try at least a day's hunting. Ian Shakespeare, the Surrey Union Huntsman, and Charlie, his Whipper In, then showed where hounds are kept, how they are cared for and what is involved working at Kennels. The Flesh House was fascinating, particularly as their were a number of carcasses there! Ian and Charlie then brought hounds out into the field to let everyone get up close and personal with them. All Pony Club members who wanted to, took their theory part of the Pony Club Hunting Certificate and congratulations go to Luke Stent, Giselle Stent, Bertie Cole-Fontayn and Miya Halsey who all passed with flying colours.

A huge thank you to the Surrey Union Hunt for their time, generosity and wonderful hospitality.

Hunting is a wonderful way for you and your pony to enjoy each other's company, stretch yourselves to do things you would not normally do, and to see spectacular parts of the countryside and natural wonders that you would not normally come across when out hacking.

The Surrey Union Hunt is our local hunt and Pony Club members are welcome.  The Surrey Union hunts within the current law. If you and/or your pony have never hunted before, the Opening Meet would not be a sensible day to start, but why don't you go along on your feet and see what it is all about.  You will have a lovely time meeting hounds and will be able to get a real feel for what a Meet is like and what happens when hounds move off.  If you are feeling fit, you can follow on foot for a while!!!!
After the Opening Meet, the first Meet of the hunting season, the Surrey Union goes out every Tuesday and alternate Fridays and Saturdays.  Please get in touch with Anne Marie Cole-Fontayn if you would like to go out, and she can then put you in touch with the appropriate Hunt Secretary and advise you which days would be the most suitable for you and your pony.

Pony Club members must turn out smartly and correctly for hunting: no coloured numnahs, browbands, bandages, boots etc. You should wear a tweed jacket, pony club tie, hairnet, clean and shiny jodhpur boots and your pony must be plaited.  If your pony has never hunted before, you do not know how it will behave, so you should turn out with a green ribbon on its tail.  Equally, if you know that your pony kicks, you should turn out with a red ribbon on its tail.  Every time you go hunting, you must pay a "Cap", which is a small fee to cover your day's fun.  This goes towards feeding and keeping hounds, hunt horses, hunt staff etc.

DRESSAGE
We are a strong branch for Dressage, with members enjoying team and invididual successes from Walk & Trot test up to National level. Our Dressage Trainer is Lynn Wickes. Lynn is a pure dressage rider, competing at the moment at advanced level. She trains with Carl Hester, and has been competing for the last twenty years or so. She has trained many riders, up to and including Prix St Georges level. We run our own Easter Monday Dressage Show and various local branches run both Winter Dressage Series and Dressage Shows, which lots of our members enter. In addition, we have dressage classes at our Junior Show and there is also a great new Pony Club Dengie Winter Dressage Competition - see www.pcuk.org for more information. Dressage is an essential foundation for your show jumping and cross country balance, so give it a try and you will get a better relationship and understanding with your pony which will help you all round!

EVENTING (Horse Trials)

***NB Hat Rule***
For all cross-country riding (including Tetrathlon, Eventing, tests and training) over fences 0.80m high and above, a jockey skull cap (no fixed peak on hat) must be worn. It is also strongly recommended that a jockey skull cap is worn for cross country riding over lower fences.

The Eventing organizers make all CFPC Team entries for any Pony Club Eventing. These are normally made at least 4 weeks before an Event to ensure availability of places. There are two ways of paying: either by prepayment of £120, which should enable you to partake in 3 Events, or prepayment of £40 to cover one event. If this money is not received within 3 days of agreeing the entry, you will not be entered. If you have to withdraw, your entry fee is not refundable unless you can provide a vet's or doctor's certificate within 4 days of the competition.

Finally, Eventing (Horse Trials), is both challenging and great fun. We would love to see as many of you as possible having a go. We would also welcome anyone who wants to come just to spectate! (It is a good way to find out what goes on!) Phone your team organiser if you are interested, or have any questions.

Course Walks, when possible, will be organised the day before an Event. You must come to these for the safety of yourself and your horse - they cost only £3.50 on the day or in advance and are added to your entry fee.

MOUNTED GAMES

Next Training Dates:
8th & 22nd July, 5th, 12th & 26th August

Fabulous fun for everyone aged 6-14yrs, ponies 14.2hh and under. Learn balance, flexability and team camaraderie as well as cementing a great partnership with your pony. Races include mug, old sock, flag, quoits, bottle, pyramid, tyre and bending. Start at your own pace and work up to accuracy with speed. Competitions within the branch and area, hopfully qualifying for zones then the finals. Anyone can do it with ponies from shetlands to mini racehorses - So be a devil and give it a go!!! We hold regular training sessions. If you are interested we would love to hear from you - The more the merrier. Please call Britta on 01483 422450 or Sally on 01403 824107

POLO is a great game, which can be played by anyone aged 6 years and over. Young members play on their own ponies, known as Fluffies, whilst anyone 14 years and over should play on polo ponies. There 4 members per team and Pony Club Polo is played on grass from June to Sept. A few Arena games are played over the Easter Holidays, with only 3 members per team. At the moment our branch does not have any playing members, but a few years ago we were very successful and won through to the Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray. Claire Brougham, Sue's younger daughter started playing polo with us in 2001 and now plays adult polo professionally, including spending the winters in Australia and New Zealand. She has also played for Young England. Claire is here every summer and will hopefully be able to coach our members if required. If you are interested in learning call Jane Vile on 01483 275040 and she will set up some practices. We had a brilliant polo demonstration at camp this year.

SHOW JUMPING
We are lucky to have Sally Thurloway, an accredited and experienced BSJA instructor, as our Show Jumping supremo. Members of all ages enjoy show jumping both at our field at Eashing and at our indoor Christmas Show, and we also send out teams at all levels to lots of competitions both summer and winter. Some of our members also enter the very successful Pony Club Dengie Show Jumping competition - see www.pcuk.org for more information.

TETRATHLON - Click here for 2010 Dates
This is an excellent sport covering four different disciplines - Running, Swimming, Shooting and Riding and you dont have to be in all of them or a super sport!  You score points in each and try to get as many as possible.

The Mini-Mini section is usually for those who are under 10. It is more to encourage the youger ones to have a go and therefore there is not a strict standard of disciplines.  Each Pony Club Branch has a different approach eg Swim 2 mins (armbands allowed), run approx 600 mts, ride the max 1'6 and may be led and not shoot. Alternatively they may ask you to run and shoot - with two hands one target of 5 shoots from 7 metres.  This is usually mixed class of boys and girls. It is a taster and if you enjoy it you go onto the mini classes.

Mini is not usually mixed and you need to be under 12 on the 1st Jan of the year of entry. 
Shooting - This usually takes place first and is fun and easy - all you have to do is shoot two handed at a target 7 metres away - 10 shoots in total giving you hopefully the top score of 1000 - which is not often achieved! You also have 5 shoots at the beginning to settle your nerves.

Swimming - you need to swim as many lengths as possible in 2 mins any stroke you want.  If you manange to get 5 lengths that is fantastic and you get 1000 points.  It is not a race and you are swimming for yourself.

Running  - this is usually cross country and 1000 metres .  If you do it under 4 mins you get another 1000 points which is fab .  You dont all run together but individually.

Riding - the Cross country course should be up to 2'6 and you start off with 1400 points - aiming to finish with them!  However if you refuse you get 60 knocked off.  During the course there is a clip rail to be negotiated within a minute and also a gate to open and go through, then shut while you're still mounted - also all within a minute.  If you have trouble doing any of this you are not eliminated but will have points deducted and can continue the course.   At the Chiddingfold Farmers Tet the cross country is 2'3 - so have a go as this is often the case with other pony clubs.

Junior is not usually mixed and you need to be under 15 on 1 st Jan of the year of entry. 
Shooting - This is the same as the minis but you have to shoot with one hand, 7 metres away from the target, which turns in between each shoot.
Running - You have to run 1500 metres cross country and try to do it within 5.40  mins
Swimming - You need to swim for 3 mins any stroke and aim to get 7.9  lengths
Riding - This is over a 2'9 cross country course with a slip rail and gate to negotiate.

Senior/Intermediate is for those who are under 21 on the 1 st Jan of the year of entry.
Shooting - this is single handed, turning target from 10 metres
Swimming - 3 mins and try to do 9 lengths for the 1000 points
Running - 1500 metres within   5.20 mins for 1000 points.
Riding - This is normally over 3'3 course but can vary in order to encourage.

The best three scores in the team count and overall the scores to aim for are:-
Riding - 1400 points
Swimming 1000 points or more
Running 1000 points or more
Shooting 1000 points

There are various competitions throughout the year in our area and you dont have to ride if you just want to do the Triathlon - run, swim and shoot or even the Biathlon - run and swim.  Usually during the winter months there are Triathlons. For shooting lessons you can countact Les Neill on 01483 275307 who will also lend you a gun for the comptetion .  You can also phone Daniela who will try a source one for you and help - 01483 233901. We usually enter Tets at Cowdray, South Berks, Stockland Lovell, Area, Royal Artillery and Old Surrey & Burstow, in fact any we can find!