Dressage to music

Members had their first sesson on Sunday (Aug 16th) at Ruth Gregory's arena - thanks Ruth. We're planning a dressage to music day workshop and will confirm place and day asap - if you're interested phone Patsy asap.

Club secretary Liz Lucas wrote: "Patsy and I took Minty and Dawn to Ruth Gregory;s for a Dressage to Music session.  We had a great fun afternoon.  We started the session with Patsy riding her newly developed test.  Nikki and Ruth looked on and timed each movement.  At the end of an hour session Patsy had a full 4 1/2 minute test, which is timed and ready for music.

"I worked on my current test and music, we concluded that I need to amend the canter element.  Something for me to work on this week.

"We found that writing the test then timing each section was the best way to establish what music was required.

"After two hours of working on dressage plans and timings, we all sat down in the lovely sunshine and enjoyed coffee and cake.  (I made the cake, just hope everyone lives !!!)

"We are really keen for more people to join in this fun activity.  I am happy to prepared  draft tests for people.  If anyone wants help in compiling a test please contact me (via e-mail) let me know if you prefer more trot than canter or viz via and I will try my best to develop something.

"Patsy is excellent with Music and happy to help anyone fit music to their horse, again, contact Patsy via e-mail. We are all (Liz, Patsy, Ruth and Nikki) happy to help anyone get started.  Ruth is happy to host sessions like today so please let us know if you would like any help.

"There will be two practice sessions for those with music at Ruth Gregory's arena on Sunday 16th and Sunday 23rd. Everyone is welcome to come along and watch too - perhaps we can wet your appetite to have a go too! Contact Patsy on 07595190997."

Patsy and Minty running through their test

Members enjoying the gorgeous afternoon at dressage to music training.

Congratulations

Vale of Usk member Patsy Ward won a brilliant fourth at her first ever ODE. Patsy   Patsy and Minty got off to a very good start at Alps Court, Cardiff, with a very good dressage test with a score of 38%, followed by a clear show jumping and a clear cross country.  An excellent achievement.

Training

 Members have been benefitting from the skills of Bridgend-based trainer Vikki Pengelly. VOU team members Liz Lucas and Anna Tucker are regulars at her yard along with Ruth Gregory who is benefitting from Vikki's skills in bringing on her youngster Mullins.

Qualifiers

Congratulations to Anna Tucker who was 6th at the ODE Area Qualifiers at Howick. Commiserations to Charlotte Leigh on Sharon Tovey's horse who was in 1st place after the dressage and showjumping. She had a technical stop and after two appeals the judge's verdict remained. The team of Anna, Charlotte and Liz Lucas all rode well but were unfortunately unplaced.

Also congratulations to our dressage team who came 2nd at the Area Dressage Qualifiers at Leominster. Sharon Tovey, Donna Harris, Sarah Canning and Rhian Bough were just two points behind the winners. Well done to all of them.

Jareta Stud visit

 Many thanks to the Jareta Stud for opening its doors to our members on July 15th. Almost 50 members and friends were shown around the gorgeous stud and got to see their beautiful PRE foals, youngsters, mares and stallions. Their resident trainer worked with one of the member's horses and produced some lovely results. Thank you again! 

Showjumping qualifiers - Allensmore

Our team of Phil Norrish, Zoe Harris, Rhian Bough and Charlotte Leigh took part, unfortunately weren't placed. Charlotte had a double clear and went on into the individual final, but ended up with four faults. But well done to all the team.

 How to ride a Dressage test evening.

With Alison Payne. Four members rode the Prelim 14 test and afterwards Alison made v. helpful suggestions on how to improve their test, before the members rode the test again. It was such a helpful evening and our thanks to Alison, Ruth Gregory, for the use of her arena, and the 4 guinea pigs, Claire Nowicka-Price, Donna Harris, Liz Lucas and Nikki Watson.

Our team came second at the area Hunter Trials qualifiers at Llandrindod. The Easter dressage competition was a huge success with more than 50 entrants.

Our team came 13th out of 20 at the British Riding Clubs Indoor Dressage Championships at Hartpury 

Previously we had an amazing result at the regional finals, with our teams securing first and second positions. Anna Tucker and Benson who came first in the novice. Also in the first team was Liz Lucas who came second in the novice. Helen John was 2nd and Ruth Gregory 6th in the prelim test. Congratulations to  all of them!!!

The next team was second, a superb result too. They were Sam Owen who was 7th and Judith Powell who came 5th in the novice test and Mel O'Brien who was 9th in the prelim test. Our fourth member Sarah Anderson sadly had to withdraw after her horse was kicked.

Our third team, Phil Norris, Sharon Tovey, Sam Owen and Sarah Everitt were unplaced but had a great time too.

It was a wonderful day and our thanks go to trainers, Irene Blake, of Abergavenny, and Vikki Pengilly, of Bridgend, who have both been instrumental in the team success.

We also had one team at the Senior Novice Show jumping Qualifier at Alps Farm, Cardiff, on February 15th.  Allison, Liz, Claire and Judith made up the team.  Unfortunately we were out of the ribbons.  Alison had a double clear but the rest of us had faults. 

Out and about with members. Ruth Gregory, Sian Owen and Liz Lucas have continued to compete at unaffiliated dressage mainly at Sunnybank Farm, Bedwas.  The Vale of Usk members are regulars in the top three in both the prelim and novice classes.

Show jumping practice with Kate Bevan was a great success - as you can see from the smiles below...

2008

It started back in February at the indoor winter dressage competition.....

Members, Liz Lucas, Anna Tucker, Helen John all competed and won. They also qualified for the nationals at Hartbury in April where Liz won her section on Thinking about Thinking - an amazing feat and the team came 14^th overall.

Also in February two teams went to the indoor show jumping in Cardiff and although we had mixed results we had another good day together. Team members included Ruth Gregory, Judith Tuthill, Sam Pugh, Liz Lucas, Ruth Main, Katie Phelps, Anna Tucker and Helen John.

In March we ran a successful club dressage competition at Usk College with Irene Blake and Jane Washer as judges.

In April we fielded two teams for the area XC qualifier at Hilltops. The team comprising of Helen John, Liz Lucas, Anna Tucker and Judith Powell won the novice section and went forward to the championships in May at Ashton Le Walls; Helen John was place 2^nd individually.

Other team members included Ruth Main, Judith Tuthill, Katie Phelps and Rhian Baugh. At the championships we sadly had mixed results but Liz Lucas was placed 29^th overall.

The day after the XC championships was the area ODE qualifier at Hilltops and we only managed to put forward one team with two novice horses in the team. It wasn't a hugely successful day but everyone who competed enjoyed taking part.

In July our dressage team comprising of Ruth Gregory, Anna Tucker, Liz Lucas and Helen John won the area dressage at Chepstow and qualified to go to Lincoln in September. Liz was 3^rd, Ruth and Anna 5^th and Helen 8^th.

Another horrendous day weather-wise in Lincoln at the championships with the team coming 14^th overall , with Liz 8^th, Helen 12^th, Melissa 14^th and Ruth 17th. Our congratulations to them.

Later in September we held another dressage competition at Usk with Judith Powell judging.

Throughout the year, along with everything else that has been going on, some members have started to do dressage to music. With huge help from Irene Blake, members have been videoed riding their horses, music has then been selected to suit the horses paces and floor plans done. They finally got to show off their hard work at our very successful dressage competition in December at Usk. Thanks again for everyone who attended and made it such a successful day.

Outside the Club activities many members have done very well, not only at competitions but in coming to terms with their difficult mounts.

It's been great to see the progress of Patsy Ward and Minty and Rhian and Ferry.

Alison Payne has excelled this year at British Eventing - well-done Alison. Sarah Everitt has also made excellent progress in this demanding discipline.

New member Holly Price has taken the club into showing arena taking reserve champion at the at Addington Manor Show Championships

Clubs members Anna and Ruth have had great success in side-saddle and in hand showing respectively.

Our thanks again to Irene Blake who set the foundations for so much of our success and also to Irig and Kate Bevan for their show jumping training.

Thanks also to Beccy Field for allowing us to use her excellent facilities at Triley and also to Coleg Gwent for use of their excellent indoor school at Usk.

 This year we have excelled for such a small club but we have so much more to gain in 2009. It's not only about competing but about being friends, sharing experiences and helping each other.