Springston Pony Club Newsletter

March 2019

Officers and Committee Members Patron: Peter Jarvis

President: Christine Lewis Ph 325 2086, 021 793 999

Vice President: Lucy Watkins

Secretary: Sharon Rayne Ph 03 317 9209

Treasurer: Andy Etheridge

Head Coach: Keryn Wilson

Newsletter: Annabel Fitzsimons Ph 0276777310 annabelk@hotmail.com

Funding co-ordinator: Sharon Mehlhopt

Club delegates: Pauline Jarvis, Annabel Fitzsimons

Health and Safety Pauline Jarvis Ph 347 8181, 021 142 6474

Committee (in addition to office bearers & delegates above) Sharon Mehlhopt

Kate Millar

Kim Adams

Cheryl Etheridge

Selectors Sharon Rayne

Christine Lewis

Kate Millar

News and Info

Head coaches report

Our most recent rally was held at the West Melton Forest and it was great to hear that so many people had turned out

despite the weather being less than ideal. It was also appreciated that Jo took leadership at the rally.

This coming rally we have a visiting vet Dawne, coaches Anne, Amy and regular Jess. Dawne (vet) is going to cover

some of the health elements on riders cards.

At the upcoming rallies next month, I was looking at having a dress up on the 14 and a possibility of running the unity

on the 28 as I have already pencilled in Nick Sonne. She and Linda were interested in doing it together although I

haven’t heard back from Linda regarding the date.

I’d like to have some names forward for C certificate riders as there is bound to be an exam coming up, however I

haven’t had any queries from families around this.

Team Competitions 2019 There are a number of team events which you can put your name down for. Please watch out for e-mails asking for you to put your name forward. Many of them require that you are competing at the required level before applying. You are likely to be asked for a list of the results at competitions on your horse/pony. Please start keeping a note of these, if you have not already. Remember that you need to include ALL competitions, even the ones where things didn't go so well and you would prefer to forget you even went! This is so the selectors can get the whole picture. The following list of events for which teams are selected. Dates may be subject to change. Eventing

Collier Trophy (26th May 2019). Team selection April.

Springston Trophy, Hosted by Halswell Pony Club, Curletts Park, Christchurch.

(3-6th October 2019). Team selection early August.

Games teams

Christchurch Pony Club Games (20th Oct 2019) Team selection Sept.

Show Jumping

Windsor team Show Jumping (24th November 2019). Team selection late Oct, early

November.

South Island Show Jumping Champs (January 2020). Team selection end of November.

Dressage

Amberley Cup. Team selection early August.

Dressage and Jumping

Stringer Trophy. Selection end of August.

Selection policy Currently being discussed by Comittee

Upcoming events PC events

(These are from the Canterbury Pony Club website, I take no responsibility for their accuracy.) https://www.sporty.co.nz/canterburyareapc/Area-Calendars-Google/Printable-Calendar-2019

Saturday 6 Apr 2019 Halswell SJ Sunday 7 Apr 2019 Ferrymead Sunday 14 Apr 2019 Hurunui ODE Rally Day Saturday 27 Apr 2019 Oxford ODE Sunday 28 Apr 2019 West Melton Show X Rally Day

May Sunday 5th May 2019 Waihora PC ODE Sunday 12th May Amberley PC ODE Rally Day Sunday 19th May Oxford PC ODE Sunday 26th May Collier Trophy Teams ODE Rally Day

Fees for 2019 This year all members will need to register ONLINE into the new database that has been created by NZPCA. Sharon has circulated these details. Fees help cover levies to NZPCA and operating costs of running the Branch. Membership fees need to be paid by 31 March 2019. Members have the option of setting up a direct debit plan but they must contact Andy Etheridge (Treasurer) to approve this. 2019 Membership Registration Fees: Adult $ 0 First Child Under 18 (must be linked to a named adult) $160 Second Child $130 Additional children under 18 years $ 60 Riders 18-25 $130 Account number 03 1588 0017480 00

Guidelines/Expectations for helping. All of our members are expected to give a certain amount of time at Pony Club – this can include coaching, helping at working bees, helping at our annual ODE and/or a role on the committee. It is expected that a member will help at least 3 working bees AND our annual ODE (2 days), AND help set up and packing up at rallies or the equivalent time thereof.

Health and Safety

The 2019 health and safety document is on display on the clubrooms door. Please make yourself familiar with this. It is a living document, so if you see anything which should be added, please let me know.

SPC Events for this year

Please note that the SPC ODE is 27th and 28th July 2018. We will need EVERYONE to help with both the set up before and on these days. Please diary these dates now. We will also have a first start event, dates TBA soon

Saddlery shops

If you are buying gear at any of the local saddlery shops, please tell them that you are from Springston Pony Club. At the end of the year they donate vouchers to us relating to the amount our members spend. We use these for the end of year Christmas party, prizes etc.

Use of grounds

Springston Pony Club members are welcome to use the grounds free of charge (please ensure you have paid your subs!). The combination code is sent to members, please do NOT share this. Non-members need to pay for each visit (even if they come with you!). Bookings are available with Katie Meyer, ph 027 538 7277. Please ensure that all horse manure is picked up from the arenas and the grounds before you leave. There is a wheelbarrow and rake available, so there are no excuses. Please also ensure all show jumping rails are picked up off the ground. Even if you didn't drop them please pick them up so we can keep them in good condition for as long as we can. Please keep an eye out for “happenings” at the grounds, if you see something which shouldn't be happening, please let a committee member know ASAP. Note we do not have any “casual riding members”, any causal riders (non-members) need to pay $10 per horse/pony each time they come.

Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN MARCH

Ella Isobella

Lily

Results and photos

Please let me know what you have been up to and any results/photos you have (annabelk@hotmail.com). If you don’t send me the results, I can’t put them in! Please also send a photo of you having fun with your pony

Zone games was held in Fairlie on 3rd of March. We drove down the night before and stayed the night to

be ready for an early start. The competition consisted of pairs in the morning and teams in the afternoon.

Springston had two pairs - Gemma on Sam, Sonya on Annie, Renee on Mocha and Georgia on Bella. There

were 13 pairs in the competition. Gemma and Sonya came 4th with Renee and Georgia coming 9th against

lots of older riders. After a lunch break to cool the ponies down on a hot day we had the team competition

with Gemma, Sonya, Renee and Georgia riding as a team to come 4th out of 9 teams.

MGA Hi-points pairs (23/24 Feb)

Gemma (riding Solo) - 1st in Pairs U14 (with Ellen Jones) and 1st

overall Hi-points pairs competition (points taken over November and

February competitions)

Georgia (riding Bella) - 2nd in Pairs U12 (with Jack Hague) and 2nd

overall Hi-points pairs competition (points taken over November and

February competitions)

Horse of the Year 2019 I was proud to represent Canterbury Area in show jumping at HoY.

It was an early start with a 7am course

walk. Feeding, grazing, grooming and

putting in studs needed to be

completed (in the dark) before that!

The competition was split into ponies and

hacks. Ponies went with first. Johanna

was first out for our team, having 2 rails for 8

faults, then I rode, just clipping one rail for 4

faults.

The

hacks

went

next.

Georgia

rode also having a rail and Brianna had several rails and a

circle. There were lots of faults, so we hoped to get

through to the next round, but the cut off was 12 faults for

the top 3 riders and we had 16, so didn’t quite make the

next round.

It was still a great experience to represent our area.

By Katherine Hadler

It’s me, Ella Fitzsimons, from pony club. I went to horse

of the year with my pony Apsley Golden Secret aka

Thomas. It was a long way but he travelled well up to

Hastings he is such a good boy.

We drove up to Blenheim and had a night at a friend’s

place where the ponies got to go in a paddock and we

had a cottage. Then up early and on the ferry which was

quite rough with 2.5m swells, a stop to let the ponies off

at Trentham. Then on to Hastings where we stayed at a

place that had a paddock for the ponies. Sunday

morning we went to the showgrounds, our home for the next week.

The ponies had covered yards and we slept in the truck. It was so busy and noisy, the parties,

motorbikes, trucks and cars coming in and out. We were parked quite near the Showing rings, we

could hear the commentator who started at 7am each morning!

So many people and horses! There are 1400 riders and 1800 horses competing at HoY!!!!

On Wednesday I got 3rd

in my first dressage test,

on my way back from prize giving we went past

Tim and Jonelle Price who were practicing

dressage on their borrowed horses. And Tim said

“Look you got a prize, good on you!!!” I was very

impressed! I rode Thomas in the NZ Riding Pony

Open Saddle Hunter pony class, we had to ride on

the circle and then strip the saddles off ponies

and present to the judge. I couldn’t believe it

when Thomas got 5th

.

On Thursday I did my second dressage test at 7.30 (and got 7th

) then swapped onto to Dot (the welsh

pony we were riding for friends) and did our Rising Star lead up

class for ponies under 148cm and Dot got 3rd

!!!! I was rapt! We

didn’t place in the Rising Star title class. I rode Thomas in the

Rising Star lead up class for Saddle Hunter ponies under 148cm

and the Scottish judge placed us 2nd

!! Then in the Title class we

had to do a workout which included inhand gallop and

lengthened trot, three judge’s judge and score you and we

placed 4th

. So exciting.

On Friday we had our last dressage test, Thomas and I were a

bit exhausted and placed 10th

. But happy that we were in the

top half of the class in every test.

We made so many friends up north

and people were so nice. It is very

busy and lots of work looking after

the ponies, walking and hand grazing

them. It is worth it to be part of Horse

of the year. Thomas loved it at HoY,

he enjoyed the food and put weight

on!

Thank you Mum, Dad, Katie and

Lauren Haig (my trainer who came

with us)

More HoY reports next month.

Classifieds

Please let me know if you have anything for sale (annabelk@hotmail.com)