chrs

Committee

President Jen Mainland jenmainland@gmail.com 0427 424 222

Vice President Jody Henderson jody.henderson@agcocorp.au jody.henderson@y7mail.com

Secretary Zoe Sells zoe.sells@gmail.com

Treasurer Lisa Price werribeecentralarc@gmal.com

UNIFORMS Kristy Irons Kristy_irons@hotmail.com

TTT COORDINATOR Jody Henderson jody.henderson@agcocorp.au jody.henderson@y7mail.com

MAILING ADDRESS 87 Miles Franklin Boulevard, Point Cook VIC 3030

WERRIBEE CENTRAL EQUESTRIAN CLUB

December 2013

Welcome to the 2013 December News Letter and it’s hard to believe another year has

gone flying by. All those hopes and goals we had in January we can now look back on and

go wow I actually achieved all that.

It’s been a massive year for many of our members who have been out and about

competing for WCEC. Over the next few pages you’ll get to read their stories, how they

overcame their fears and see the pretty ribbons and garland they brought home.

Finally a massive thankyou to the Committee who continue to put in hours of work so this

club can continue running.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing

everyone in 2014.

December Rally

The December rally will be held on Saturday 14th of December and lunch is on us!!! Again

we’d like to extend our thanks to the Werribee Pony Club for allowing us to use the Pony

Club rooms.

Apart from our now famous Christmas lunch once again catered by me, we’ll be having

door prizes, awarding of the Jane Griffin Memorial Award, the inaugural Michele

DePasquale Dressage Award and the Hi-Point Award.

Instructors: Jo Murphy and Murray Lampert fresh from his European adventure.

Unfortunately Chris Mann has had to cancel but we are hoping he’s available for our

January rally.

Fees: First lesson $41 (includes $16 WPNEC fee) second and subsequent lessons $25

Payment details: Please pay by transferring into our account and emailing a copy of the

payment receipt to our Treasurer, Lisa Price werribeecentralarc@gmail.com

Account Name: Werribee Central Equestrian Club Inc

BSB: 063-541

Account Number: 10632947

DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR NAME AS OUR REFERENCE.

And remember lunch is on us

Lastly we’d like to welcome all the new members who have joined us this year. Welcome

to the madhouse.

After a week of torrential rain leading into TTT Dressage, I’m sure many riders worried they were going to be riding

bucking broncos at Werribee Park.

Thankfully the weather cleared and we had a stunning weekend with Werribee Park packed with nearly 700 horse

and rider combinations over three days of competition.

So how did our teams go??? Bloody brilliantly. There were lots of personal bests and a few placings.

Individual Placing

Zoe and Sadie: Jackpot Placing: 16th Stephanie and Blackie: Jackpot Placing 16th

Felicity and Fair Enough: Jackpot Placing 15th Shawnee and Madam Desire: Jackpot Placing 8th

Sue and Minnie Moo: Jackpot Placing: 15th Lisia and Miss Amity: Jackpot Placing 8th

Hel’s and Heckle: Jackpot Placing: 13th

Team Placing

We Can’t Even Canter: =100th Lucky We Didn’t Quit Our Day Jobs: =127th

TTT DressageTTT DressageTTT DressageTTT Dressage

Firstly a huge shout out to Nepean for running

such a well organised event.

And congratulations to Aurum Acres on winning

TTT Dressage.

I have to admit I’m a little bias because Kim

Jacobson is my showjuming instructor ☺

Stephanie and BlackStephanie and BlackStephanie and BlackStephanie and Blackieieieie

A little about Mr Black AKA Fairlight Acres Ambassador - 14.0 1/2 Australian Pony X (not

with a Shetland, because I know that's what you were thinking). He has an unhealthy

obsession with food (human or horse), will cosy up to any horse just to bite their face and

enjoys dressing up in pink a little too much (he does, I swear!).

Mr Black and I have only been together for

just a little over 18months, but in that time

we've achieved more than I ever thought I

could and even a couple of impossible

dreams came true, not to mention he is

slowly giving me confidence. Before buying

him, I was almost ready to throw in the

towel. He is one of a kind super-pony and

the most loveable boy with the most

adorable quirky personality!

Over the last year we have achieved a lot,

which includes just learning to trust him to

take care of me and get back in the saddle

and in the ring with the help of Jen

Mainland.

Mr Black and I started off on a good note

at our first ever grade 3 dressage jackpot

receiving a 2nd place for out 2nd test and

it only went up from there. We competed

in TTT Dressage 2012 in Sale, not

expecting any type of placing at all, so you

can imagine the shock when I checked the

scoreboard to see us in first place in both

our tests. We won the grade 3 jackpot

after only 8months together, an

abundance of prizes, sashes, a rosette and

our first ever trophy rug (which of course

had to be resized to fit the little man!).

Mr Black also performed extremely well

in the show ring at TTT Showing, placing

5th overall for the entire day in grade 3

and has since placed highly in every

HRCAV show and Show Hunter class we

have entered. Our showing highlight for

the year was achieving what I thought

was another impossible dream and

something that I had always wished I

could do, Highpoint at Barastoc 2013. Mr

Black had not been worked for just under

2 weeks before the event as I had hurt

my shoulder (pulling on my 'hotpants'

*snort*) and was the perfect gentleman.

That day not only did we take home lots and lots of blue ribbons, but we were also awarded

our very first garland, which he promptly tried to eat, a beautiful woollen trophy rug and a

Mal Byrne voucher.

Since then we have pointed up into Grade 2 in both showing and dressage and we are still

having great success. In our first grade 2 dressage jackpot we took home 5th in the second

test and 5th in the jackpot, and in our first grade 2 HRCAV show at Geelong Royal (where

Blackie once again proved what a consistent and quiet dude he is, being surrounded by

rides, screaming kids, fireworks over two nights and a bull ring) Blackie took home many

ribbons and Reserve Highpoint, only missing out on highpoint by one point (should have

stayed for the last two classes)!!

So whilst I still have my 'OMG' moments, they're becoming less and less. Without my little

man and coaching from the very loud but wonderful Jen (Blackie however, not so

impressed, she made him work hard and called him fat) I'd surely be watching from the

sidelines and still dreaming!

Lisia and MuffinLisia and MuffinLisia and MuffinLisia and Muffin

I rescued Muffin Dec last year and after 4 months of injuries, problems and rehab we

officially started riding in April, both of us green as grass. We started competing August 1st

this year and have gradually improved - from getting kicked out of the show ring several

times in our first show, to finally managing a calm, semi-correct workout :-)

Muffin has bad separation anxiety and has put on

some great naughty displays, none of which were

caught on camera unfortunately (but several

witnessed by club members!)

Fell off twice in our first club rally, horse ran back to

the float and tried to load herself to go home.

And at Lysterfield show she put on such a great

bucking display in front of the judge that she gave us

an encouragement award for not falling off!

The best comment so far was from the

judge at Geelong Royal: "I can see your

horse is being a complete troll today, but

once you get your s$%# together you'll be

hard to beat". Apparently we have

potential! We are currently 2 points off

going up to Level 4 *panic*

• Maryborough Nav Ride 18/5/13 - 1st!

• Kangaroo Ground Midweek Show 1/8/13 - 6th SOP L5, 4th Rider L5

• Warranooke Show @ Bacchus Marsh 11/8/13 - 4th led

• Sunbury Show 25/8/13 - 4th Rider L5, 3rd MMS L5

• Lysterfield Show 1/9/13 - 4th Rider L5, 3rd MMS L5, encouragement award

• CARABI Show 15/9/13 - 2nd SOP L5, 3rd Ridden Mount L5, 3rd Rider L5, 1st MMS

L5, Res Champ MMS

• Inverleigh Show 13/10/13 - 1st SOP L5, 1st Rider L5, 3rd Ridden Mount L5, 3rd

MMS L5

• Royal Geelong Show 20/10/13 - 5th SOP L5, 1st Rider L5, 1st MMS L5, Res Champ

MMS, Res Highpoint L5

• Bulla Show 30/10/13 - 2nd SOP L5, 3rd Ridden Mount L5, 1st Rider L5, 2nd MMS L5

My other horse Bella was put to sleep a few months ago, due to injury, behavior problems

and quality of life issues :-( She is missed every day.

Hollie And StevieHollie And StevieHollie And StevieHollie And Stevie

I haven’t done a lot of shows this year due to more study

and exams but here are the HRCAV shows that Stevie (Pure

Aesthetic) and I have done.

Royal Melbourne Horse Show – Jan 2013:

1st SOP

1st & Champion L3 Rider

1st & Reserve L3 Ridden

3rd Pleasure

Level 3 Highpoint Winner

Barastoc 2013

2nd SOP

2nd & Reserve Led

2nd & Reserve L3 Ridden

Thoroughbred Riding Club Show – April 2013

2nd SOP

1st & Champion Led Hack

1st & Champion Ridden Hack

!st & Champion L3 Rider

Thoroughbred Riding Club Dressage Extravaganza – Oct

2013

1st Novice 2A

2nd Novice 2B

Won the Jackpot and $100 from Racing Victoria

Jody and Red Jody and Red Jody and Red Jody and Red

I never realised the effect of losing my precious

Stan the Man to colic had on me three years ago.

I bought the Wee Beastie Red when I was still

grieving and needless to say the poor boy spent

our first twelve months together being blamed

for not being Stan. Two hospitalisations in three

months due to being thrown off, a bout of

whooping cough and developing anxiety and my

riding began to suffer terribly.

My goal for 2013 was to get back to my first love Showjumping. After having a couple of

outings at Freshmans and Combined Training events I thought I was ready for Ecotack series.

In April of this year I went to my Doctors because my anxiety was out of control. It was

affecting not only my riding but my work as well. Insomnia, panic attacks and night terrors

were starting to take their toll. I went to my Doctor to beg to medicate me. However he

sent me to see a psychologist instead.

I remember my first session with Norman. It wasn’t until Norman asked me to describe a

normal day for competition that the anxiety kicked it. I could feel it take over as I described

how my competition day started. From the packing of the float the day before to the

travelling to and from a competition. All the ‘what ifs’ that could go wrong. I’d had all the

‘what ifs’ planned out to TTT SJ in September. And much of it stemmed from the fall I had off

Stan in 2009 that put me in the Alfred hospital. While physically I’d long since recovered

from that fall, mentally it had been eating away for a long long time.

I then started having regular lessons with Kim Jacobson. Our first lesson together I explained

that I was seeing a psychologist to help me with my anxiety with riding which she took on

board. Every time I would start to become unsure about an exercise she would break it

down into baby steps even if it meant dismantling an entire jump.

I then timed Norman and Kim in the same week before my first Ecotack SJ competition at

Sythdale. We came 2nd and 3rd. While I was still tentative, Red took me to all the jumps.

Again I had a session with Norman and a lesson with Kim in the week before the West Coast

leg. I came 1st and 6th and 1st Place over all. Again Red was brilliant and I rode with less fear

and anxiety than I have in a long time. I was also second on the leader board. My goal was

to now come home with the Level 5 Rug.

By now the routine was a lesson with Kim and a session with Norman. So off to Colac we

went. I literally just had to stay on the win the series. Which I did. I came third in both

rounds and went on to win the Series for Level 5 and the stunning rug.

When I first starting typing up my 2013 roundup for the newsletter I really hadn’t realised how much I achieved this year

and it wasn’t going to be about coping with riding and anxiety. But I wouldn’t have been able to get back to enjoying my

beloved sport of showjumping without the support of so many friends.

I have to single out Donna Moore and Lisa Price all their help from the time I lost Stan right through until today. They have

been my rock during times I was ready to give up.

To my instructor Kim Jacobson who’s taught me so much this year and got Red and I going to so well.

And off course my psychologist Norman. If it wasn’t for my Doctor sending me along to see a psychologist I wouldn’t have

the great year I’ve had. It’s also flowed into other areas of my life including work and going back to Uni.

Zoe and SadieZoe and SadieZoe and SadieZoe and Sadie

Highlight of the year for us (other than

seeing her dressage come along in leaps and

bounds) was winning the overall Hi Point at

Leigh District Riding Club’s show in March.

Lisa and ConnorLisa and ConnorLisa and ConnorLisa and Connor

Here’s a pic of me from the R Bannister

Fundraising HT – with my highest ever placing

and my first ever points!!

Well done to Lisa and Connor. They’ve had a

massive year this year competing in ever horse

trial they could get to including TTT Horse

Trials.

All the hard work is finally paying off Lisa!!

WERRIBE CENTRAL EQUESTRIAN CLUB AWARDS

WCEC HIGH POINT AWARD

JANE GRIFFIN MEMORIAL AWARD

MICHELE DEPASQUALE DRESSAGE AWARD

Thanks to the ongoing sponsorship of Mal Byrne Saddlery, the Club will have three annual awards. These are

the Highpoint Award, the Jane Griffin Memorial Award and the Michele Depasquale Dressage Award.

The prize will consist of an embroidered rug to each of the award winners and is presented at the December

Christmas Rally each year and runs from 1st November each year to the 31st October the following year.

Highpoint Award:

This will cover all official disciplines of the HRCAV. You must compete for the club to be eligible for this

award and be able to provide proof of points should it be requested. You must submit your points to the

Secretary as soon as convenient with the following information. Name, Horse, Event, Class, Placing. If you

are competing with two horses, the n you will have progressive points for both horses.

You must also attend three rallies during the course of the year to be eligible for this award and a full WCEC

member and not an associate member.

Points per placing:

1st

=1 2nd

=3 3rd

=2 4th

=1

Dressage: Highest test placed on the day. i.e. if you place 2nd and 4th, then you must submit your second

placing and gain three points.

Showing: Highest placing on the day for events. Rider, Ridden Mount and Mount Most Suitable for your

level. As with Dressage if you place 1st in Rider and 3rd in Mount Most Suitable, you would submit your first

placing for Rider Class.

Combined Training, Show Jumping, Horse Trials, Navigation Rides: With these disciplines you would submit

your highest placing on the day.

JANE GRIFFIN MEMORIAL AWARD

This award was created in the memory of Jane Griffin who was a regular Showjumping instructor at our club

rallies. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have lessons with her fondly remember her very assertive

and loud teaching style, the joy at achieving things we didn’t think we could achieve and every lesson started

with Jane’s three rules of showjumping

Jump the Jump

Don’t Fall Off

Look Good Doing it

Unfortunately Jane lost her life in tragic circumstances in June 2009. This award will be decided by the

showjumping instructor at each rally by nominating a member who they believe is worthy of the award, a

person who listens, tries hard and improves throughout the lesson.

MICHELE DEPASQUALE DRESSAGE AWARD

Thankfully Michele is very much alive and well and now spends her time between working full time, running

a Market Garden in Werribee South and supporting her youngest son Anton in his bid to be the next Mark

Webber. And young Anton is definitely on his way.

Michele founded WCEC back 2005 wanting to locate a club at the National Equestrian Center. Over the

years Michele has dedicated so much of her time to the running of the club that it now takes four us to do

what she used to do.

When Michele made the difficult decision to resign from the Committee in 2012 and take a hiatus from the

club we as a Committee wanted a way to thank and honour Michele for the all the hard work she did for us.

Everything from almost running Barastoc singlehandedly to being Treasurer, President and Secretary in her

many roles.

Like the Jane Griffin Award, the Dressage award will be decided by the dressage instructor at each rally by

nominating a member who they believe is worthy of the award, as person who listens and improves

throughout the lesson. This year will be the inagual award.

OUR SPONSORS We couldn’t continue to run WCEC without our wonderful sponsors, many who have been with us from the very start.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Remember to forward all your adventures out and about to me so I have something to put in the newsletter every month ☺ jody.henderson@agcocorp.com

FUTURE RALLY DATES

TBC If you have any suggestions or requests for Instructors please let us know.