HAMPSHIRE HORSEWATCH NEWS

5th March 2009

Stolen Shetland Ponies Back Home - Peaches and Molly, a pair of Shetland mares stolen last year have been recovered and returned to their owner. They returned together after the owners received a phone call to the effect that someone had bought them and discovered that they were stolen!  Price allegedly paid for them was given over to secure the ponies return

Stolen Shetland Pony - Ralph, a 41 inch high piebald (Black and White) 5 year old Shetland gelding was stolen on 18/19^th February from his loan home in Otterbourne in Hampshire.  Photographs of this very distinctive and much loved children’s pony can be found on www.nfed.co.uk Crime ref:44090075941. Reward offered for information leading to his return please call 0777 5607895

 

Theft from Field Whilst Owners Out Riding - Whilst two owners were exercising their horses someone entered their field and stole a wheel barrow and 4 expensive water buckets (for field use) Value about £70. It is believed someone had been watching the comings and goings at the field in Doctors Hill, Sherfield English, Hants.  The field is in a very small quiet area, which you wouldn’t know was there unless you had the need to drive down past the field.  They must have a little bit of conscience though because the thieves did leave a bucket of water in each field, so presumably didn’t want the animals to go thirsty. Scats in Romsey have said that there have been lots of odd thefts like this over the last few weeks. 

 

FAMILY PRIDE

Hall Place EC 24th Feb 2009

 

The winter sun shone on 13 year old Emily Henderson from Calcot at Hall Place Equestrian Centre's first dressage competition of the year as she romped home to take first place on her very first attempt.  Emily was well and truly supported by an entourage of family who could barely believe their eyes as the scores came in.

 

The second test of the day was won by the beautifully turned out  'Minty' ridden by Aileen Dooley from Church Crookham.  This attractive mare headed a strong class with all placings gaining over 69% of the marks. Sixth place in the same class went to Martin Weston riding

Miss Charlotte Eley's Northern Challenge.  Challenge broke his leg last year and this was his first outing.  Congratulations must go to all who helped in his recuperation.

 

Hall Place have eight more dates set for dressage this year including qualifiers for the UK Riders national championships.

 

 

 

 

Image - Emily Henderson and Winnie by Royle Photography Equestrian Events www.rpeevents.co.uk

 

 

HAMPSHIRE HORSEWATCH ADVISES CAUTION WHEN LOANING OUT YOUR HORSE

16th February 2009

The parents among you will know the old saying "There comes a time when you've got to let them go".  Thankfully, for our offspring, this merely means cutting the apron strings and letting them make their own way in the world. However, the same saying has a completely different meaning for horse-owners and a great many owners find it too unbearable to contemplate - so they put their animals on loan instead. 

If you have such a strong emotional attachment and morale sense of duty to your old horse or pony  that you feel they deserve a new home you should be prepared to commit to dedicating as much time to selecting and monitoring an appropriate loan home as you would to their last day on earth. Get references, verify them, take photographs of the loanee, research them on the internet, draw up a legally binding contract, visit regularly and keep in touch. If you can't find the time or inclination to do this for your old faithful friend you have to ask yourself if loaning is really for you. 

Safe loaning is not a quick-fix, short-term solution to be used as a substitute for making the final decision over your horse's future.   And even with the best will in the world you could still fall foul of unscrupulous characters. One such unfortunate family have set up a website to log all the horses missing on loan in Britain in tribute to their two old horses.   You can read their sad story and log your own missing horse here http://missinghorsesonloan.webs.com/

 

SPARSHOLT HOST SHEARWATER YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSE QUALIFIERS ON 8TH MARCH

If you're interested in entering this season's Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Qualifiers, please note that they will be held at at Sparsholt College on Sunday 8 March.  These classes are not included in the March schedule in the current magazine because British Dressage were considering changes to the tests and these have now been made. 

The classes that will be held are:

 

Young Horse Medium Test 6yo 2009 Q

Young Horse Elementary Test 5yo 2009 Q

Young Horse Basic Test 4yo 2003 Q

 

For more information visit www.sparsholt.ac.uk

 

 

 

HALL PLACE PRESENTATIONS

 

HALL PLACE SHOW JUMPER OF THE YEAR

 

This year the award goes to a young lady with extremely good credentials from a truly international show jumping family,

 

She has competed here at Hall Place at every opportunity riding her own lovely mare " Miss Cunningham" for the majority of the classes.

 

She has become a very competent and stylish rider over the past couple of years and is a popular regular competitor at Hall Place.

 

 

 

 

THE SHOW JUMPER OF THE YEAR 2008 ELLIE GODDARD

From Upper Basildon

 

 

HALL PLACE DRESSAGE RIDER OF THE YEAR

 

The award this year goes to a lady who never ceases to create a laugh, usually at her own expense, and is continually nagged by the show secretary about her lack of gloves! She is usually known for her show jumping ability rather than the intricacies of a dressage test but riding her own "Longdean Waterworld" she has consistently gained wins and good placings in Preliminary and Novice classes here at Hall Place, we wish her well with this promising horse in 2009.

 

 

 

 

THE DRESSAGE RIDER OF THE YEAR 2008 KATHERINE DAVIS

From Tidmarsh, Pangbourne

 

 

 

HALL PLACE CHRISTMAS STAR

 

15 year old Emily Sansom from Pangbourne riding her own 'Done Deal' won the Cranberry Chase at Hall Place Christmas Show.

 

Nigel Goddard trains this up and coming young star of the future at his yard in Upper Basildon and Emily has successfully represented

Cranford House School in inter school competition, enjoys showing and show jumping events.

 

Emily has recently acquired another horse 'Tilly', who was a creditable 6^th in the same competition.