Here is our Newsletter for September 2008.

FROM THE CHAIR
Hi everyone!
We’ve had some Derbyshire Group successes since the last newsletter.
Charlotte Curtis won the 80k ER at the Home International in Ireland in
August she also won the best condition and had the fastest horse over the whole
competition.
See Carol’s report in this newsletter.
The North West team won the Inter Regional Championships at Ludlow in
August.
Kay Counter was chosen for the GB team to go to Spain and will ride on 14th September we wish her the best of luck.
Members and non-members alike enjoyed the Shirley ride in July, Linda again did us proud with a great ride around the lovely villages and quiet lanes and bridleways near her home – thanks Linda and Co!
We had a lovely new ride organised by Jean Collins around the hills and valleys
of Wirksworth at the beginning of August, it was great to ride somewhere new – thanks Jean!
The Woodhouse MacMillan Charity ride was enjoyed by everyone at the end of August.
We still have more rides to come, including Carsington, and Shipley – so enjoy!

ED'S NOTE
Hi everybody! I hope you all had a good summer! I haven’t been able to ride much, with Rashiek being lame, but with the (ahem!) great British weather, I wouldn’t have been able to ride much anyway. Rashiek’s nearly completed his novice year, just one more ride to do! Looking forward to being an Intermediate (but it’s called
Open now) so I can do longer rides!
Bethan

TALE FROM A LINDUM VIRGIN
My first time to Lindum and one of the hardest parts was choosing which
rides to take part in. I obviously chose all the wrong ones as I didn’t come home with any prizes at all. I was grateful to go with Paula Lynam and her son James, with Flick Edmeston steering us through the registration papers and the huge racecourse site.
On our first morning Paula and James did the pleasure pairs. The Team Spirit
relay ride on the first day was very exciting, especially as everyone in the team did so well. Flick on Fonz had instructions from Craig Chadwick, the Chef d’equipe, to do the final loop in 2 hours 13 minutes and 25 seconds, no sooner and no later if possible! I helped to crew on this final leg of the Team Spirit after being instructed what to do and then managed to pour water all over Ruth Chadwick, as she was trying to take Fonz’s pulse before the final vetting. The presentation that night with Derbyshire winning the team spirit was fantastic followed up with celebratory drinks round at the camping field with lots of Derbyshire Riders.
That first night was the first time I had ever slept in a horse trailer, having
been persuaded by Flick and Paula that this was what you did at rides like these! I thought the wine would help but I had about an hours sleep and felt pretty rough in the morning. Over the next two nights I did manage to get a few more hours sleep at night so it got better, (slightly).
The second day I entered the 32 km Novice on Saffy along with James on
Duke. Apart from my other horse, Sarah jumping out of the corral and then us
thinking we were lost, along with loads of other riders, we eventually made good time despite the heat. However, I was then eliminated due to Saffy being lame.
Thankfully James completed successfully.
The third day I entered a 44 km Novice ride on Sarah. This was the longest
ride I have ever attempted before and Boy was it hot! I heard later that
Lincolnshire area was the hottest in the country that weekend. There were times
when I felt I was in the middle of an Arabian desert and times when I felt I
wouldn’t finish at all! Thank goodness that Paula crewed for me. I would never have completed without that welcome water. Thank you Paula. I managed to complete successfully, just, the vet had to think about it!
That night at the presentations Mike and Rachel Dennett won the Lindum
Digger trophy along with an array of prizes, so another good win for Derbyshire.
We also enjoyed the Lincolnshire supper afterwards.
On the final day James and I did a 20k pleasure ride to finish off with. After
mucking out stables and loading everything up, we attended the final presentation and were thrilled and amazed when James won the top Junior Rider award! This made it worth waiting for.
I arrived home, bright red from sunburn, covered in bruises and utterly
exhausted. I had had hardly any sleep and had ridden a total of 96 kms, which may not seem a lot for some people but it was for me, a complete novice. I thoroughly enjoyed it and we are already planning for next year. I might even win something next year!!
Jenny Doxey

GLENARIFF RIDE REPORT
The 2008 Home International ride took place in the glorious setting of Glenariff Forestry Park. The area is surrounded by Glens (it is one of the nine Glens of Antrim) high hills, forestry and is bordered by the sea. Combined
with the rain during the previous week, that continued on and off for the duration of the ride, this made for a tough ride.
The enthusiasm the Irish have for riding and their horses was evident over the whole period of the ride and this was most apparent at the pre-ride parade on Friday when there were crowds of people sitting on the grass (it was the one day the rain stopped and
we had a little sunshine), taking photographs and even in the
local shops people were asking about the riding and there was
no shortage of helpers for the ride.
The start for the 80 km, and two day 120 km and 160 km rides began at 8.30 am on Saturday 9th August from the
Glenariff caravan park and first to leave was Fizz who set a fast pace that she was to maintain throughout the day. The
drizzle had lifted by lunchtime only to be replaced by biting midges.
The ride started with good going on tracks through the Glenariff Forest,
winding its way through to checkpoint 1, and then back into the forest to loop round to checkpoint 2 and the static watering point, and then on back to checkpoint 1 and over the road, coming out of the forest at Agan Bridge and through the gate next to the cattle grid, turning left to do the Binvore loop, and checkpoint 3. It was while we were on this part of the loop that we met up with Dorothy, the Irish rider who was doing the 80 km ride. Both horses were going at the same speed so we were able to help and support each other.
Coming into the first vet gate, doing the
two-day 160 km, was Jo Chisholm and Grey Medlar, closely followed by Fizz. The vet gate was set in a field just at the foot of Slievenanee hill and the early morning mist was still surrounding the very wet and boggy vet gate, a
quick drink and a slosh and both Medlar and Fizz vetted at almost the same time, vetting sound and within the heart rate parameters of 60 bpm.
Thirty minutes later and they were off up through Slieveanorra Forest to the top of Slieveanorra hill, which at its highest point is over 500 feet. As the weather began to clear we could finally see the amazing views, which included forests, moors and glens, but with the Scots following closely behind there was not much time to
admire the scenery. The pace at times was surprisingly fast and the going was
good.
Coming into the second vet gate, once again it was English riders who arrived
first, Jo, Charlotte and Karen David with Al Zah Khazan, who was doing the 120 km ride. Unfortunately it was at this vet gate that we learnt that we had lost the other English, two day, 160 km rider, Sue Hawes riding Farouk de Lozelle through lameness. He had lost not one, but two shoes before the first vet gate. All the other horses passed the vet and it was then the last leg before home. Fizz found a new burst of speed as if she knew she was going home and we had to run after her at the last crew point to slosh her.
Then it was the wait at the finish – had Fizz slowed down? Had the Irish rider overtaken her? We waited and
waited, expecting a racing finish. Someone was posted at the
entrance to the finish to prevent people blocking the path and then came the sound of horseshoes and there was Charlotte and Fizz ….. turning the wrong way!!! Everyone was screaming
and just as we thought it was all lost they turned and saw us and came cantering up to the finish. The Irish rider had slowed down, so there was no racing finish, but there was still
the vetting. The Irish rider vetted first and was eliminated on heart rate and then it was Fizz’ turn. Her heart rate had been dropping, but was it enough? First heart rate OK, trot up sound, second heart rate 52, but still the vet was checking everything and very quietly came the words “pass”. At last I was
able to turn round and let all the people behind us know that we had won the 80 km ER. The icing on the cake was being awarded the best condition award and being told that Fizz was the fastest pony over the whole competition finishing on a speed of 13.56 kph.
On the Sunday Karen Davies won the 120 km class and Jo Chisholm won the
160 km, both with best condition, a clean sweep for England. The final result was very close, but the Scots just beat the English.
The experience of riding with such a wonderful team was fantastic, everyone worked together and helped everyone else; the physiotherapists, the
other riders, crews, the ride organisers, the gate openers and not forgetting my friend, Caroline who not only lent us her lorry, but came out and crewed
for us. All this made for a wonderful, unforgettable ride and next year it is in England!!
Charlotte, Razzmatazz, Jeff, Carol Curtis and Caroline Collie

LONGDENDALE RIDE REPORT
How lucky were we?!!
We (Mike, the children and I) marked the route on Friday in torrential rain
and gale force winds. The forecast was for more of the same on Saturday and we seriously thought about cancelling but decided to go ahead – thank goodness we did.
Saturday dawned dry, bright and clear. I popped out at 6am to redo some of
the markings which had been washed away in the night and couldn’t believe how warm it was. The only problem we had was the midges!!
Out of the 56 entries only 35 turned out on the day but everyone seemed to
enjoy the ride with a choice of 15 miles, 13 miles or 5 miles. Some of the route was rather wet (to be expected) but there were no incidents or lost shoes.
Endurance GB have very kindly offered to donate £500 to the Kingfisher
Riding for the Disabled Group which will be matched by Barclays £ for £ scheme.
We also raised £20 from a table top tack sale so the total to go the charity will be
£1020.
Each rider got a lovely rosette provided by very generous sponsorship from
Gallop Magazine, Grange Farm Feeds (Mottram) and Pennine Bridleway Trails. Thank you very much to these businesses for their support.
Thank you also to the helpers on the day – Ann (did a huge amount of
organising before the ride too), Janie, Ruth (plus partners) and Sharon, Mr
Marshall and Ian who did a fantastic job of car parking along with Mike who said he would do anything except car parking and ended up doing – car parking!!
Rachel Dennett

FUNDING FOR COMPETITIONS ABROAD
The number of Derbyshire Group members travelling abroad to compete with their horses is increasing.
It has been decided that anyone wishing to request funding for overseas travel
during the 2009 season and thereafter, should apply in writing to the Chair. The Committee will then decide at their next meeting, using a set of criteria, if funding is available. Please apply at least two months before intended travel.

HORSEY QUOTES
Feeling down? Saddle up! - Unknown
Riding is the art of keeping a horse between you and the ground. - The London Times
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a
man. - Winston Churchill
People have always scared me a bit, you see – they’re so complicated. I suppose
that’s why I prefer horses. - From the movie Separate Tables, 1958
It’s a lot like nuts and bolts – if the rider’s nuts, the horse bolts! - Nicolas Evans
If you want a stable friendship, get a horse! - Unknown
The horse is God’s gift to mankind. - Arabian proverb
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. - Winston Churchill
A horseman should know neither fear, nor anger. - James Rarey
A canter is a cure for every evil. - Benjamin Disraeli
He knows when you're happy. He knows when you're comfortable. He knows when you're confident. And he always knows when you have carrots. - Unknown
If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong. - Pat Parelli
Small children are convinced that small ponies deserve to see the inside of a house. - Maya Patel
Horses leave hoofprints on your heart. - Unknown
Lyndsey Pass and son Oliver with
Julie Smith behind Sarah Burnley on Bilbo Jude Cliff on Arkle and
Amy Cliff on Indian Bobby
The child who ran weeping to you with a cut in the finger is now brought home,
smiling gamely, with a broken collar-bone and incredible contusions - 'it wasn't Jezebel's fault, Dad.' - Pam Brown
The daughter who won't lift a finger in the house is the same child who cycles
madly off in the pouring rain to spend all morning mucking out a stable. - Samantha Armstrong
It’s easy to talk to a horse if you understand his language. Horses stay the same from the day they are born until the day they die, they are only changed by the way people treat them. - Tom Smith, Seabiscuit (the book)
You can tell a horse owner by the interior of their car. Boots, mud, pony nuts, straw, items of tack and a screwed-up waxed jacket of incredible antiquity. There is normally a top layer of children and dogs. - Helen Thomson

WOOD HOUSE RIDE
Kate (organiser of Wood House ride) has sent a note thanking everyone who took part in this ride. The total to raised to date is almost £2500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of this charity ride - put the date in your
diary - Sunday 30th August 2009.

OCKBROOK CHARITY RIDE
The Ockbrook Charity Ride has been cancelled due to venue conditions after heavy rainfall.

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