Dear All

Despite our resolute optimism, we have no option than to follow guidance from BRC HQ and have a hiatus in our Spring/Summer Schedule. We will keep a close eye on all government and BRC advice and keep you all updated. What a shame! We all needed a boost not another knock after this winter. Anyway…keep healthy and safe and enjoy what you can.

ALL of the committee are SO SO Sorry!!

Here is the statement from BRC:

BRC coronavirus update 16:30 Tuesday 17 March 2020

We are understandably receiving a number of queries about the current situation regarding coronavirus and BRC events and activities. We share your frustrations and concerns and have taken time to listen to government advice, using it to make a decision on the next steps we should take within BRC.

After the government’s update yesterday evening (Monday 16 March 2020), we are now able to issue the following updates:

1. We strongly recommend that no riding club activities of any nature should take place from midnight tonight, up to and including 30th June 2020. This decision has been taken to support the government’s most recent advice on social distancing, reducing pressures on the NHS and the care of vulnerable individuals.
2. We would encourage committee meetings to take place virtually if possible, to enable planning for future activities once restrictions are lifted.
3. In line with this advice, we regret to announce the cancellation of the following BRC championships: a. SEIB Novice Winter Championships at Arena UK on 28 – 29 March 2020 b. HorseHage and Mollichaff Intermediate Winter Championships at Bury Farm on 24 – 26 April 2020 c. FibreBeet Festival of the Horse Championships at Aston-le-Walls on 30 – 31 May 2020 d. NAF Five Star Horse Trials Championships at Swalcliffe Park Equestrian on 7 – 9 August 2020

With the current 30 June restriction, the first three championships fall under the time frame as detailed above. Whilst the National Horse Trials Championships fall outside of this restriction period, we are mindful that it would leave a very short window in which to hold qualifiers. Various options have been explored with regards to the event format and entry requirements, however, due to the nature of the event, it has not been possible to find a safe and viable way forward.

All championship entries that have been processed for the above cancelled events will be refunded in accordance with our refund policy detailed in Rule G2.3, which is that a 75% refund will be issued. Although our stable bookings are non-refundable, we are aware that this is a very difficult time for our members, and so we have taken the decision to refund all stable bookings in full on this occasion. The team here at HQ will be working to process these as soon as practically possible, however, please do bear with us as this will undoubtedly take some time.

This is a very challenging time for us all and we know that you are understandably worried about the on-going care of your horses. The BHS will be updating their advice and guidance on the common issues we all now face with regards to our equestrian pursuits.

We are aware that the situation is constantly evolving, and we will issue regular communications to keep you informed of any further updates in line with government advice.

The BRC team and committee are extremely disappointed to lose these events as we enjoy running them as much as you all enjoy attending. However, in the current climate, it’s important that we all take the responsible approach.

Entries for Combined Training need to be in this weekend (15th/16th Feb 2020)

Please contact Emma Saul ASAP – emma.saul72@gmail.com

Dressage Clinic with Diane Hesketh-Jones Sunday March 8th at Kenton Jones’. Guilsfield. £25 – 45 minute individual lesson £30 – 45 minute group lesson 2/3 riders Great chance to run through dressage tests for our Area Combined Training entries. Names asap to Emma – emma.saul72@gmail.com Payment to Dolfor Riding Club via BACS.

COMBINED TRAINING – AREA QUALIFIER

On: 21st March 2020

At: Field House Equestrian Centre, Marchington, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 8NX

Prelim/75cms

Novice/85cms

Entries before 16th February please.

Radfords

April 28th

An opportunity for a DRESSAGE TO MUSIC clinic with Gaynor Colbourn

Take a look at https://www.dressagetomusicbygaynorcolbourn.com/

The event will take place at RADFORDS equestrian on APRIL 28^th.  It is not cheap, but is an opportunity to get your flat work, floor plan and music all sorted.  The cost for the whole package is £200 but one you have it, you can compete at DTM competitions including AREA 20. Please let Kay know if you are interested as soon as possible as once again, if we do not have enough interest we will need to cancel.

March 12th and 13th

Brookfield House Garthmyl

A chance to train with BE accredited coach Amanda Holloway

(Please book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to allow groups to be made and avoid cancellation of the event)

‘Amanda Holloway, née Sivewright, was born in St Ives, Cornwall into the revered Sivewright family who are steeped in equestrian history. Amanda’s Grandmother Pamela Kennedy Ryder-Richardson and parents, Molly and Charles Sivewright were the founder members of the renowned Talland School of Equitation, originally named after Talland Bay in St Ives and with their three daughters were part of producing Talland as a centre of equestrian excellence.

Amanda’s father, a former Colonel in the 11th Hussars, left the army when Amanda was five, and moved his family to Church Farm, Siddington, Cirencester, where they had a dairy herd and a bull, which within a very short time made way for huge numbers of horses, ponies and students galore…! Amanda has fond memories of her Father’s Saturday coaching sessions with their students and weekly Sunday morning inspections…! He was also responsible for building a super cross country course that were Amanda and her siblings ‘playground’. The Sivewrights hosted ‘discussion, training and demonstration days’ at Talland which were well attended by International coaches, judges, trainers and riders right through until her late teens. Amanda is pretty sure she could ride before she could walk and did a lot of lead rein showing when she was very little. Amanda and her siblings schooled all their ponies and horses themselves under the watchful eyes of their mother as well as some of the best coaches and trainers in the world.

Out of a family of five, four have competed Internationally. Amanda’s father was a point to point rider, keen follower of hounds and ran Talland. Amanda’s mother Molly started her riding career showing, hunting, eventing and competing in International dressage. She actively coached up until her sad passing in 2013 and is the author of three hugely sought after equestrian books, “Thinking Riding – Books 1 & 2” and “Lessons on the Lunge for Horse & Rider”.  Amanda’s elder sister, Pamela, a former International eventing and dressage rider is a well known Horse & Hound columnist and now runs the family business, Talland. Sarah, Amanda’s younger sister is a former International dressage rider, a coach and qualified equestrian expert witness. ‘

Amanda will be teaching at Brookfield House, Garthmyl on Thursday March 12^th and 13^th.  Lessons can be in small groups which will help to manage pricing.  Amanda’s focus is on confidence and partnership and she has an excellent track record and reputation with her clients.  Normally based in the Cotswolds this is a rare opportunity to gain from her lifetime of expertise.

Amanda is happy to teach flat work or jumping.

Please book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to allow groups to be made and avoid cancellation of the event.

BRC Flu Vaccination Statement – 8 November 2019.
We’re aware of questions that have been raised by some members over the incoming rule which mandates six monthly boosters against Equine Influenza (EI) (see rule changes below) and would like to provide further information about the rationale behind this decision.
For much of 2019, the UK has been affected by outbreaks of EI with the number of cases peaking in July. As a department of the BHS, which is a member body of the BEF, BRC has the welfare of equines competing under our rules at the forefront of our minds at all times– and it’s our responsibility, along with every horse owner, to help negate the spread of this virus.
Throughout the year, we’ve been listening to advice and evidence from our veterinary and industry colleagues on the BEF High Health Steering Group, the Equine Infectious Disease Advisory Group and the Animal Health Trust (AHT). Unlike some other organisations, we took the decision not to make a mid-season rule change during the initial outbreak, instead strongly recommending that a six month booster be given, while continually monitoring the situation.
As a result of the outbreak this year, a number of competition venues have taken the decision to mandate six monthly boosters. This has led to some confusion among members as to the different vaccination requirements from venue to venue, which has necessitated additional checks before competing. Indeed some areas have had to run qualifiers stipulating a six monthly booster is mandatory in order to satisfy their venue owners.
We want to be as consistent as possible across all our qualifiers and championships, with a clear policy that all members can follow. It should also be noted that we are now in line with British Dressage, British Eventing and the FEI. However, we appreciate that this is a significant move, so we wanted to ensure that we considered the advice provided by veterinary experts before amending our competition rules. All of the evidence points to the efficacy of vaccinations reducing after six months, hence this decision taken by the BRC Advisory Committee.
In the most recent DEFRA AHT BEVA Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Report it was concluded:
That horse owners, especially those attending gatherings and events attended by other horses, undertake routine influenza vaccination and ideally adopt 6 monthly booster vaccination as this is currently considered ‘gold standard’ for controlling this infection.
Dr Jane Nixon MA VETMB BSC MRCVS, Chair of the BEF High Health Steering Group said “We’re in the middle of an equine flu epidemic, with over 220 reported outbreaks alone so far in 2019 – an outbreak case includes a number of horses so there are thousands affected; marking a staggering increase on last year, when only two outbreaks were confirmed in the UK.
“We all need to help control the spread of the virus and vaccination unequivocally does just that. There have been several peer-reviewed scientific papers which support vaccination, including six monthly boosters, which should not leave any responsible horse owner in doubt that this is the right way forward.”
The BRC qualifiers and championships are very large events. We regularly see in excess of 500 horses gathering together from the length and breadth of the UK. It is our responsibility to protect these events for our members, their horses and indeed the future of our sport.
We have noted that some members have commented that their horses have had an adverse reaction to a recent vaccination, and BRC would like to encourage any instances to be reported on the UK Government report portal here: https://www.gov.uk/report-veterinary-medicine-problem. This should be in addition to reporting the reaction to your veterinary surgeon.
2020 BRC Rule Change: From 1 January 2020, it will be strongly advised when competing at BRC events to have a flu vaccination within 6months and 21days of the competition. From 1 March 2020, this will then become mandatory.

IMPORTANT: This does not mean vaccinations need to be done every 6 months; it means that the vaccination needs to be within 6 months and 21 days of the competition. For example, if your competition was the 22 September, you would need to have a vaccination after the 1 March (1 March – 1 September = 6months + 21 days = 22 September). This rule applies to Qualifiers and Championships only. Whilst we recommend that Clubs also follow this advice for Club activities, they remain autonomous and can therefore decide what they will require for their own training and events.

This year the AGM has been moved from its normal Autumn slot to January 2020. This is to coincide with the new Membership year.

The next AGM will be held on January 13th at the Dragon Hotel in Montgomery.

Dear Members

We have recently had some Area events within BRC Area 20, and putting forward these entries and attending the competitions has given rise to some age-old problems. The problems that have come to light have been issues for us as a small club ad infinitum, and are also issues for the bigger clubs within Area 20. So in order to clarify the DRC Committee stance on this we are issuing the statement below. This has been discussed thoroughly and was carried through unanimously at the last committee meeting.

PROTOCOL FOR DRC AREA ENTRIES FROM JULY 2019

• No entry will be accepted until the full fee has been paid, normally through ‘Horsemonkey’
• Entries will only be accepted from members and combinations known to the club committee and are known to be competent and of an appropriate standard to compete at the level of the competition
• Team and individual entries will be decided by the committee (consisting of a quorum of 6 members)
• Team places will normally go the club members who most regularly support club events and functions throughout the year. This is in line with our club ethos of inclusivity and grass-root camaraderie.
• Prelim and Final Area entries will be submitted by a member of the committee
• Any member putting an entry forward for an Area Competition undertakes to read, be familiar and comply with the BRC rules relevant to the discipline they are entering, including vaccinations, equipment and turnout.
• The ENTRANT is wholly responsible for finding a ‘helper’ for the event. The committee is in no way responsible for finding helpers.
• Entrants are welcome to approach other club members including members who may be on the committee, to act as their helper; perhaps offering to act as their helper at another event. Helpers can also be friends or family who are not members of the club.
• Entrants will need to name their helper at point of entry. This name can be changed up to 48 hours of the event.
• If an entrant is not able to compete at short notice, the HELPER will still be required to attend the event. However, in this instance the ENTRANT can then become the helper.
• If an ENTRANT wishes to be their own helper by offering half a day help, this will depend ENTIRELY on whether this acceptable to the AREA 20 organising team, and the chef d’equipe of the DRC entries. There is NO GUARANTEE that this will be accepted.
• If you arrive at the event without your helper you will be WITHDRAWN from the competition, no monies will be refunded and you will not be eligible for DRC Area entries for 12 months.

Normally, as a club, we are happy to support each other and enjoy attending events to see our friends and members compete.  The intention of the above rules are to ensure though, that members understand it is NOT up to committee to fulfil ‘helping’ duties, and whilst competing is fun for some, going to Area events is not a prerequisite of being in BRC AREA 20. Ultimately all those who go forward under the banner of the club are therefore representing the club, and should any rider or horse be challenged in any way, then the responsibility for that person’s conduct and performance rests with the committee. We hope that you can understand and support the decisions.

Thank you

DRC Committee 2019