FPS-MESG Newsletter– Autumn 2008
“Forelock”
Hello Everyone!
The last summer has been like the curate’s egg, good in parts. It was very sad to miss Lowther and the 20th Southern Show due to waterlogged sites, but we were fortunate to enjoy a number of smaller shows within the MESG region this year, including the Sandringham show in Norfolk in May, the Risborough Show in Bucks in July, and several shows up at Gothamin Notts.
With the current financial situation hitting everyone, we are lucky to support such a tough, hardy M&M breed. Apart from ponies waiting to visit Olympia, or going hunting, who will need to be in condition for hard work and may be clipped, others can put on some fat at the beginning of autumn and grow a thick waterproof coat to see them through winter at relatively little cost. Also consider leaving shoes off for a couple of months to rest the hooves and grow out the nail holes. The ponies will be ready to bring back into work and muscle up into condition for the spring showing season, starting with our new Spring Show on March 22nd (more details below). Do remind yourself that our Cumbrian ponies live out on the fells, often at 1000ft or more, with natural shelter and rough grazing. They only come to the ‘fell gate’ for hay if they are hungry or deep snow covers the grazing. They aren’t hot house plants!
The recent Fell Pony Show and Sale in Penrith reflected the current financial climate. 182 ponies were entered; some were very good ponies but prices have all dropped. The lowest price was 90 guineas for a colt foal. Even adult ready made ponies were at the low end of four figures. It’s now a buyer’s market – see what you can find?
We have a winter show and Christmas dinner in the Leicestershire/Notts corner of our area – everyone welcome, contact Jane Glass. I’d love to visit a social out in Lincs, Suffolk or Essex and meet some of our more distant members – any offers?
Wishing you and your ponies a happy carefree winter – see you fit and rearing to go in the spring! Please remember to complete and return your MESG membership forms which are enclosed with this newsletter.
Judy A Hill - MESG Co-ordinator
STOP PRESS: If you want to buy Fell Pony merchandise (Christmas cards, calendars, gifts) and avoid postage, and can arrange to meet up with Bucks rep Georgina Blair, contact Jane Glass on 01509 880261by Friday 28 November and she will bring your order down south and hand it over to Georgina on 30th November.
Diary dates
Saturday 22 November 2008 - NWSG Group Fell Pony Society Foal Show.10.00am start at Inglewood Equestrian Centre, Penrith. Schedule on FPS website or contact Mrs Ellen JM Jones, Mill Cottage, Sparket Mill, Hutton John, Penrith, CUMBRIACA11 0LZ. 017864-83511/07787570736 or
Friday 28 November 2008 - MESG Christmas meal - the venue has changed to the Six Hills Hotel (A46 Fosse Way Six Hills, Leics LE14 3PD - this is not the old venue at thegolf club!). Cost £12.95. Accommodation available. Ring Jane Glass first to book place and for menu 01509 880261. £5 deposit required.
Sunday 14 December 2008-Fells and Friends Christmas Show at Canaan Farm Equestrian Centre, Loughborough Road, Costock, Leics LE12 6XB. A fun show for all the family. Contact Jane Glass on 01509 880261, Janet Copeland 07973620191or email Angela Cairns on for more information.
Sunday 22 March 2009 - The inaugural MESG Spring Show at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre, Slapton, near Leighton Buzzard, Bucks – full details below.
Other events being planned for 2009 include a series of social dinners at the Six Hills Hotel in Leics, probably at the end of each of January, February and March, to include interesting guest speakers and the MESG Points Awards presentation. Contact Jane Glass for more details. If you would like to help organise an event in your area in 2009 please contact your local county rep (details on last page of this newsletter).
MESG pony’s success at the Horse of the Year Show!
Proud member Denise Bumford has this to say about her pony Townend Hamish II:
Hamish was 8th at HOYS in the M&M Ridden Pony of the Year Championship - Fells, Highland and Dales class at Horse of the Year Show. This was the thrill of a lifetime for me as there are only 9 ponies placed in each class out of the 22 forward. He went beautifully and his show was fantastic. Jo Bates has done an amazing job producing him - she rode him beautifully and he looked a picture. It was also nice that Hamish's breeder Margaret Wilson was atthe show to see the prize-giving.
The publicity & adverts generated by Jo and her sponsors in the run-up to HOYS was an added thrill and it was lovely to get caught up in the heady world of horsey PR for a spell - see page 1 of Horsedeals magazine! If you are visiting us put some time aside to see the rosettes, photos and the DVD!
Thanks to all our friends who sent cards and supported us beforehand and on the day - especially to Ginny Duncan with her HOYS hints & tips. Thanks also to Colin for putting up with endless 'pony chat' & jointly funding my obsession! But most of all super thanks to Jo for making my dream come true!
A New Fell Pony Show in the South
The brand new FPS Midlands East Support Group Spring Show at Bury Farm, Slapton, Bucks, on Sunday March 22, 2009, is a chance for all Southern Fell pony people to start their showing season in a friendly environment and to catch up with all their Fell-owning friends after the winter. The show will run in three indoor arenas, with an outdoor surfaced warm up. The show is holding a full range of showing and working hunter pony classes, and also Prelim and Novice dressage classes, which will be qualifiers for the NPS/TopSpec Dressage Championships at Addington in April 2009.
Showing judges are Fell pony panel judges Mrs Sarah Prior-Parry and Mrs Alison Hardy-Edwards. The supreme of show will be the first winner of a new trophy, the Mary Longsdon Perpetual Cup, presented by Tim and Jules Jordan. We have already had some generous offers of sponsorship from individual Fell Pony Society members and the Royal Mail Sports Foundation, but more sponsorsto cover the cost of rosettes, sashes, paramedic cover, judge’s costs or venue hire (the list is almost endless) would be much appreciated – any amount welcome.
The show organisers recognise that March is a difficult time of year to prepare ponies for the show ring, especially those living out. All Fells, whether clipped or unclipped, washed or unwashed, are welcome, and best turned out rosettes will not be offered.
Bury Farm Equestrian Centre is a lovely venue, with parking on hard standing, overnight stabling at £26/night and an on-site tack shop and café. There will be a social dinner at the Carpenters Arms in Slapton (five minutes walk from Bury Farm) the night before the show – all welcome, but prebooking is necessary.
Show schedules are available to download from the MESG page of the FPS website. Entries close on March 1, 2009. Please contact Georgina Blair for more information about the show, dinner or to offer sponsorship. Tel 07796 685992, , or 18 Gurnells Road, Seer Green, Beaconsfield HP9 2XJ.
Fell and Friends Shows at Gotham
Angela Cairns sends this report:
Three shows were held over the summer at the show field at Gotham. All were well attended, although there is always space foreven more! In Aprilwe were fortunate the rainheld off until we all got home and had we known that beforehand then maybe a few more would have joined us. Of particular note was Janet Copeland’s Roddlesworth Dot, who won the mares in-hand, pairsand ridden, also Jess Rippon and Bramthwaite Dinky, a winning combination in the young handler andlead rein class.Chloe Poole and Joel Cairnsboth attended their first summer shows on the lead rein and Sarah McCarthy won the trotting races.
In July we enjoyed a heat wave and everyone was hunting for some shade for their ponies between classes.WoldsFell ponies were out in force at this show, withPhalarope, Redkite, Ravenand Cappercaillie all doing well.The showing points champions were Sarah McCarthy, Sarah Jones and Sophie Johnson.
In September we were fortunate to find a weekend dry enough to hold the show when all around us were being cancelled. Several classes were hotly contested between Jenna Plumb, with Meadowvalley Freespirit, and her sister Nikki, with Dalefoot Billy. Also on winning form was again Sarah McCarthy with Wolds Cappercaillie and making a successful return to the showring was Hannah Stathern, with Wolds Wheatear. We have been well supported by some ‘Fell friends’ during the year, including Ellen Cutler with her beautiful traditional coloured Twilight Rain and Rachael Bush's pretty little Exmoors. Adults and children have really enjoyed these friendly shows this year and I would encourage everyone to join us next year.
Top: Chloe Poole with Murthwaite Julie
Above: Meadowvalley Freespirit
Right: D Atkin with Wolds Phalarope
Fell Pony Society Calendars and Christmas Cards
The cancellation of the Southern Show meant that a lot of people missed out on a chance to buy their copies of this year’s Fell Pony Society calendar and Christmas cards, as well as other goodies from the merchandise tent. This represents a large loss of income for the FPS, and leaves a large stock of calendars and cards unsold (and a lot of people who won’t have any means of telling what the date is in 2009!). Please contact the Fell Pony Society office to order goods by post (tel 01768 353100).
Members’ Ads
Wanted – 14hh Fell gelding
RDA Northants are urgently looking for a 14hh Fell gelding. Must be totally reliable and they are quite happy to have an elderly gent! MESG member Kate Merry knows the group chairman and would be able to keep an eye on the pony. Contact Kate on 01788 823215 if you have any ideas.
Bamboo Showing Canes by ‘Fabcanes’
Something 'a little different' - our showing canes are crafted from 100 per cent bamboo cane, totally organic, grown at home and hand finished. No cane is the same, totally unembellished (as required in native showing circles) and under 30" in length as required by the major showing associations. We can also cater for the shorter cane for those younger enthusiasts showing at First Ridden Level. See e-mail r call Sarah for further information or to order - 07949 0526735 or 01775 821619
For Loan – Video & TV plus Megaphone
The MESG have a combination TV/video/DVD player for loan to promotional stands at shows and small social get togethers. A megaphone is also available for clinics and small shows. This equipment is available for MESG members and friends to borrow for other events. A returnable deposit is required, and a donation to funds is welcome. Contact Judy on 01455 552534.
MESG Contacts - (please only phone up to 9.00pm)
Judy Hill – Area Co-ordinator / 01455 552534Denise Bumford – Secretary & Treasurer / 01327 262959
Janet Copeland – Membership Secretary / 01509 856298
Margaret Enser – Sponsorship / 01455 552196
Georgina Blair – Press & Newsletter / 07796 685992
Jane Glass & Debbie Hudson – Performance Awards / 01509 880261
Area Representatives
Buckinghamshire
Georgina Blair – Tel: 07796 685992 /Norfolk
Lisa Dunger – Tel: 01485 541097Cambridge & Suffolk
Vacant
/Northamptonshire
Kate Merry – Tel: 01788 823215Essex, Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire
Ingrid Foxton – Tel: 07812 908626 / Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire & RutlandJane Glass – Tel: 01509 880261
Lincolnshire
Debbie Castle – Tel: 07866 492742 / Oxfordshire
Lorna Brooks – Tel: 01844 350404 Fax: 01844 342648
Contact address for correspondence:
Judy Hill, The Bothy, Hall Lane, Bitteswell, Lutterworth, Leics LE17 4LN
.