From the Desk of the D.C

SOHC SPRING 2016 PROGRAMME

JULY 2016 - SEPTEMBER 2016

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MANDY WILL EMAIL YOU WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO BOOK FOR THE NEXT MONTH. WE WILL BE TAKING BOOKINGS FOR JULY NOW. A WAITING LIST WILL BE HELD AS USUAL – PLEASE SEND YOUR BOOKING FORMS TO MANDY. PAYMENT CAN BE MADE VIA BCAS OR CHEQUE.

From the desk of the D.C…..

A big welcome to our new members, Harry Litchfield, Poppy Marsom and Charlotte Moore.

The last few weeks have been incredibly busy with the Show at Thame Show Ground, the Eventer Challenge and ongoing team selections for the Areas.

Pony Club Open Show

Thank you to all those that came and helped, competed, watched and helped make the day a great success. The sun shone, entries were good and we had many compliments with regard to how professional the show ground looked and what a great day it was.

Shows like this are fewer and fewer, as they require an awful lot of man power and expense to put on. So I must say a massive thank you thank to the Show Committee. Special thanks to Anita for heading this up and hosting the meetings, Tom for organising the set up and spending a lot of hours at Thame Show Ground, setting up the rings etc, Debbie Shrieve for the dressage, Popsie for the amazing sponsorship, Jo for handling all the entries, Jill Chichester for trophies etc and Emma Hooley for coordinating the helpers.

As ever helpers are essential to the successful running of these events. We were lacking for the set up, but we did have some parents, grandparents and children whom were greatly appreciated – the gazebos are always a bit of a head scratcher but Mike Hill and Steve Palmer are now pro at this! We did though have some great help on the day – thank you to all concerned. This Show is a good fundraiser and made £2200, which will be reinvested back into the branch to help our children enjoy their time in SOHC.

Eventer Challenge

What a day, we survived monsoon conditions to test our waterproofs to the full, soggy children, parents, helpers, horses and tack - to be honest if you kept dry I need your waterproofs! We had many verbal thank you’s and emails which is always appreciated.

On behalf of the branch I would like to thank Natalie Littler and Ellie Kay for organising this event and Mags Hope for providing the venue and laying out the course, which as ever proved slightly trickier than expected.

In Class 2, the 95cm, the SOHC team of Becca Bullock on Red, Jessie Miller on Calypso and Emma Morgan on Flash came 1st, and in Class 3, the 80cm, Molly Palmer came individual 2nd on Spider.

Coming up on the 4th June .....

Grass Roots Competition - Middlegrove

Good luck to those competing at Middlegrove this weekend, which incorporates the Grass roots competition. We have 3 teams representing our branch jumping from 60cm – 80cm.

Mini Team

Venetia Mahony

Beka Seed

Lucy Price (Team Captain)

Isabel Bhatia

GrassrootsTeams Ring 2

Charlotte Minford

Ruby Illsley (Mr Twiglet)

Olivia Mahony

MolliePalmer (Team Captain)

Grassroots Team

Bel Wilson

Gini Hope (Team Captain)

Tom Bullock

Ruby Illsley

Senior and Junior

We are well on the way with planning our annual Summer Camps, the Senior Camp is being held at Quainton Stud from the 24th - 29th July. There is still time to put your name down if you haven't already done so - please contact myself or Natalie Littler. Junior Camp is at Grange Farm, Towersey from the 1st to 5th August. All camps are great for making friends, improving your riding and generally having fun.

For both camps please ensure you ponies are fit and your vaccinations are up to date. PLEASE CHECK THEM NOW!

SOHC Training Camp

This is for those aiming to compete in the Area Teams this year. It is open to all levels, if you wish to attend and have not confirmed please contact Kate Flanagan ASAP to see if there is space. It is taking place at Aston Mullins, Ford over the weekend of the 11th-12th June.

Area Competitions and the new Grass Roots Level

For those that are new to pony club, each year we have qualifying area competitions in all the disciplines - if you are fortunate enough to qualify then you attend the championships, which this year are in Cheshire. I encourage all to aim for teams, especially now that they have introduced new Grass Roots competitions aimed at those who have not competed at Areas before - jumping is at 80cm. The Grass Roots Area comps will qualify for Regional Finals, whereas the Novice, Intermediate and Open levels will qualify for the Championships.

Being in a team supporting each other is what competing for the pony club (at any level) is all about. If you are interested in any disciplines please contact myself or any of the discipline managers, who will explain exactly what is involved. Further details can be found on the website.

For those aiming for the teams, please let your team managers know any results, as these do influence team selection.

Please do come along to watch the Areas, we will have teams competing at most levels. It is lovely to see the older members who are now competing at open level but several years ago they were juniors competing at 60/70cm.

What’s On

There are some good One Day Events coming up for first timers/novices, the OBH Chilterns event at Bellingdon End Farm on the 18th June and the Junior and Novice One Day Event at Gawcott on the 12th June. Please let Natalie Littler know if you plan to go as she will co-ordinate teams.

Addington – The Area Show Jumping is there this year, if you wish to practice, they do hold low key competitions in the evenings, which take place in their outdoor arena.

Good luck to anyone competing, and if you any of you wish to ask any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Test Day

SAVE THE DATE - 1ST October 2016, Aston Mullins, Ford. For all those taking their D+, C and C+ Test. Becky Miller will be coordinating this.

Prize Giving and BBQ

Date and venue to be confirmed – I will let you know via email as soon as I can, so you can get it into your diaries.

Wishing you all a very happy, successful summer.

Enjoy your riding and have some fun.

Nic Bullock

SOHC SUMMER 2016 PROGRAMME

JULY 2016 – SEPTEMBER 2016

JULY

Saturday 2 July – Beginners XC

Venue: Rosehill Equestrian, Henley on Thames, RG9 3EB

Instructor: Caroline Hawkins Cost: £15

Contact: Natalie Littler/Ellie Kay

Wednesday 6 July – Stable management rally from 5pm

Venue: Lower Peppershill Farm, Long Crendon HP18 9EW

Instructor: Ellie Kay Cost: £5

Contact: Lucy Minford

For those working towards their E – D+ tests

Sunday 3 July – Area dressage at Middlegrove OBH South

Friday 8 July – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week.

Saturday & Sunday 9 & 10 July – Area tet at Rosehill

Friday 15 July – Stable management rally from 6pm

Venue: Drovers Farm, Henton OX39 4AQ

Instructor: Caroline Hawkins cost: £8

For those working towards their C/C+ tests

Saturday 16 July – Junior working rally

Venue: Lower Hayne Farm, Shabbington HP18 9HF

Instructor: Guy Moore Cost: £12

Contact: Popsie Wootten/Lucy Minford

These rallies will be helping you work towards the riding part of your next test.

Sunday 17 July – Area eventing

Friday 22 July – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week.

Friday 22 July – Stable management rally from 6pm

Venue: Drovers Farm, Henton OX39 4AQ

Instructor: Caroline Hawkins cost: £8

For those working towards their C/C+ tests

MONDAY 25 JULY – FRIDAY 29 JULY SENIOR CAMP

MONDAY 1 AUGUST – FRIDAY 5 AUGUST JUNIOR CAMP

Friday 5 August – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week.

Saturday 13 August – Dressage rally from 12pm

Venue: Lower Hayne Farm, Shabbington HP18 9HF

Instructor: Tiggi Bentley Cost: £12

Contact: Debbie Shrieve

Open to all

Monday 15 August – Dressage team training

Venue: Aston Mullins, Ford

Instructor: Tiggy Bentley Cost: £12

Contact: Debbie Shrieve

Friday 19 – 23 August – Main PC championships

Friday 19 August – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week

Saturday 25 August – Dressage rally from 12pm

Venue: Grange Farm, Towersey OX9 3QU

Instructor: Alessandra Doyle Cost: £12

Contact: Debbie Shrieve

Open to all

Tuesday 30 August – Working rally

Venue: Lower Hayne Farm, Shabbington HP18 9HF

Instructor: Guy Moore Cost: £12

Contact: Popsie Wootten/Lucy Minford for the juniors, Jill Chichester for the seniors

These rallies will be helping you work towards the riding part of your next test.

Friday 2 September – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week.

Friday 2 September – SJ rally

Venue: TBC

Instructor: Guy Moore Cost: £12

Contact: Jo Greenfield/Anita Baker

Open to all

Saturday 3 September – XC rally 10am onwards

Venue: Primrosehill Farm, Gawcott MK18 4HT

Instructor: Guy Moore Cost: £25

Contact: Natalie Littler/Ellie Kay

Open to those jumping 80cm and above

Friday 9 September – Stable management rally from 6pm

Venue: Drovers Farm, Henton OX39 4AQ

Instructor: Caroline Hawkins cost: £8

For those working towards their C/C+ tests

Friday 16 September – shooting practice

Instructor: Clive Hawkins Venue: Chinnor Gun Club Cost: £4

This is run by Clive Hawkins and is open to all current Pony Club members who are 8yo or over (or nearly 8 by prior agreement with Kate Mahony). If you have not been before or have not shot before please email Clive at to let him know you would like to attend so he can set aside extra time for you. Practice starts at 7pm prompt with the first two details for static targets only. You do not need to register with SOHC that you intend to attend, simply turn up! It is courtesy to register with Clive before your first visit so he has an idea of attendees each week.