Welcome to spring everyone! And what a relief it is to get here...it's been quite a year hasn't it?! It feels as though there is hope that we can begin to get back to some sort of normality, which also means we can get out and about on our horses!!

We have SOOOO much planned for this year, it's going to be quite the summer! Fun (and wine) filled camps, loads of clinics, competitions and social events, we'll have it all going on. 

If you're not already a member, what are you waiting for? Join the best riding club around.

Go to the What's On section of the site to see latest clinics and events, or they can also be found on Webcollect - https://webcollect.org.uk/wbrc. Also if you aren’t already on our Facebook page why don’t you come check it out - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WokinghamandBearwoodRC/

We wish all our members and their families continued health and that you all stay safe. See you all out and about soon!

Here at Wokingham and Bearwood Riding Club we understand during this time that there is so much uncertainty with the future. With so many cancellations of events large and small it would be easy to lose heart, but during this time we need you more than ever to keep our wonderful club going.

We have no way of knowing what BRC will do in relation to the time your membership has been unable to be utilised however your membership to the club is important and we ask you to keep supporting us, whether that’s being patient and waiting for clinics to start up again, playing along with our competitions on Facebook or if you are in a position to do so, remaining a member in the future.

In the meantime we, the committee, have been working hard on how we can give back to you whilst hoping that you still feel a sense of belonging and club spirit through our Facebook page and newsletters. There will be ground exercises for the horses, top tips from trainers, welfare advice, throwbacks and photo competitions.

It’s important to keep connected throughout this time as we #stayhome and #savelives so please get in touch via Facebook or our contact page if there is anything we can help with.

We thank you for your continued support...

Jo
WBRC Chair

BRC FAQS
Visit the BHS website for the latest guidance for BRC members during the Covid-19 pandemic or view this BRC information document.

BHS Challenge awards
These awards are set up by the British Horse Society and run by BHS Accredited Professional Coaches for horse owners, riders and all those that care for horses, to promote training and education. There are awards at bronze, silver and gold for flat, jumping, lunging, rider fitness and horse care with training around your own horses. Find out more here.

BHS Online courses with Lisa
While lockdown is on the BHS have allowed the horse health and horse knowledge courses to be run on line as these are theory courses and are all at one level, also until the end of June without needing to be a BHS member.  I am proposing to start a Horse Health (equine first aid, wound management and minor ailments) online course as a 'clinic' for WBRC members at a discounted rate, to be run over 6 evening sessions of 2 hours on Zoom, leading to BHS Challenge Award certificate in Horse Health.

This is a fun way to update your horse care knowledge in an interactive way with other members, which includes use of videos, links and slides. Depending on numbers, the likely cost will be between £5 and £10 per week. Register your interest (no payment taken) on WebCollect and I will then send you full details.  Please register interest by 9th May and then I would like to get started a week or so later on a weekday evening. I am already running this course for non WBRC people and have run Equine First aid course as evening class for many years - everyone seems to enjoy learning and updating their knowledge. Hope some of you will join in!   
Lisa Oram.  BHS Stage 4 Teach, Care and Management.

Save the date...
Although all events to the end of May have been cancelled the following are booked into the calendar so please save the dates!

18th July OR 1st August (tbc) – Area Dressage Qualifier at Tweseldown
25th July – Area SJ Qualifier at BCA, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead
9th August – Dressage to Music Qualifier at BCA, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead

And of course not forgetting WBRC Camp running on 25th – 26th July at Boomerang. Contact us for more information!

From the committee...
As mentioned above your committee are working hard to ensure all of our members remain to feel part of the club so the following are excerpts of the content shared on our Facebook page recently. We will continue to add new content and for those of you who aren’t on Facebook, we will include some of that content in this newsletter going forwards! 😊

#Motivational Monday – Ideas for training at home
This week's exercise is pole/jump exercises that can be done in walk, trot or canter and only needs 4 poles, handy if you’re lacking poles. These are great exercises to get the horses thinking, keep them supple and also great for accuracy. So all get cracking with those ponies so they’re on top form for when we can all get back out competing and to clinics.

#TopTip Tuesday - Competition warm up brought to you by Keith and Shelly Doyle
Keith and Shelly Doyle were training people at shows before lock down and were shocked at how wrong people are getting the format of their warm ups... even really experienced riders.

#Welfare Wednesday  - The subtle signs of laminitis
Other subtle changes can be laying down more or seeming more lazy. Any sudden change in diet quantity, quality or type of feed/hay/grass can trigger laminitis. With current changes in horses' routines as well as quality and quantity of grass improving quickly, extra vigilance is needed. Prevention is essential as treatment can take months and is not always successful. Any type or breed of horse can get laminitis quickly if metabolism is disturbed with changes. Have heard of a few cases recently and vets are seeing more laminitis and colic currently due to changes in feeding, exercise and routine.

Hello August! Welcome to your bumper update for this month. As well as listing a small selection of upcoming clinics and competitions, we've also decided to include a few reports from recent events so everyone can hear about what all our members have been up to. We hope you enjoy it!
Please remember that full clinic listings and bookings are all on Webcollect and if you're on Facebook there's plenty of updates getting added all the time so please check these sites regularly.
I hope to see you all out and about soon!

Jo
WBRC Chair

Helpers needed
We've had a wonderful response from members when we've sent out pleas for help, and you'll be happy to know there are still plenty of opportunities for you all to get involved! It may seem like a long way away but we need helpers on Sunday 6th October to help out at the London & Southeast Championships being held at Snowball Farm, Burnham Beeches. WBRC are organising the XC for the Horse Trials so as well as the usual fence judges we need people to cover a whole range of other roles too - these include score runners (both mounted and unmounted), catering runners and scorers. If you're interested in helping out and trying your hand at one of these roles for a few hours (no experience necessary, briefings will be given!) then please reply to this email and put your name forward! By doing so your name will be put into the helpers prize draw being held at the WBRC AGM in January (see below for details)!

Helpers rewards
We've been banging on about helpers a lot recently and even though it's a condition of everyone's membership to help out each year, your committee would like to thank you for all your effort. Therefore at this year's AGM we will be holding the first WBRC helpers prize draw. For every half day you help out at an event in 2019, your name will be placed into a draw to win a variety of prizes (and don't worry, even if you've already helped out this year that will count too).

What's coming up?

Franklin Method for Equestrians with Nicky Clarke - Heckfield Village Hall - Friday eves
Nicky Clarke is a certified Franklin Method Equestrian Trainer and Equestrian Pilates Teacher. Come and learn how to use Franklin balls and bands to help your riding.
Unmounted session in groups (choice of dates) can be followed up by mounted session (pairs). To improve balance, biomechanics, breathing, use of core, feel of contact and many other areas.
Unmounted sessions £10 per person on Friday evenings at Heckfield Village Hall, mounted sessions will be held at a local school and are available to those who have done an unmounted session.
Bookings on WebCollect are now open for the three unmounted dates, with the first mounted date open to those who have attended one of these evening sessions.

Jamie Wright - XC Clinic - Mini Mattingley - Saturday 17th August
Many of you will know Jamie as one of our camp instructors.  Jamie is a very experienced eventing coach and British Eventing competitor and caters to all levels. He is fantastic at encouraging nervous riders & is very approachable.
Mini Mattingley have a wide range of professionally built smaller fences (60cm to BE novice height), including water drops, sunken road, ditches, etc.
You must ensure your horse has had their 6 month booster vaccination, please bring your passports with you.
Cost is £25 with max 4 riders for 1.5 hours for tuition. XC hire is to be paid on the day direct to the venue. It will be £20 if we have 5 riders or £25 if we only have one group. PM sessions only. Any questions please contact Amy (see WebCollect).

Bruce Haskell - SJ Clinic - JAC (Binfield) - Monday 19th August - afternoon/evening
Bruce is an International Event Rider, having competed up to 4* with experienced coaching for BE and producing his own youngsters to the top level.
Show jump lessons on surface for all heights and levels - private, shared and groups.
Horses must have 6 month flu jab.

Colleen Hoekstra-Knox - clinics - Bramshill (or at your own yard by arrangement) -
Wednesday 7th August PM, Saturday 7th Sept
Colleen is an international Grand Prix competitor and qualified judge in the USA. She has vast experience training horses from youngsters to the top levels, and has been riding at FEI for over 20 years. In addition to dressage, she has a background in natural horsemanship and grew up in warmblood breeding industry through her family. Through the study of biomechanics, horse behaviour and rider psychology, Colleen particularly focuses on back-to-front connection, classical riding, building confidence, and producing horses who are happy and relaxed in their work - which enables both horse and rider to achieve their full potential and have fun in the process!

Area Arena Eventing Qualifier - Cherwell Competition Centre
Course of SJ immediately followed by XC jumps with water splash followed by a joker fence set 10cms higher than maximum height.
70-100, junior & senior (70 & 100 mixed).  We will endeavour to send teams rather than individuals. Qualifier for national championship @ Aston Le Walls early March 2020.

Reports (click on links)
Summer SJ Qualifier
BRC National Horse Trials
Summer Camp 2019

A huge HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your families and four legged friends! 😊

It's true to say 2017 was a bumper year for WBRC yet again and all the signs are that 2018 will be very much the same. The diary is packed already with LOTS of exciting clinics and competitions but... don't forget that if you want to join us at anything from today, you need to have renewed your membership. It's a bargain at just £25 for the year (prices held from 2017) and is super quick and easy to do using WebCollect. If you have not paid your membership online before, you will need to select join rather than renew.

Here are just a few important bits for this month's update. Keep up to date by joining our  facebook page and all clinics/training/events/competitions can be signed up for via WebCollect. You will find the full calendar of events here too...  below is just a snap shot!

Please also note that as we start the New Year there are a couple of changes to the hat and body protector regulations (see downloads below) - please check these carefully to make sure you are "legal".  You will be checked at all BRC competitions and we strongly advise that you are correctly equipped for all WBRC activities.

Suzy
WBRC Chairman

Bruce Haskell Jump Training - 13th January
Bruce is an International Event Rider, having competed up to 4*. He will be running show jump lessons on surface (Binfield), for all levels. Private, semi-private and groups available. Bookings and more detail on WebCollect. Only a few spaces left.

Fun clear round SJ Clinic - Sun 14th Jan 2018
* New date, postponed from 31st December - few spaces now available.
With Lisa Oram, BHS Accredited Professional Coach at Brooklands, Eversley.
Rosettes and free hot refreshments for riders and supporters. Instructed warm up, instructed ride round course and then two chances to jump clear rounds. On fabulous new huge outdoors school, or if weather poor, indoors.  £25 bookings and more details on WebCollect.

AGM evening with Jonty Evans - 20 January 2018
Birdshill Golf Club, Drift Road, Maidenhead £15.00 pp includes a two-course buffet meal. Presentation of prizes and talk with Jonty Evans, Olympic event rider.  Book on WebCollect now! Contact Leanne for further info.

Warren Lamperd SJ Clinic - 27th January and 24th February
Warren Lamperd is an BEF UKCC Level IV qualification through British Showjumping and has competed 4* eventing. Show jump lessons on surface (Binfield), for all levels, for groups, semi privates and privates. Bookings and more detail on WebCollect.

Flatwork with biomechanics clinic - Saturday 27th Jan 2018
With Lisa Oram, BHS Accredited Professional Coach, indoors at Pilcot Farm on great surface.
Biomechanics position correction to allow horses to work more correctly and straight.  Fixes for riders that are crooked or not in perfect balance or struggle to organise their body.  Based on Mary Wanless/Ride With Your Mind techniques.
Find out how a few fixes and help to understand cause of problems can make a huge difference in one session. Video feedback. More dates coming soon. Private or pairs sessions. Lunchtime/pm times.  Bookings on WebCollect.

XC schooling at Tweseldown - Saturday 3rd Feb 2018
With Lisa Oram, BHS Accredited Professional Coach.
Chance to school over flagged Eventer's Challenge course (80/90/100) and other fences from 75cm upwards. Groups of 4, £20 plus hire fee on day.  More details and bookings on WebCollect.

Winter show jumping qualifiers - Saturday 3rd March 2018
Area 6 Winter SJ qualifier at BCA on surface. Novice 80/85, Intermediate 90/95, 100/105, 110/115 classes, juniors/seniors.
Entries by 2nd Feb on WebCollect please. Club pay your prelim entry and then entry is final entry fee. Please ensure membership is done before 2nd February to be eligible and that latest flu vax boosters have been sent to Karen Woolnough.
Eligibility and more details on WebCollect.  There are several SJ shows at BCA before this if anyone would like a practice.

Checklist for competing at area qualifiers
If you are thinking of competing for WBRC this year in any of the area qualifiers then below are few points you need to be aware of. Any queries can be answered by team managers or you can look at the BRC handbook online for all the rules.  We hope to enter everyone that wants to have a go.

1. New aqua hat tags needed for 2018 (see download above)
   
2. 2000 label body protectors no longer acceptable - must be 2009 (see download above)
   
3. Eligibility of horses and riders - table in handbook and attached to entry section on WebCollect
4. 2018 membership must be paid before close of prelim entry
5. Prelim entries close three weeks before competition but team managers will need you to have done your entry on WebCollect at least a month before qualifiers to allow us time to put together our prelim entry to HQ. We cannot enter you until entry is paid, but if you have to withdraw before prelim entry then a refund is available, after prelim entry date refunds only available if we can fill space.
6. Horse's flu vax records must be correct.  Need to show initial course of jabs and then annual boosters always within a year.  Our flu vax pre-check database is held by Karen Woolnough and if your horse has not been registered previously on here then Karen will need scan or photo of pages showing horse's passport name, passport number and all flu vax.  If your horse has been previously registered and checked with Karen then please remember to send photo of page showing annual booster as soon as this is done.  Each line must be both signed and stamped by vet.
7. Please let team managers know if you are not likely to be available for championship if lucky enough to qualify. We will still enter those that are not committed to championship dates as area organisers need the entries.

Happy Christmas to you all and your families (and of course your four-legged friends).

Here is your December update... as always there is a LOT going on. Below is just a small selection, please keep an eye on WBRC WebCollect for the full list of events and join the WBRC Facebook for lots of updates and news.

We hope you have all had a great year with WBRC! Just a reminder that it's time to renew your membership for 2018. It can be renewed on WebCollect and is due for renewal by the 1st January. It's a great idea to get this done early as you can only attend any clinics or competitions  in 2018 once you have renewed. It's a bargain at £25... :-)  Please note that if you haven't previously renewed membership or joined via WebCollect you will need to "join" on WebCollect rather than renew.

Good luck to all our competitors at the Intermediate Dressage qualifier... we have a whopping five teams there on Sunday and many individuals! Good luck and stay warm!

Suzy
WBRC Chairman

Christmas fun clear round jumping clinic - 31st December 2017
With Lisa Oram, BHS Accredited Professional Coach, at Brooklands, Eversley on new huge outdoor school (or indoor if weather poor)
We like to do something a bit more fun and social in the Christmas holidays so this year we will run this clear round clinic with rosettes for clears and hot refreshments. Tinsel wearing encouraged, just check horses are ok with this! First half hour will be instructed warm up and instructed round of jumping, second half hour will be for everyone to jump two rounds at height of their choice with chance to win clear round rosette. Those not jumping and all watching will have hot soup/rolls, coffee and cake!  Bookings on WebCollect, groups of four.

2017 AGM and Prizegiving - Saturday 20th January 2018
Don’t forget to get your evening tickets for the AGM on the 20th of January 2018.
Fantastic evening with prizegiving, lovely food and a talk with Olympic event rider Jonty Evans £15pp. The daytime AGM clinic is fully booked but if you like to be placed on the waiting list please contact Leanne. Evening bookings on Webcollect NOW!

Summer camp 2018 - 21st and 22nd July 2018 - SAVE THE DATE!

Retraining of Racehorses riding club points challenge
Just a reminder that the club offers a prize to the ex-racehorse with the most participation points over the year. All horses with RoR numbers are eligible. Please contact Kate Parker for more information or to register your horse.

Team Quest dressage
Anyone who is interested in participating in Team Quest this year with a riding club team who has not already done so, please contact Kate Parker.

Winter showjumping qualifiers - Saturday 3rd March 2018
This year all classes for all winter show jumping qualifiers will be on the same day at BCA.  Winter classes are for teams only, no individual entries. Seniors and juniors 80/85cm, 90/95cm, 100/105cm, 110/115cm  - everyone jumps two rounds and teams still equal on faults jump off.  Best three scores to count.
Eligibility is likely to be similar to last summer, so no BS points f(1 BE point but not 1st to 6th BE100 current or last year) for 85cm, up to 500 for 90/95cm, up to 999 for 100/105 and unlimited points for 110/115 but will confirm when new rules available.  Riders must have re-joined WBRC by early Feb and horse's flu vax details must be on WBRC and all correct.
More details when entries open on WebCollect, hopefully early January.

Body protector rules change
From 1st January 2018 body protector rules change so only purple label 2009 labels are acceptable for competing (2000 no longer accepted). We recommend that the same standard is used for clinics.

WBRC trophies
Please can all those who hold WBRC trophies from last year's prize giving now make sure they are engraved with your details and 2016, cleaned and returned to a committee member by end of 2017, so ready for 2017 prize giving on 20th January.

Poles and back to basics SJ training - Saturday 9th Dec 2017
With Lisa Oram, BHS Accredited Professional Coach, at Brooklands, Eversley on new huge outdoor school (or indoors if weather poor).
Poles only, poles and mini, 70/80cm 85cm +   Groups of 4.  Bookings on WebCollect open until Wed 6th December.