Half Term Holiday Events - it was lovely seeing the children here enjoying the special activity programme put on for them over the half term. We will be running a Christmas Holiday programme next and details for that will be out soon.
We have been very pleased to welcome De Montfort University Equestrian Club back this autumn to start their training again. Firstly there was a taster day for new students and then a trials day for teams. Following on from this riders were selected to represent the Uni as A Team, B Team or C Team. They will then take part in the BUCS events and we wish them a successful season.
The students were lucky when it was a bright day, although cold as they came to Witham Villa to shoot their “Naked Calendar”. This has been produced annually for several years now and is used to raise money for charity.
As we went into the autumn we were very glad to get the yard washing machine repaired and working again - we were really missing it with so many items of horse wear to keep clean! If you are clearing out old towels we welcome them here at Witham Villa to use when we are drying the horses off.
We are having a horsewalker installed to enable us to help keep our horses happy and well exercised in the winter months, when the weather changes and very often the fields are not suitable for them to be turned out. This month the base was put down and the walker itself will be going up in November.
Hedging maintenance was done in October to maintain our boundaries and ensure healthy growth of our plants and trees.
We were delighted that India and Eddie (Escade) were selected for the British Dressage Foundation Camp again this year. They attended the first camp at Newbold Verdon Equestrian Centre this month. India had riding lessons with Hannah Moody and there were rider fitness sessions, goal planning sessions and so much more.
This month India and Eddie were also selected to represent Great Britain at Junior level at the International show at Keysoe International. Despite the lorry breaking down on the way and having to be rescued, we arrived at the show just in time for the trot up. We then sorted out emergency accomodation for India and myself and ended up having a wonderful show with an 8th place in the Junior Team Test followed by two second places in the Junior Individual and Junior Freestyle competitions. To be in their first internaional prize giving and stand to have the National Anthem played was really a magic moment!
Verity and Izzy (Issey Magic) were runners up in the Medium Silver Veteran Rider Championship held at Vale View, just 1% behind the winner.