March has seen plenty going on here at Witham Villa.
We held a BHS Stage 2 exam, hosted a De Montfort University B Team competition, British Dressage Affiliated Show, Unaffiliated Dressage Show, Pole clinics as well as all of our normal riding lessons and Pony Club Training.
We have been very pleased to have the riders from Kimberly House RDA group back and able to continue with both their riding lessons and also to re-start the stable management training sessions.
We have re-opened the cafe, which has been refurbished. We are building back up to full opening hours as we get the shifts all covered. We still have some shifts that need to be covered if anyone is interested in some part time work.
We continued with staff Continued Professional Development, attending an online Safeguarding training session keeping everyone updated with best practice.
On the horses front Warrior went back home after his winter here on loan to us. He settled in well here and became a firm favourite for many of our riders. I’m pleased to say he was equally happy to get back to his owners. We have another horse, Betty who has come to us on loan. She is currently being ridden by our staff and being assessed for work in the school. She is a beautiful mare and we hope she will enjoy her time here.
Very sadly we said our goodbyes to Holly B (Madame Briot) this month. She came to us on loan many years ago and was wonderful in the school, enjoyed by so many of our riders. She was rfully etired last year aged 30 and enjoyed a happy retirement out in the field with a companion. RIP and thank you Holly B.
Verity held her first Dressage Camp of 2022 attended by a group of riders and their horses all keen to develop their skills and improve their horses way of going - a really enjoyable day. Next camp dates are Monday 23rd May and Monday 20th June. Both of these dates are now available to book on ECPro.
India and Eddie (Escade) attended an International Training Session with test riding and training with Peter Storr, which was very beneficial. They competed at Keysoe International CDI for Great Britain in the Junior Team Test, Junior Individual and Freestyle, finishing 6th, 5th and 3rd respectively all scores 68%+ and 72% in the freestyle. We are delighted that the combination have been selected onto the Long List for the Junior European Championships to be held in July. They have also been selected as part of the GB Junior Team to compete in the Nations Cup in Le Mans, France at the end of April.
We have had to make an increase to our lesson prices from April in line with rising costs and to enable us to continue to maintain standards. We have kept it to a minimum and hope everyone will understand the need for the increase.
Easter holiday activities are available to book now via ECpro.