Easter Holidays
April saw a busy holiday schedule over Easter with Pony Club activities, Clear round show jumping, junior dressage and junior experience sessions as well as our ever popular pole clinics.
A highlight over the Easter holidays was the final of the BHS Riding Schools Competition held at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre. We were delighted to have so many of our riders through to the final and congratulations to all who qualified. Particular congrats to the following prize winners:-
18 & Over dressage
1st place Connie riding Mac
7th place Kay riding Basil
17 & Under dressage
3rd place Bea riding Basil
7th place Rowan riding Louis
18& Over Dressage, Show Jumping and Stable Management Quiz
1st Connie riding Mac
12 & Under Dressage, Show Jumping and Stable Management Quiz
7th Place Nichola riding Poppy
Witham Villa Horses
In April we waved Primrose off as she has gone to be in semi-retirement with some friends of Witham Villa. She has settled in beautifully and is enjoying lots of attention.
Shannon’s foal, Ginty (Integra) is off being started under saddle now. She will then be turned back out to grass within a little herd of young horses before coming back in to re-start in the Autumn.
British Dressage
It was lovely to have a visit from Jo Byrne the North and East Region RDO who came to present Witham Villa with a Region Achievement award for supporting members in challenging times in 2020 and 2021. She also presented India with the Sheepgate Equestrian Youth Trophy.
In April India and Eddie (Escade) finished in 2nd place on 68% just 1 mark behind the winner in the PSG Area Festival Championship.
Verity and Izzy qualified for the Winter Championships at Elementary and Medium Freestlye, but sadly didn’t get to compete as Izzy just wasn’t on form, resulting in us coming home - disappointing, but that is just how it goes sometimes with horses!
At the end of the month, India was selected to represent Great Britain in the Junior Nations Cup, held in Le Mans in France. This was the first time we had taken a horse abroad to compete and quite a challenge to get all of the required paperwork in order post Brexit! However despite the long journey there and back it was a wonderful week with the Junior Team on the podium in 3rd place. India and Eddie then had two more podium places, finishing 3rd in the Junior Individual and 3rd in the Junior Freestyle on 75%. It was great to have Serina come with us as International Groom, I became International Trainer and International lorry driver!
General
It’s great to have the cafe open now and for people to be able to safely socialise again.
We continue to strive to make Witham Villa a friendly environment in which to learn and develop and always welcome your feedback and any ideas that you have for future development. If you want to contact us then please do email on withamvillarc@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.