Unaffiliated dressage - This month’s dressage competition was kindly judged by India Durman-Mills. We love welcoming competitors to Witham Villa and always aim to run a friendly and supportive event. Alongside people competing on their own horses we also some of our regular clients competing on the Witham Villa horses. Entries are made via My Riding Life and a caller can be booked if required so no need to stress!
We have just two competitions left before the Autumn Series Championship trophies are awarded at the December show. We award trophies for open riders and horses and also veteran riders and veteran horses in each class.
If you ride with us and would like to compete please speak to your instructor.
Dressage Day Camp and Clinic - Verity had a busy day welcoming regular clients and some new faces to this month’s event. An enjoyable day with a great group of horses and riders all here to progress and have fun doing so. There is one more day planned for this year - Monday November 20th and then dates will be released for next year. Bookable via My Riding Life.
British Dressage - India took Ziggy (Danzmayr) out for his first affiliated show at Prelim level and we were delighted that he was third in the first test with 65.86% and then improved to 71.25% in his second test and came 2nd. Ziggy is five now and was bred here out of Verity’s PSG/Inter 1 mare, Abi (Debutante)
Pole Clinic - we continue to run our Monday pole clinics with Alison West. Always an enjoyable session and very good for developing gymnastic ability in the horses. Details and bookable via My Riding Life.
Half Term Activities - we enjoyed a spooky Halloween week. A big thank you to Kate Deacon who created fabulous decorations for the Halloween Clear Round Show jumping and the Handy Pony. And a big thank you to all of you who came and took part and we loved the Halloween costumes!
It was also good to welcome some of our adult riders for a half day Stable Management session - learning more about how to care for the horses.
BHS Stage 2 Teach Exam - Witham Villa hosted this teaching exam in October and we are delighted to report that the Witham Villa staff who took the exam were all successful, so congratulations to Laura Adderley, Kate Deacon and Jessie Potter and thank you to Nicola Monks for doing a great job with the training.
First Aid and Safeguarding - this month saw many of our instructors updating in both First Aid and Safeguarding. We are pleased to say that they all successfully updated their qualifications.
International Dressage - India and Eddie (Escade) attended a two day camp at the Unicorn Centre in Stow on the Wold. This included ridden sessions with Peter Storr - list 1 judge and Team Trainer; Vet, Physio and Saddler sessions, Rider Strength and Fitness etc, Another excellent training camp organised by British Dressage and lovely to meet up again with the other youth riders and their supporters. #BDYOUTH
India also trains regularly with Gareth Hughes.
Horses - Splash (Brickyard Splash) - A truly wonderful pony who took part in both flat and jump lessons here at Witham Villa and had been India’s first serious dressage competition pony. After enjoying a restful summer, unfortunately health problems meant we were unable to keep him sound and happy any more and in consultation with our vets it was decided the correct thing to do was to put him to sleep. Always the hardest decision, but the health and happiness of all of our horses is always our top priority. RIP wonderful boy.