Another year! We welcome in 2023 and have set plenty of goals to achieve.
BHS - Exams - in January we held Silver Challenge Award Ride Safe training and assessment. This award needs to be achieved by anyone wanting to take the BHS Stage 1 and 2 exams .
We also hosted a BHS Stage 2 Care and Lunge exam. Congratulations to our two staff members, Jessie Potter and Sarah-Jayne King who both passed.
A Stage 1 care and lunge training course started in January and runs for 12 weeks, instructor Louise Mellor
A BHS Stage 2 course started in February and runs for 18 weeks, instructor Louise Mellor
Inspections - In January we had our annual Vets inspection. This is a requirement under our Local Authority License. We are very proud to hold the 5 star approval rate.
We also had our Pony Club inspection and were very pleased to welcome our inspector - Amelia Payne who was previously Pony Club coordinator here.
These inspections ensure that Witham Villa remains up to date with all regulations and continues to develop and improve.
BHS Riding Schools Competition - Regional Final - This was held during the February half term and it was lovely to see so many of our clients getting the chance to take part and compete either in the complete section covering dressage, show jumping and stable management or in the dressage only sections. Congratulations to all who took part. Good luck to all of the riders who qualified for the National Final, which will be held at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre on Wednesday 5th April.
Half Term - We held Games sessions, Clear round show jumping and Junior Experiences - good fun all round. Our Easter holiday program will be available to book soon on ECPro.
British Dressage - it is good to have the horses back out competing in what is now the Summer season, although the weather does not feel anything like that at present!
India and Eddie (Escade) went out at Young Rider level (PSG) to the Vale View High Profile show, gaining 70.29% and 3rd place in the Young Rider Team Test.
We are delighted to announce that they are on the long list for the Young Rider Europeans GB Team. They attended a training camp at the Unicorn Centre, with riding training from Peter Storr, and rider strength sessions, nutrition, psychology, planning etc all in preparation for the season ahead.
They needed a new Freestyle plan and music for PSG/Young rider which we are particularly grateful to Julie Geraghty for the new music which took a lot of work to find music that would suit and we hope the judges will love!
Verity and Gaya finished in 7th place at Onley in the Elementary Gold Freestyle Regional Finals. They are now planning to go out at Medium level.
India and Eddie were runners up in the PSG Silver Regional Final, less than a mark behind the winners.
Serina is going out successfully riding Steph Allen’s Bertie (Bolt Out of the Blue) at Elementary level with the aim of moving up to Medium later in the season.
Dressage Training - Verity held a clinic in February for BD Youth riders and also Senior riders and is running a day camp followed by a clinic on Monday March20th - bookable on My Riding Life.
HGV - congratulations to India for passing her HGV test so she can now drive a horsebox.
Horses - very sadly we had to say goodbye to Daisy as she had developed multiple health problems and working with our vets the kindest but hardest decision had to be taken for her welfare. She was an adorable pony who came to Witham Villa as the kindest 4 year old and provided so much enjoyment to so many children. She was loved by us all.