Hoofprint Gaddesden Place RDA Newsletter Autumn 2017 www.gaddesdenplacerda.org.uk Enquiries Tel: 01442 246924

Published by Gaddesden Place RDA Centre - Briden's Camp, , HP2 6EX A Private Limited Company Registered in and Wales No: 7512961 Registered Charity No: 1140330

Congratulations to the Gaddesden Place RDA Vaulting Team! This was the first time the Group has been represented at the RDA National Championships and we were delighted with their achievement. They had good scores for performance and rosettes were awarded to all of the team. Despite a horrendous journey to Hartpury, Codey was a star and coped admirably with the situation, including his enthusiastic supporters in the spectators gallery! You can read more about their journey in this issue.

The Team- from left to right Sadly, George has retired from RDA work

Codey, Louise, Jack, Chris, Grace, due to a deterioration in his eyesight. He has

gone back to his owner and is now happily Christina, Skye, Val, Ellis and Karen. grazing a big field with some old friends.

Many thanks to Yvonne for loaning him to

us. He has given our riders some happy

memories.

Lastly, we are delighted with our new light and bright riding surface which was laid over Easter by Equestrian Surfaces

and made possible by the generosity of Consort Medical. As promised, we have Before and After pictures for you.

Amanda Stansfield (Toby’s mum) and Rev Will Gibbs with Mary Mule. Funds raised by the parishioners of St Mary’s Redbourn paid for her. Mary is not only useful for maintaining the new arena but can be used for a variety of tasks outside in the paddocks and on the Gaddesden Estate.

Even better- she is great fun to drive!

Gaddesden Place RDA Vaulting Team- our journey to RDA National Championships

Last September we began to offer Equestrian Vaulting as an RDA activity with 5 vaulters aged from 5 to 14. They quickly grew to trust Codey, our vaulting pony. Their strength and coordination began to improve along with their confidence.

Nicky Sutcliffe of the Diamond Centre came several times to check our progress and suggested we aim for the RDA National Championships in

2017. We laughed at the time but Nicky seemed confident so we sat down and planned out what we would need to do. July seemed a long way off but by May 2017 our entries were in! Visiting a BEV (British Equestrian Vaulting) competition at College of West Anglia enabled us to video the pre novice routines our vaulters would A Cold February Evening after a Vaulting need to put together. Our young gymnast volunteers had some training session at Contessa Vaulting in Herts and College of West Anglia. They began to trust the vaulting horses and enjoy the considerable challenge of holding gymnastic positions while a horse moved underneath them. As their confidence grew they were able to pass this on to our disabled vaulters along with their enthusiasm. We were all moving up the learning curve together and this has helped to build the team. With the help of a grant from RDA National, we began to purchase the tack, team uniforms and special equipment needed for competition. The children chose the music for their Individual freestyle routines and began to work on mastering their moves. Lizzie Bennett visited us and gave us

some valuable feedback for competing. We practised approaching and The Team departing from the horse, and running in and out of the arena as a team.

th Fast forward to 14 July…….We were finally heading to Hartpury! Louise and I set off in the lorry with Codey and all our gear. Karen, Chris, Val and our vaulters, who were entered in the Individual classes, were driving down with their parents the following day. The aim was to learn and have

fun but ….. 47 miles from Hartpury the lorry broke down causing a

horrendous traffic jam on the A40. Some good Samaritans stopped to help

and luckily the police were able to hop the lorry onto the verge, with

Codey on board, so traffic could move. Louise and I were anxious but he seemed totally unfazed by this procedure! When the rescue horse lorry and the breakdown low loader (all lights flashing) arrived, the police closed the road and Codey transferred quietly in minutes without a quibble. We arrived four hours late, in the dark and were met by Nicky, who had saved A good Samaritan and his son who us some dinner from the hog roast we missed and had picked up our room stopped to help us. He was an off duty keys. Nicky also helped us settle Codey in his stable and then with some highway maintenance man so had cones and warning triangles on his truck which volunteers with a 4WD helped us to transfer our mountain of equipment he put out to keep us safe from the heavy over to the accommodation block and back to the stable block the next traffic. morning. Of course we had planned for this to remain locked in the lorry overnight. However the lorry had gone off on the breakdown low loader so instead I slept next to our Vaulting roller and I think Louise had the Vaulting pads and more bags than a bag lady! Next morning, Codey was very interested in all the coming and going on the big, busy yard but he was also remarkably calm considering the previous day and that this was his first trip to Hartpury. Before the competition it was carefully outlined what we had to do, when and where. We were allowed to walk Codey around the arena before we started so he could have a good look at everything. There were barrel horses for our vaulters to have a last run through of their freestyle routines. Then it was our turn… our music began and we were off!

The breakdown truck arrives Continued on next page……………………..

Jack Skye

Grace

Ellis Codey in his competition gear

In the competition our young team did us proud and Codey coped well with his enthusiastic supporters in the gallery! Afterwards we were celebrating with a team picnic with the vaulters and their families when Nicky came over to say “You need to look at the scoreboard!” To everyone’s delight Jack had won 2 nd place in his class, Skye had won 4 th , Ellis had won 6 th and Grace had won 9 th . This was a big achievement and they had all worked very hard indeed to secure their marks. Before going home they all went to say thanks to Codey to show him their rosettes. They thought it was a shame he did not win one too which is why I have nominated Codey for RDA Pony of the year. From Zero to hero in the world of RDA Vaulting- we could not have done it without Codey! Joceline Eldridge mother of Jack said “Thank you to all the volunteers at Gaddesden Place. We have had a brilliant weekend. We couldn’t do it without you guys. Every one of you plays your part in the team that supports and believes in us. You should all be proud of yourselves and the achievements of your vaulting team as well as the weekly riders. You are part of the awesome Gaddesden Place team. Thank you all we are very grateful.” Finola Manning mother of Grace said “I just wanted to say a belated thank you for everything you did for the vaulters both weekly and over the course of last weekend (14th -16 th July). Grace enjoyed herself so much and is so proud of what you all achieved.

Over the years Grace has Suzanne Charlton, RDA tried different activities County Chairman for and for various reasons Herts said “Codey has they haven't worked out taken to Vaulting like a so it's amazing to see the duck to water. This means enthusiasm she shows for we can now offer vaulting vaulting, she genuinely as an RDA activity in loves it and that's all down . Vaulters to you guys. Thank you so travel across the County much, what you do has to train with him. He has really made a difference to such a great Grace and our family.” temperament, it is amazing to see young vaulters sliding down to dismount over his tail!” From left to right; Ellis, Skye, Grace and Jack with their rosettes

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Term Dates

th th Autumn Term Saturday 9 September to Saturday 9 December inclusive

Half term Sun 22 nd October to Monday 30 th October

th th Winter Term Saturday 13 January to Thursday 29 March inclusive

Half Term Sunday 11 th February to Monday 19 th February

Other Dates for your Diary!

Tues 19 th September Proficiency test training for Coaches at Digswell RDA

th Sun 24 Sept BHS and RDA sponsored ride on Gaddesden Estate (marshalls required for this event- please contact [email protected])

Sun 1 st Oct Sponsored Dog Walk on Estate Register at www.gaddesdenplacerda.org.uk

Thu 12 th Oct Level 1 Safeguarding and using Social Media delivered by Claire Millican, RDA National Required update for coaches and recommended for new trustees

Wed 8 th Nov Gaddesden Place RDA AGM at St Mary’s Redbourn Church hall 7pm. All welcome.

Fri 10 th Nov RDA UK AGM, Saddlers Hall London

Sat 11 th Nov Quiz Night, Village Hall 7pm prompt! BYO drinks and snacks.

Wed 6 th Dec Vaulting Nativity Play and Carols 5.30-6.30pm

Tues 12 th Dec Volunteer Christmas Thank You – Little Gaddesden Village Hall. 7pm

A Joint Regional Dressage Training Day was held at Penniwells on Tuesday 11 th April with riders from East Region and Greater London participating. Following on from the excellent coaching they received from Sarah Healing, Stanley Franklin and Felicity Loria, both from Gaddesden Place RDA took part in a Dressage Anywhere May training class, both scoring 63.08% in their Intro tests! Independent rider Judith Taylor also competed with Dressage Anywhere in the August Grade 5 Intro on Galaxy, scoring 61.43% and winning a red rosette. Well done to all!

Congratulations

to Louise and George on their engagement-

Volunteer and Trustee Jean Many congratulations on their recent Macintyre reports one big blister engagement to Louise Lumsden (our Centre and assorted aches and pains. She Manager) and her fiancé George Einchcomb. was raising money for us by The riders and volunteers at Gaddesden walking the Thames Path challenge Place RDA Centre wish them every but it is no too late to donate! happiness in their life together.

Darren Ashton Some of you may remember a young man called Darren Ashton who used to ride Stan? His family moved away but we were delighted to bump into them at The RDA National

Championships. Darren now rides with Saxon RDA Group in Wiltshire and Stephen his Dad is their treasurer! He says it is “all our fault!” Darren had come second in the Countryside Challenge having qualified at the Regional Competition. I asked his Dad to send me a photo for Hoofprint and he included the lovely message below! “It was great to bump into you again, as it gave us an opportunity to thank you and all your volunteers for getting Darren into riding and competing. It has made such a difference to him, its given him back his mojo, he can now look forward instead of looking back . I am so grateful to Gaddesden and Saxon Group” P.S. We have just heard that Darren has been nominated for the Young Rider of the Year Award. Congratulations!

Sponsored ride On Sunday 30 th July

Seven riders took part in a sponsored ride on Val Lungley’s jam Val Lungley’s jam the beautiful Gaddesden Estate. They not only Every summer Wednesday volunteer Val Lungley Every summer Wednesday volunteer Val Lungley raised money for Gaddesden Place RDA but makes a large batch of jam and sells it to raise funds makes a large batch of jam and sells it to raise funds also had a great adventure. It was an for us. I can vouch for the blackcurrant, gooseberry for us. I can vouch for the blackcurrant, gooseberry opportunity to ride for longer on a variety of and (my husband’s favourite) strawberry. This was and (my husband’s favourite) strawberry. This was terrain in unfamiliar territory. Of course, the the last jar of redcurrant (already spoken for as I the last jar of redcurrant (already spoken for as I RDA ponies were immaculately behaved! snapped the photo) and I suspect I missed out on the snapped the photo) and I suspect I missed out on the Unlike some horses I could mention. raspberry this year? You have to be quick off the raspberry this year? You have to be quick off the mark! mark! Many thanks Val for your delicious Many thanks Val for your delicious undraiser! fundraiser! Consort Medical

volunteer work party

David Robinson

50km non stop walk Gaddesden Place RDA

is Riverside Shopping

Centre’s charity of the

year and as one of the fundraising events David Robinson, Centre Manager, The Consort Medical team worked walked 50km non stop incredibly hard on their Volunteering over the Brecon Day with us. They needed no Beacons, taking 10 encouragement to carry out a range of hours 37mins. The maintenance jobs; weather treating the money raised will be

access ramp to the office, painting the part of that from other

new boards in the Indoor School, poo events that they are

picking in the paddock and cleaning running throughout the

tack. Thank you for ticking off lots of year. Thank you David

tasks off our jobs list! for all your support.

Amazon volunteers

A volunteer team from amazon worked incredibly hard to get

the Sensory Garden ready for the arrival of the new wood

carvings which they sponsored through a donation to us. They also helped to side walk riders in the morning and do some fence painting. What a great team!

You may remember William’s poem I am George…

which we printed in the last edition I yawn…It’s morning.

of Hoofprint? Well, it received a Wearily I wake up, ready for the day.

special commendation in the RDA I lift my head

Creative Writing competition. And shake off my sleep.

We include it below for those who I stand up and think of my friends.

did not see it last time. They are waiting for me.

My helper comes in to get me ready. Some of you may know that Will has She brushes my hair and cleans my feet. an encyclopaedic knowledge of film My breakfast is prepared and writes an excellent blog of film And left out for me. reviews called “where there’s a will”. I eat it and think of my friends If you would like to subscribe to his They are waiting for me. blog please use this link:

http://we.me/p5cbLj-1e I go out of the door and into the field.

I can hear the wind rustling in the trees.

The faint scent of the flowers

Tickles my nose

I smell it and think of my friends.

They are waiting for me.

It’s time to work and I’m really keen.

I have got the bit between my teeth.

Slowly, I walk through the gates

and into the school.

I turn my head and see my friends,

They have waited for me.

The children are there, jumping for joy.

Sophie, with her frail body, clambers on my

back.

As we walk, she giggles and strokes my

mane.

Then, I eagerly await whoever will ride me next. William Meachem on a recent I am George, an RDA horse. visit to the Horse’s Trust in I am proud these riders are my friends. Speen to see his old friend Stan who he used to ride. By William Meachem

This month Saturday on 11 th November at Little coach Julie Wilcox Gaddesden Village Hall, Don’t forget to book your submitted an entry th tickets for our Quiz night on Saturday 11 for the caption November at Little Gaddesden Village Hall, competition. “A Church Road, HP4 1NX. 7pm prompt. Bring your own snacks and drinks- some bring a gourmet woman’s work is feast and others have pizza delivered! Whatever never done!” (Karen, your taste, call up your friends, make up a table the digger, would and pit your wits against the other teams! For like to point out that tickets please contact [email protected] others did help)

Can you help? We are currently looking for…… • th Marshalls for BHS Charity Ride on Sun 24 September

• Dogs to enter our Dog Walk –please tell your friends

Sasha’s colour run Many thanks to Sasha Moore and her team who ran 5km while being pelted with dye and raised £1,100 for Bareback challenge Two Counties Dressage in us. It looks like you had some fun too! Whelpley Hill held a Bareback Challenge raising money for us as well as Air Ambulance. Here is RDA Independent rider Judith Taylor taking up the challenge on Kiwi cup-nominees and winner photo Galaxy. Judith decided to opt for The Kiwi Cup is sponsored by Margaret Keith in riding a dressage test rather than memory of her wonderful pony who worked at the clear round jumping. Many Gaddesden Place RDA Centre for many years. It is thanks to yard manager and coach awarded every summer to the rider who has made the Charlotte Ward for your cheque! most progress over the year. Nominees this year were; Sevda Arman- Wednesday rider Oisin-Thursday rider Louis Parish –Saturday rider Francesca-Saturday rider

And the winner was Sevda Arman!

Grade 1 Riding and Horse Care (Syllabus A) - Wed 17 th May Weatherfield School Kacey Comb Thomas Whyborn-Gooch Callum Cottingham –Hill Robert Bailey Carley Litchfield Marcus Hanley Elijah Blasse

Grade 2 Riding Gwen said” Sevda has gradually progressed from a Chantry School Thu 29 th June highly anxious girl into someone who understands what is needed from her in order to mount and dismount safely, Michael Woch and loves to go out for a ride round the cricket field. She Abdul Ahmed will join in with exercises at walk to music and above all Usman Khan shows Angus affection with hugs and kisses….the Hamza Ali Wednesday team and especially her mother are over the Ahmed Hussain moon with her progress so far!”

Before and after photos

Old irrigation system being Work in progress taken down Before painting began

What’s going on? The team from Equestrian Bob and his team surfaces

Old surface going New Surface arrives Down it goes

Smoothing it out Nearly done All done!

A Few Memories of Liz Martin

I have to start (and end) with Liz's laugh, or guffaw to be more precise - that and 'inspiration' were the words most used by the many who were shocked and saddened by her sudden passing.

Liz had been riding with us for 14 years. She had suffered a stroke and was told she would not walk again but then she set out to prove the doctors wrong. She devised her own rehab programme which included RDA. Not only did she grow to love the ponies, Codey being her most recent partner, but she was constantly amazed and proud of how riding was still, after all these years, improving the use of her limbs and posture. She also credited riding, specifically the unconscious effect of synching her breathing rhythm with that of her pony, and thus improving control of her diaphragm, with helping her to regain her speech in the early days of recovery. Dressage and Horse Care may have been dirty words (although she would just about tolerate learning a few points of the horse), but she thoroughly enjoyed her riding. How we all chatted and laughed on her hacks – covering subjects such as our favourite cake or Hollywood leading men to more serious considerations from a mother of three, a chemist and businesswoman with a zest for trying new things. “And Why not?” was often her response, usually followed by a chuckle!

Her energy and enthusiasm seemed limitless - marathon dog walks, endless swimming lengths, hours of Pilates (she was studying hard to be a teacher too) - with enough time left for a busy social life with her many friends. The House of High Tea and the Rex in Berkhamsted will miss her.

She was interested in everything and everyone. She was knowledgeable, strong-minded and kind, so full of fun - crotchety too, no-one's perfect after all. Her sheer grit and determination to make the most of life, come what may, laughing along the way, really are an inspiration, a gift to us. To think of her is to smile.

The world is a duller and more silent place without her.

Alison Garlick Liz’s Coach and friend

Sensory garden carvings sponsored by Amazon. Thanks to a generous donation from Amazon Karen commissioned these lovely woodcarvings for our sensory garden. They were designed and carved by Dan Cordell, who grew up in Hertfordshire and now travels the country taking commissions and entering competitions for chainsaw carvers. The squirrel on a stump can hold a ball for a rider to pick up and then their pony can walk forward to the “helter skelter” and place a ball at the top and watch it roll down to the bottom. The ponies and riders have now all been introduced to the new additions. Grace who rides on Thursdays insists the helter skelter should really have a small lion at the top as it reminds her of The Lion King!