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BHS Grampian
Newsletter
Autumn 2012
Chairman’s Report
It has been a busy summer for BHS
Grampian, with the May Day show,
Stage 4 training days, lunging
evenings and riding and road safety
training and exams. We were delighted
with the response that we got to the
Survey Monkey site, and hopefully we
are offering the type of training and
events that you want to come along
to. Membership numbers are on the
increase for the Grampian area, which
is great and hopefully a reflection of
how hard the committee is working to
bring events and training to everyone.
Our AGM is in October (see details
later in newsletter) and I'd like to
make a personal request that as many
members attend as possible - we have
two excellent young local rider/trainers
speaking at it, and it is your chance to
put your thoughts and suggestions
forward and have a chat with the
committee. So please - come along
and let us know how you are getting
on and let us know what you'd like
training/event wise for 2013!
Committee Members
Chair
Sally McCarthy
mustangsally1977@hotmail.com
Secretary
Gundula Sharman
01651 862973
g.m.sharman@abdn.ac.uk
Treasurer
Jillian Christie
01651 821108
christiescroft@hotmail.com
Training Rep. Julia Gourley BHSI
01651 872119
nethertulloch@hotmail.co.uk
Newsletter
Eleanor Mennie
01651 806486
Eleanor@haddo.eclipse.co.uk
Welfare Rep. Louise Blackwood
07901967972
Access Reps. Aberdeenshire
Molly Atkinson, 01330 811 363
Aberdeen City
Ruth Riddell
07714 777751
RDA
Jean Stephen
01651 882740
Road Safety Maggie Milne
01464 831601
Membership Mandy Sall
01358 701 692
mandysall@hotmail.com
Modernisation Rep Jane Selwyn
Bailey
01339 886203
Press Officer Amy Wolfe
Amyking66@hotmail.com
Riding Clubs. vacancy
Riding schools Sally McCarthy
Website/Facebook
Although we realise that not all
members have access to the internet
through the recent survey we know
that a large proportion of the
membership acquire information
online. All our activities are therefore
posted on our website
www.bhsgrampian.com
FACEBOOK BHS Grampian
also has its own page on
FACEBOOK. Information on
events is also posted here.
Become a fan!!
Jubilee Fund
The Jubilee Fund is to help
instructors or potential increase
their skills and qualifications.
Application forms available from
Julia. We would encourage all
instructors
or
potential
instructors who wish to add to
their qualifications or skills to
apply for funding, especially those
who may be concerned about
financing their training.
Also remember we have a
selection of training DVDs to
borrow. Contact Julia.
Jubilee exam grant
This year we have used Jubilee
Funding towards an initiative helping
successful candidates in BHS exams by
contributing to the exam fees. This
has worked well consequently we have
decided to continue this for the next
year.
When a candidate has successfully
passed a BHS exam they will be
awarded a sum of money for some of
the costs incurred.
To be eligible; Candidates to have
been resident in the Grampian
Region for at least 6 months prior
to the exam date. Candidates will
be required to send a copy of the
exam pass certificate to the
Grampian Training Rep.
(Julia
Gourley) within two months of
passing the exam.
Exams included will be from Stage 1 to
the full BHSI qualification. Candidates
are
strongly
advised
to
gain
training/assessment from a BHS
approved Riding Centre and/or a BHS
registered instructor.
Money to be awarded will be
approximately 2/3rds of the full exam
fee. If only the Care (complete) or the
Riding (complete) sections are passed
50% of the sum will be awarded. For
more details contact Julia
Gourley for a fact sheet.
Riding and Road
Safety
Next year BHS Grampian are actively
encouraging anyone over the age of
twelve to sit the BHS Riding and Road
Safety Test.
These tests usually take place
between the months of April and
October . A minimum number of 8
candidates is required for a test to be
organised. If you are interested in
sitting this test, contact Maggie Milne
in the first instance who can provide
information on dates and venues of
any forthcoming tests. The exam
consists of two units : Unit 1 Principles of Riding Horses on the
Highway and Unit 2-Ride a horse in an
enclosed area and on the Highway.
Candidates should read and be
familiar with the Highway Code and
the BHS Riding and Road Craft
Manual.
This is a very worthwhile experience
especially when our roads are
becoming busier and there are many
more horses around. Please consider
taking the test. Contact Maggie Milne
01464 831601
Dates for your diary
28th Sept Groundwork and
Handling at Aberdeen Riding
Club, Oldfold at 7.30
The
evening
will
include
information
on
horse
behaviour/psychology,
problems
experienced
with
handling
including loading/holding for vet
e.t.c; how to handle different types
and
temperaments
and
a
demonstration on loose schooling
and how it can be beneficial. It will
be a practical evening, with lots of
different types of horses including
youngsters. This evening is ideal
for anyone with an interest in
horses, of whatever experience.
There is no charge and is open to
BHS members and non-members,
with a donation being requested,
all proceeds to Grampian BHS. If
you would like to attend, please
email
mustangsally1977@hotmail.com
so we have an idea of numbers
Please feel free to suggest any
specific
handling/groundwork
issues that you would like to see
covered
5th October BHS GRAMPIAN
AGM
7.30pm at the Inverurie Locos
Social
Club,
Harlaw
Drive
Inverurie. Talk by two of our
excellent
young
local
riders/trainers - Rebecca Stephen
and Eilidh Grant. All BHS
members welcome - this is your
chance to chat to the committee
and put ideas/suggestions of future
training sessions forward.
12/13th October Erik McKechnie
Clinic. Contact Julia Gourley
nethertulloch@hotmail.co.uk
27th Oct – Riding and Road
Safety Test – see above
16th/17th Nov. Erik McKechnie
Clinic. Contact Julia Gourley
nethertulloch@hotmail.co.uk
We have several other activities
lined up for the autumn and
winter but as yet have not been
able
to
establish
dates/locations. Please use the
Website/Facebook and the local
press. It is always great to see
new faces at any of our
activities
Ann Balfour Kinnear
Training Bursary
Intermediate Teaching exam and
then to the BHSI. Helped by the
Jubilee fund to obtain her qualifications
she teaches Pony Club, Riding Clubs
and RDA as well as individual clients
and somehow combines this with
competing up to 2 Star eventing level.
We wish her all the best in her future
career
Below - Rebecca and Fortria Express
The Olympics!!
As one of the lucky people who “won”
tickets for the Equestrian Olympics at
Greenwich Park this summer we
travelled South to Cross Country day
full of trepidation. We had been well
warned to watch out for hideous traffic
jams,
unscrupulous
pickpockets,
hours of queueing everywhere with
security checking every orifice. Not at
all!! We arrived at the Park early as
we had been encouraged to do then
lots of very friendly helpers showed us
the way with large pink polystyrene
pointy hands. Security was swift, if
thorough and soon we were in.
Greenwich
Park is beautiful, a
quintessential English Royal Park with
lots of huge mature trees of varieties
which do not grow in Aberdeenshire
and all set on a hillside overlooking the
most astonishing views of the City
What a course. Stunning, beautifully
crafted jumps, not huge but carefully
positioned to allow the top horses to
take the quick lines. Several, such as
the now famous Crescent Moon were
so perfectly positioned as to allow the
optimum photo opportunities for the
banks of photographers. Every one
had a London theme and several
pertaining to the famous Greenwich
Observatory
Anne Balfour Kinnear was a founding
member of BHS Scotland and a
staunch supporter both of the BHS and
Pony Club. On her death she left a
legacy from which a bursary is paid to
further the training of young Scottish
instructors who are committed to
helping others. One award is made
every two years.
We are delighted to announce that this
year’s bursary has gone to our own
Rebecca Stephen.
Rebecca has
recently completed her Stage 4
and now hopes to go on to her
The crowds excitement built up and a
wall of cheering and clapping followed
each competitor round, building to
fever pitch when any of the Team GB
riders went past, although everyone
received much the same treatment.
The horses seemed not to notice or
react even though on many parts of
the very twisty course they were
galloping through a narrow track with
walls of people on either side. There
was a bit of slipping and sliding with
one or two having to rebalance very
quickly after tricky turns. But the
atmosphere was fantastic despite
50,000 people being in such a small
area.
By the end we were hoarse from
cheering, penniless from buying rather
expensive food and drink (using
Scottish money which is always good
fun) but elated by the sheer excitement
of being a tiny part of such a unique
occasion. Everyone was so friendly –
we chatted to people from all over the
world and the organisation was truly
exceptional.
Below - Zara Phillips and High
Kingdom
We were only sorry we didn’t have
tickets for the Show Jumping. But we
watched this the following day with
hundreds of others on the big screens
in the drizzle in Hyde Park which was
almost as exciting as being there – we
were beside a group of Swedes and
commiserated with them when Wega
just touched the final fence.
A wonderful experience – Now , get
the map out - Rio 2016?
Newburgh Barrier
As many of you will be aware BHS
Grampian
worked,
along
with
Aberdeenshire Council and Udny and
Dudwick Estates some years ago to
establish a horse transport friendly
barrier at Newburgh Beach to allow
access to the Beach via the Car Park
by the Golf Course. The key system
was administered by BHS Grampian.
Unfortunately, due to an incident
earlier this year the Estate has asked
to change this system. Those who
were previously key holders will now
collect a key from the Golf Club and
return it when they leave, Also now no
more than two horse transporters (and
no HGV lorries) are permitted. If you
wish to be included on the list of those
with access to the key, please contact
Eleanor Mennie for more details