News
Posted on February 10th, 2014
FAO Competitors in Horse of the Year Show Ridden Hunter Qualifiers, including Working Hunters
The British Show Horse Association (BSHA) is offering complimentary membership to competitors that are only competing in Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Ridden Hunter Qualifiers. Competitors will be given “Honorary Associate Membership” from May to October 2014, enabling them to compete in all HOYS Ridden Hunter Qualifiers for 2014.
Associate membership does not confer any voting rights, so any competitors wishing to partake in the AGM later on this year must ensure they take out BSHA Full Membership.
This will assist those Hunter competitors who had paid their 2014 subscriptions to Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain before the rule changes regarding HOYS qualifiers were announced.
All horses competing in HOYS Ridden Hunter Qualifiers must be registered on the BSHA HOYS Ridden Hunter Qualifier Register for 2014. There will be a fee of £50 per horse, in line with registrations for Hacks, Cobs, Maxi Cobs and Riding Horses.
Registration forms for Hunter competitors, including horse registration, will be available to download from the BSHA website. The BSHA website is being updated to allow hunters to be registered online, but until that system is ready, all hunter membership and registration applications should be sent to the BSHA office.
All Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year qualifiers will be marked out of a total of 100, as in previous years. The “Go Round” will not be marked. All shows running the class have been sent copies of the HOYS mark sheets for this class.
Posted on February 6th, 2014
Take Part in the BGA Research Project
The British Grooms Association (BGA) has issued a plea to the equestrian industry for their help in unveiling the truth behind employment trends within the sector. As the professional membership association which represents the career interests of grooms, the BGA is urging all those who work with horses to come forward and have their say.
Lucy Katan, Executive Director of the BGA, explained, “We are calling for grooms and employers to fill in our anonymous surveys to help us to build a realistic picture of the employment practices that are occurring right now. There have been several headlines about grooms and employers recently all of which raise concerning issues. For the BGA to make a real difference to the working lives of both grooms and employers we must first discover the real facts.”
The two surveys, one targeted at grooms and the other to employers, have been compiled with the combined expertise of Georgina Brooke-Holmes of Coventry University and Sport England in partnership with BGA. Participants can opt to submit their answers anonymously to ensure that a true picture is generated. To add a little more incentive there is the opportunity for respondents to win a £100 cash prize or a luxury hamper of Absorbine grooming products, in return for giving up a few minutes of their time.
Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation, commented: “We are pleased that the BGA is taking on this research project. Once again it demonstrates that they are leading the industry in this crucial area of work. We urge all of those that work with horses, either as a groom or an employer, to take time to fill in a survey.”
Filling out the surveys is easy.
If you are a groom, freelancer, working pupil or apprentice follow this link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/grooms_research
If you are an employer please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/employers_research
Posted on February 4th, 2014
Retirement Announced of GB Stalwart Miners Frolic
The retirement of Miners Frolic, the British Team ride of Tina Cook has been announced today, Tuesday 4th February. The 16-year-old gelding’s heart unfortunately went into fibrillation (an abnormal rhythm of the heart beat that can occur in horses) whilst hacking out from Tina’s yard in East Sussex last week.
His condition was monitored and he was held under veterinary observation, however his heart didn’t right itself. Following further observation by Celia Marr at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket on Monday 3rd February, Miners Frolic’s heart was still found to be in fibrillation. The decision was then made to retire ‘Henry’ by Tina and Miners Frolic’s owners, Valda and Nicholas Embiricos and Sarah Pelham, rather than to go through a corrective procedure which can have side effects and is relatively intrusive.
The fibrillating heart will not affect him in his retirement, confirmed World Class Eventing Performance Manager Yogi Breisner; “Miners Frolic still looks very well and happy in himself. His condition will not affect him in a leisurely retirement and he will still be able to enjoy hacking.”
Posted on February 4th, 2014
Massive 10% Off Everything Weekend
Dawn’s Tack Box will be hosting an exciting 10% Off Everything sale weekend at both their branches later this month.
On Saturday 22nd February the promotional day will be running in the Stowmarket branch, situated at 2 Charles Industrial Estate, whilst the Bury St Edmunds store will be open on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February for customers to claim their 10% discount and indulge in complimentary drinks and nibbles. There will also be a free prize draw.
For more information call 01449 674881
Posted on February 3rd, 2014
Eight Horses Rescued From Flooded Fields in Essex
The herd of horses was stranded by rising water in fields next to the River Chelmer, in Chelmsford, Essex.
A team of firefighters and and RSPCA inspector managed to round up five of the horses and move them to safety on Friday 31st January and on Saturday 1st February a specialist water rescue team from the RSPCA returned to save the remaining three.
Inspector Nicky Thorne said the six-strong RSPCA team donned dry suits and waded into the flood water to carefully rounded up the horses using rope lines. They ushered the horses through the thigh-deep water and into a corral where their owner was able to load them into a horse box.
Inspector Thorne said: “The rescue went very smoothly indeed. The team worked very carefully and slowly to move the horses. In one place the horses had to go through a ditch where the water was deeper and they had to swim a few steps but despite being a bit wet they were none the worse for their experience.
“The horses were next to a shopping centre, a pub and a road so we had quite a few people watching.”
Posted on February 3rd, 2014
Are you looking for Sponsorship?
British Horse Feeds is looking for new Speedi-Beet Team Members that feel passionately about equine nutrition and would like to be part of a friendly team of sponsored riders.
Is your horse a competition superstar or perhaps he is involved with a local charity? Has he survived against all odds or is he simply a loyal friend?
Whatever your horse does, tell us why he’s special by simply visiting the British Horse Feeds website and filling out the online application form.
British Horse Feeds will then contact a selection of people to discuss sponsorship and the final Speedi-Beet Team Members will be announced in March. The closing date for entries is 28th February 2014.
For more information and T&C please visit www.britishhorsefeeds.com
