News
Posted on April 30th, 2019
Raring to go for the Redwings Show!
With less than two weeks to go, final preparations are underway for Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s annual show which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The Redwings Show will return on Sunday 12th May at Topthorn Equestrian Centre, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, and offers classes to suit all abilities.
While entries are welcome on the day, early-bird entries will close on Sunday 5th May so make sure to put your name down now to avoid missing out.
In celebration of the Redwings Show’s 10th birthday, winners will be presented with an exciting array of new prizes. This year’s Supreme Champion will take home the top prize of 25 bales of bedding donated by Sundown Products (delivered to an address of their choice), while other prizes include a £150 voucher from showjumping manufacturer Jump 4 Joy, £100 Spillers feed voucher, saddlecloths donated by SEIB Insurance Brokers, and goodie bags from Equilibrium Products.
Young competitors will also have the chance to get their hands on annuals donated by Pony Magazine, while Diss Event Photography – who will be capturing the highlights of the day – have also added to the prize haul with vouchers for free prints for some of the winners.
The Redwings Show offers a varied schedule of showing classes, from traditional In-Hand and Ridden Showing classes, to Working Hunter, Veteran and Heavy Horse classes. The dedicated Novice Ring and Just for Fun classes also provide new or young competitors the chance to enjoy some practice in the show-ring and take home a rosette or two… or more!
The popular Best Rescue classes, open to any horse or pony rehomed from a registered charity, will also return, while the Donkey Breed Society affiliated donkey classes, which are open to members and non-members, will for the first time include a class for miniature donkeys too.
Due to the current concerns regarding the equine flu outbreak, Redwings will be asking entrants to show their horses’ passports on the day to prove their vaccinations are up-to-date prior to competing.
Redwings Show organiser Jude Palmer, said: “With less than two weeks to go, we’re really excited and looking forward to welcoming competitors, both old and new. With the showing season getting underway, the Redwings Show is the perfect opportunity to get some practice in and you could go away with one of this year’s great new prizes. We’re so proud to be marking 10 years of this fun and inclusive event and we hope as many horse owners as possible will be able to join us in celebration!”
The full schedule and entry forms can be downloaded at www.redwings.org.uk, or alternatively you can contact show organiser Jude Palmer on 01508 481032 or email jpalmer@redwings.co.uk.
Posted on April 15th, 2019
Get a Sneak Preview of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Are you heading to this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials? Well here’s your chance to get a sneak preview of the exciting cross-country course thanks to a new programme on Horse & Country.
The Badminton 2019 Preview show, presented by Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, takes in a course walk with well-known designer, Eric Winter and leading event rider, Sam Watson as they look at the five most serious combinations on the course.
Watch the programme first on Horse & Country’s streaming service from Thursday, April 18. Sign up to watch at horseandcountry.tv
If you want to know more about how riders will tackle the major combinations, at what is one of the most talked about events on the equestrian calendar, subscribe to H&C to watch this fascinating show.
The five most demanding combinations including the Savills Staircase, Shogun Sport Hollow, Mirage Water, Nyetimber Heights and The Lake with L200s are the main features of the programme.
Watch and learn as Eric and Sam discuss how riders will approach and jump each obstacle as they make their way round what is arguably one of the world’s toughest courses.
Throughout the programme, Irishman Sam is true to his words and honest with his thoughts on each combination as he chats to Eric, getting the low down on the course designer’s thinking behind each fence and the angles they should ideally be tackled on.
With fantastic drone footage running alongside Eric and Sam’s humorous banter and chat, this highly entertaining show is a must watch on the countdown to the prestigious event.
Watch on Horse & Country’s web and mobile apps and streaming devices, also on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Roku, Samsung Tizen.
Posted on April 15th, 2019
New facilities ready to welcome visitors this Easter
Visitors to Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s Caldecott centre in Norfolk this Easter will be among the first to enjoy new facilities following a year-long makeover.
The visitor centre in Fritton near Great Yarmouth, which is home to more than 110 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, has recently opened a brand-new café and gift shop in the beautiful setting of Caldecott Hall.
The café has been named Oliver’s Café in memory of one of Redwings Caldecott’s beloved former residents and Adoption Scheme members, Oliver Twist, who passed away in 2018 having spent 19 happy years at the visitor centre.
Alongside the improved amenities for visitors, which also includes a new welcome building, Redwings has also invested in new horse care facilities at the site, including additional woodchip paddocks, field shelters and veterinary stables.
The finishing touches are also being added to a brand-new rehoming centre, which will allow rescued horses and ponies to be rehomed from Redwings Caldecott for the first time.
Due to open this summer, the rehoming centre will allow even more rescued horses to be trained to find loving new Guardian homes as part of Redwings’ rehoming scheme, providing the space for more horses in desperate need to be given a place of safety at the Sanctuary.
Lynn Cutress, Redwings’ Chief Executive, said: “Redwings Caldecott has been welcoming visitors for almost 20 years so we felt it was about time the site received a well-deserved makeover. We can’t thank people enough for the support they have shown us and our rescued residents throughout all these years and we hope these new facilities will make everyone’s visits even more enjoyable.
“The welfare of our horses and donkeys is always our priority so we’re delighted to have invested in a number of improved care facilities, including our soon-to-be-complete rehoming centre which marks an exciting expansion of our rehoming operations. For the first time, we’ll be able to train rescued horses at Redwings Caldecott to find loving homes outside the Sanctuary – and our supporters will have the chance to watch their progress! The more horses we can help find loving Guardian homes, the more space we have in the Sanctuary to help those in need.”
Redwings Caldecott, in Beccles Road, Fritton, Norfolk, NR31 9EY, is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10am to 4pm. Entry is free and dogs on leads are welcome.
For more information, visit www.redwings.org.uk/visiting.
Posted on April 4th, 2019
Bolesworth International Opens Its Doors to Riders
Looking to compete at one of the most prestigious shows in the country? This year’s Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show comes back bigger and better than ever with a host of classes from top-level CSI4* to the Amateur Series at 1.25m and 1.15m level, and full range of national, age and pony competitions.
The stage is very much set for this year’s event – running June 12th to 16th at Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire – providing the opportunity to compete in one of the best amphitheatre-style international arenas in the world. National and International entries and rider packages are now on sale for this year’s show and booking early is recommended.
Said Show Promoter, Nina Barbour: “Each year we aim to develop new classes and competitions at Bolesworth International and want to attract riders across all levels, from the very best show jumpers in the world to those who compete week in and week out on the national calendar.”
Entries can be made through the following channels:
CSI2* Entries
The CSI2* is running at Bolesworth International Horse Show with sections at 1.30m, 1.40m and 1.45m. There are a limited number of invitational hybrid entries available, incorporating 4* (B and C Tours), and 2* (A Tour) classes.
Entries are available via the Bolesworth Show Office: 01829 307676.
CSI Amateur Entries
Why not make the most of the opportunity to compete in a truly international competition environment?
CSI Amateur packages are available to any Home Country rider with a valid FEI Horse Registration as well as all International riders.
Amateur Packages are available for 1, 2 or 3 horses and incorporate VIP Hospitality tables, providing an ideal base to relax and watch the competition during the show. Please contact the Bolesworth Office for further details.
NB: To compete in the Amateur series in your home country, you do not require a full FEI Passport.
Bolesworth National Entries
Bolesworth International Horse Show is delighted to be hosting a range of British Show Jumping National classes, from British Novice, through to Foxhunter, alongside 4, 5 and 6-year-old series.
Entries are open to all competitors registered with British Show Jumping (riders can jump on day tickets, please contact riders@bolesworth.com for further details).
National classes are all block entry, allowing competitors to jump in four classes throughout the show – an ideal chance to stay on site and watch the international competition!
Pony Classes
Pony entries are available by qualification and invitation for 128cm, 138cm and 148cm. Please contact riders@bolesworth.com for further information.
Entries are available on www.bolesworthinternational.com via the competitors page.
What’s On
As well as world class sport, the Show features top class entertainment and sport, including the Cazenove Capital Eventers Grand Prix, Carl Hester Dressage Demonstration, Bolesworth Elite Yearling Auction, Equitop GLME Puissance and the exhilarating Ride and Drive. All riders accreditation will permit access into amazing Club Boles every night of the show, featuring live music and themed party nights.
VIP Hospitality
Experience the entertainment from our luxury ringside hospitality marquee. Day hospitality packages are available to riders at £135 + vat per person, with evening packages starting at £95 + vat per person.
Would you like to take advantage of a rider package combining Amateur or CSI 2* entries with exclusive VIP hospitality? Then contact riders@bolesworth.com or 01829 307676 for further information!
Posted on April 1st, 2019
New Product Launch: Ultimate in equine movement enhancement technology
Equestrian Direct has today announced the ultimate in equine movement enhancement technology.
The Warwickshire based company’s BounciRide is made from recycled trampolines which were tragically damaged during the recent, and seemingly never-ending, storms Freya, Gareth and Hannah.
BounciRide is an ideal top-up for surfaces which dry out in the warmer months. Dry, deep, dusty surfaces not only increase the risk of injury, as horses struggle to move through the surface rather than on top of it, but can also ride ‘dead’, absorbing the energy from the horse’s stride.
For dressage riders, BounciRide is scientifically proven to improve horses’ natural cadence by over 200 per cent and when used as a show jumping surface, it is guaranteed to turn any pony, horse, donkey or mule, into a Grand Prix Showjumper.
Equestrian Direct Director, Ross Riley, said: “The trials were, umm, interesting. We laid a top-up of BounciRide to the jumping school at our competition yard and had to fit safety nets around the side of the school as the riders were pinging off left, right and centre. The horses loved it though. Once we duct taped the riders to their saddles and invested in some much taller jump wings – even the yard 12.2hh was clearing 1m40 with ease.”
BounciRide is not recommended for indoor schools with a ceiling height of less than 20 meters for obvious reasons.
