Newsletter Christmas 2009

Everyone's viewpoint this time last year was pretty gloomy but we managed to survive a very difficult winter and like most UK businesses, we just have to look forward to next year. This we can do with optimism given the hard working and loyal staff we have on our team, we re-structured the office personnel when Nettie and Katherine left, so Emma moved from running the yard to the administration team and has found her niche in life by being indispensable. Aisling ran the yard but she left us mid summer so we have promoted Beth who is doing a great job. Also, doing a great job is our part-time account Sam, who came highly recommended by our excellent and much appreciated full time account Damien O'Connell. Louise is now part-time at week-ends, Cheryl and Sandrine are taking in turn through the week. Sandrine is also looking at ways of maximising our business. We are also fortunate to call on the capable services of our students and clients when necessary. As well as benefiting from generous sponsorship from Spillers and Equissage, we have a new partnership with Shires. Watch out for their new catalogue in February, featuring our horses and riders.

The catering team of Simon, Brenda and Megan provide great nosh for our clients, staff and students which is essential now that winter is here with a vengeance. Our students not only do a great job caring for the horses (together with our grooms, Vlad, Stan and Wisiek), they have also excelled themselves by passing various exams as well as the many who attend for period of training depending on their ability, lifestyle and budget.

Whilst the number of lessons for the casual or semi-regular riders naturally drops off a little in the winter, the competition riders need varying amount of training throughout the winter which is why Pammy is in much demand at home as well as conducting numerous clinics up and down the country. How she manages to find the time to compete is a mystery and although she still competes Dennis Redmonds characterful grey stallion Bronco, Pammy will sadly miss Stephen Day's Amanti now that he is no longer around. Pammy derives great satisfaction from producing lovely young horses like Belmondo (also ridden by Charlie and Pippa) and even more satisfaction when she manages to beat her son!

As well as her fortnight column in Horse and Hound, Pammy pontificates with Carol on Radio Badminton and will give her views on the merits on otherwise of the influence of modern dressage training on the performance and safety of cross country riding. Those of you who can't wait, can see and hear her at our Christmas Demonstration commencing at 6pm on the 22nd of December so if you are a friend or relative of any of our students or staff who will also be doing their bit or if you are bored with Christmas shopping or wish to be entertained or enlightened then BE THERE.

Quite a few young (and not so young) ladies may wish to observe Charlie work his magic on Merlin Nemorosis and the rest of his developing string of talented horses. Many of these are partly or wholly sponsored by the best owners in the business.

Our heartfelt thanks to Lady Anne Evans, Penny Manning and Lucille Webb-Peploe. Charlie brought back team gold and individual silver medals from last January's Youth Olympics in Australia and indirectly brought back Casey who stayed for some training and is re-joining us this January, followed by Jess and Tess and their respective mums Thekla and Mandy. Both girls are being schooled in the equine art and academically in this country at present. Charlie won all those classes in this years international Addington but his last year in Young Riders will not be any easier without the early presence of Abira who we nearly lost during a colic operation. He is really turning, as Morten Thomson told us the would, like the rest of his family into a "proper" horse as the Cornish say, but Charlie is still top of the heap at the moment on Nemo. With his prowess at the wheel of the "Talland flyer" and his consummate skills in preparing for competitions (including much admired and speedy plaiting) plus the demand for this training make Charlie a tremendous asset to the family business. In recent meetings are anything to go by you may be seeing on altogether different side of Charlie in the future. Watch this space (or TV)!

Speaking of domesticity, Brian has over the years become a very ancient modern man and whilst not a domestic God, he nonetheless makes himself useful when not farming or teaching and there are few better at imparting confidence to horse and rider.

Still imparting her wealth of knowledge, Molly can be found in the school at noon on most days except Wednesdays and despite her hip operation is as independent as ever and appears to have inherited Granny R's longevity.

Our instructors have had a long association with Talland on and off over the years and Gerry is still more on than off assisted by the occasional visit to the health farm although he and Christine have made Elkstone Manor THE place to go for your Event or Wedding. Though not married to Talland, Justine is hoping to celebrate her enduring stint by going for her Fellowship and that would crown a great competition year when she qualified her six year old Alfie for the National and International Hickstead and Shearwater Championship.

Ali's mare Marmalade had a good year under Aisling whose father re-opened the Half Way House to rave reviews. Ali's lunge lessons are legendary so when any of you need a tidy up you know who to ask for. Richard is constantly being asked for as witnessed by the volume of his teaching and when not teaching his clients or training the students he adds his technical skills to the matching of music to horses.

Matching horses to riders has been a skill that Hilary has practiced over the years and she has returned to her Alma Mater and commutes from Dryleaze Farm!

Beth's mum has commuted often so that her daughter can compete on Finlay who qualified for the Elementary Freestyle, was selected to compete in BYRDS home international and won their first Medium with 67% then passed her stage 4 riding!

Rupert had no need to commute as he lived on site during his sojourn with us and he capably filled the void when Laura left. He is continuing to carve out a good career for himself. Leanne's prowess on a pony is renowned and she has spent hours developing the young entry but she also qualified the Hutton's and Teresa Day's Magnum in the restricted novice section at Addington and we wish her well during her four month sabbatical.

Dave continues his efforts behind the scenes to complete the jobs that need doing and Adrian and Gordon have been prominent in their assistance to the farm. The old firm of Curtis and Curtis is still with us and young Mandy is as sprightly as ever as she dashes around supervising the pony lessons and caring for the ponies, as well as letting take hay off the sherry, Mandy lets us winter graze it and we are grateful to the very kind people in Siddington Manor for letting us graze the adjacent Tellings field.

We are also grateful to the Bathurst Estate for letting us take hay off number 1 and number 2 Watermeadows. Courtesy of Mrs Holder and Crew. Although when he was farming Church Farm, Brian swore never again try to make hay on those fields, due to the extreme and irregular ridge and furrow. Patrick and Adrian Tugwell make hay for the estate in "over the road".

We are able to buy ex field and store in their barn as we have not managed to build our own yet, but hopefully next year. Meanwhile, we continue to rent Mrs Chester-Maston's barn behind Willy Carson's house.

Better mention our farriers, Steven and Barry, otherwise they might spitting nails from their clenched teeth. Seriously though, and our Bourton Vale Vets, keep our horses sound and healthy throughout the year. The "Sacred Cows" looked in good health during their "ladies" who lunch visit and Annie, Jo and Judy are as ebullient as ever.

Our able students and junior instructors are joined by our Irish trio, Thomas, Ally and Abi and hard though they work, Anna gets the Golden Girl Award for the remarkable progress she has made this year. Jonny Clark-West (Who has decamped Talland with his horses and flying visits on route to his London pad via the family business to the family home) had kingly loaned Egg to Anna to further her progress and hopefully she will be competing ere long having cut her teeth at our popular client shows on our school horses. We do hope our valued clients continue to travel from London and afar for their weekly equine fix! Heather has competed her own horse (Darling) in the Restricted Novice Section.

Circumstance has taken Li-Yu and his lovely mare "Noodles" away while their strive for Asian game success but he threatens to return next year. Our resident RDA group who do such sterling work on Tuesday afternoon have generously added mirrors to the bottom corner of the indoor school which we hope are as helpful to them as they are to us. THANK YOU.

Pammy and Brian continue to train the VWH PC and RC and this year the pony club dressage team were again crowned National Champion. It is quite likely one may be taught transitions and the like while champions like Daisy Dick and Lucy Weigersma are perfecting their half passes (along with potential champions like Nick Gautlett, Chris King etc..) or young pony event champion Katy Bleekman. May follow young at heart Anne Dunham who is back in flying form following her five valve heart operation.

Eric Thieleguard gives gives regular assistance to Pammy and Charlie and any in-house competition and 2010 should see these clinics more established.

We are lucky to have the services of many people and companies who help us so much throughout the year and we are grateful to them all and take this opportunity to wish them and you a very happy Christmas and a happy and prosperous New year.

Dates for your Diary

Dressage Courses with Pammy Hutton

January: 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 11^th-15^th, 19^th-21^th, 26^th-29^th

February: 1^th, 2^nd-5^th

Exam Training Days

2^nd February: Stage I with Justine Sole

2^nd March: Stage II

BHS Exams

10^th February: Stage I

10^th March: Stage II

Other dates

15^th February: BD Young Professional's Day

We will be running Trailblazers Dressage competitions in 2010. Check out the Website in the New year for details