Dressage results and fabulous gala day!

**** February results ****

After the postponement of the January dressage competition due to the heavy snowfall, we were thrilled to see that competitors braved the cold for Leigh's February dressage competition.

Karen Calderbank won the senior beginners' class on her pony, Gigman Sandypipit, while Holly Watson took junior honours on Carrwood Goldleaf.

The open prelim class was won by Debbie Dobson on her shire cross, My Gentleman. Abi Lilley and Euphoria Queen won both the junior prelim and novice classes. The elementary winner was Jackie Fare on Oskar.

Katie Hodson won the prix caprilli (dressage with jumping) on her Connemara pony, A Bouncing Star.

**** March dressage ****

The final dressage competition of the winter series will take place on March 20. The classes will be beginners prelim 4, open prelim 13, novice 30 and elementary 49. The competition will be a qualifier for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships - currently the only qualifier for the champs in this region.

**** Dressage Gala Day ****

The dressage committee have just announced that they will be holding a Dressage Gala Day on July 3rd.

Riders will have the chance to improve their dressage scores in clinics with British Dressage listed judge Jenny Johnson, followed by classes in the afternoon including lead rein, young horse, beginners and prix caprilli, plus prelim, novice and elementary classes.

The day will also have qualifiers for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships and the UK Riders dressage championships.

Details and entry forms are available on the Leigh and District website, http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk

Winter Dressage - February 13th

Yep, after some snow-induced confusion we are back with the second to last of our Winter Dressage series. December's tests have now become February's tests to keep the increase in difficulty as gentle as possible.

Tests are:

BEGINNERS: Prelim 1

OPEN: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49

PLUS! Prix Caprilli 2 (dressage with jumping)

There are several Prix Caprilli tests floating around on the internet. The CORRECT Prix Caprilli 2 is available to download and print off from the Leigh and District website.More details and entry forms are available from http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 10th. Please ring between 8 and 10pm on Friday, February 12th for times.

We are also thinking about holding adressage day in July with qualifiers for VHS dressage and possibly the Fearns Farm Dressage Championships, plus two dressage clinics and potentially a chance to try your hand at medium level. If you like the idea of this and it could potentially be something you would be interested in, or you have any other ideas of what you would like to see included in a dressage day, please message me or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Show clinics and dressage

There are no more places left for the January clinic with Julie Templetone. If you have paid for a place but haven't heard about what time your slot is yet, please email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk

Places for the February clinic are also going fast! You can download a booking form from the Leigh and District website but if you are an M&M owner I would recommend texting first to check there are spaces available. Absolutely no calls before 6pm on weekdays please!

We are also now taking entries for the next dressage competition on February 13. Again, you can find more details from the Leigh and District website. It's a great chance to come and try your hand at dressage, and we have classes for everyone, from beginners to elementary.

For the March competition and the dressage day in July (details yet to be announced) I am considering holding a VHS dressage champs qualifier if enough people are interested. Please comment below to let me know your thoughts.

I am also thinking of organising two one-hour clinics at the July event if there is enough interest - again, comments below please!

Important notice - dressage cancelled

IMPORTANT NOTICE - DRESSAGE CANCELLED

Due to the frozen and icy conditions we have decided to cancel the dressage on Saturday, January 9.

An extra dressage competition will be held on Saturday, March 20.

This means there will be some changes to next month's tests

2010 tests will now be:

FEBRUARY: Beginners: Prelim 1, Op...en: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49, Prix Caprilli 2

MARCH: Beginners: Prelim 4; Open: Prelim 13, Novice 30, Elementary 49

Julie Templeton places going fast!

Just a quick note to say that places on the Julie Templeton clinics are going fast. The clinics will take place on Sunday January 31st and Sunday February 28th. Booking forms are available from our website and cheques should be made out to Leigh and District Horse & Pony Club.

The results are in!

And the results from this weekend's dressage are in! Congratulations to everyone who took part - and here are the top fours. Not all the classes were as full as last time due to the decidedly inclement weather, but hopefully we will have some qualifiers in the Novice and Elementary sections next time (fingers crossed!)

Intro A

Juniors

1st - Holly Watson - Carrwood Goldleaf - 70%

2nd - Lilly Hall - Stockley Minuet - 63.47%

Seniors

1st - Lesley Cooper - Sticky Bob - 79.13%

2nd - Penelope Hannibal - Pernod - 68.26%

3rd - Melanie Snape - My Gentleman - 67.39% (Collective mark of 70)

4th - Debbie Beresford - Bobbin’ Along - 67.39% (Collective mark of 68)

Prelim. 12

Juniors

1st - Abi Lilley - Euphoria Queen - 70.4%

2nd = - Holly Watson - Carrwood Goldleaf - 60.4% (Collective mark of 48)

2nd = - Lilly Hall - Stockley Minuet - 60.4% (Collective mark of 48)

4th - Katie Hodson - Bouncin’ Along - 57.6%

Seniors

1st - Claire Hamer - Vamos - 64.8% (Collective mark of 52)

2nd - Lesley Cooper - Sticky Bob - 64.8% (Collective mark of 50)

3rd - Erin Rowan - Orkney Mist - 63.2%

4th - Emma Bracegirdle - Bouncin’ Star - 62.4%

Novice 25

Juniors

1st - Abi Lilly - Euphoria Queen - 67.2%

2nd - Savannah McMullen - Pennal Champagne Charlie - 59.2%

Seniors

1st - Julia Dean - Derwen Torrent - 63.2%

2nd - Judith Sulway - Moonraker - 61.2%

Elementary 44 – Open Age

1st - Jackie Fare - Oskar - 58.8%

2nd - Judith Sulway - Moonraker - 56.4%

Congratulations to everyone and don't forget the next dressage competition is on January 9th. For more information, click here to visit our website

Dressage photos & suppleness tips

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the dressage on Saturday - results will be posted here asap. Pity about the rain - but at least the lovely indoor meant the actual test riding was dry! Photos are now available to view from Tony Kay's website, click here

Meanwhile, I know one of the things I often see on my score sheet is "could be more supple". Meggie is 18 years old - but that's no excuse for me not to have her bending softly round my leg! Practical Horseman magazine has a good article online with suggestions of exercises you can use to make your horse more supple. Click here to read the article

The Art of Classical Riding also has an article with some suggestions for people who are just beginning to supple their horse - click here to read their article