Welcome to Blackdown Hills Riding Club
The Blackdownhills Riding club was founded approximately 40 years ago. Formed by a small group of people wanting to create a friendly, happy club for families, it bridged a gap for adults and those who couldn’t afford to join the Pony Club but wanted to socialize and compete at a basic level.
This ethos has remained and to this day the club, run by a motivated and friendly committee, endeavors to put on a variety of events for their members needs. Over recent years the club has branched out into larger events helping to run some of the Area 12 competitions. There has also been a contingent of riders willing to participate at this level and caused great excitement as they managed to secure a place in Championship competitions.
The Blackdown Hills riding club is affiliated to the British Horse Society and is one of the riding clubs within British Riding Clubs Area 12.
The Club covers a large area geographically, including Taunton, villages in the Blackdown Hills – down to Exeter and as far over as Minehead. We always welcome new members, so if you are interested then please contact a member of the committee
DISCLAIMER
“The views expressed on this web site do not necessarily represent those of the editor, the Blackdown Hills Riding Club or its organising committee. Publication of an advertisement does not imply approval of the goods or services by the Blackdown Hills Riding Club or its organising committee."
March 2012
FOR SALE, FOR LOAN, AT STUD ETC
Stallion at stud
15 hh, black Welsh Cob with champion lines. He has a superb temperament, he runs with his mares. Fee £150. Contact Trish Andrews on 01823 681453.
Pony for long term loan
Handsome 13.3hh black cob gelding, 11 years old. Safe, fun pony, most suitable for small adult or mother/daughter share for hacking, fun rides and hunting or ideal for mother wishing to escort younger children (used to being lead from). Will happily pop a small log out hacking but not over keen on jumping. Not built for speed but certainly not a plod and loves his hunting. Snaffle mouthed and traffic proof, hacks alone or in company,
in front or behind. Shod in front only. Long term and experienced 5* loan home with company sought.
Tel. Lucy - 01398 361434 - 07734 751310
Photos are on the Latest News page.
For Sale
Laura Atkins' lovely pony Sooty
Handsome 14HH NF X TB Dark Brown, Gelding, 15years old. Done fun rides, hunting, SJ, dressage, XC, and RC activities. Suit confident teenager/adult as forward going but snaffle mouthed. Good weight carrier, hacks alone/company, lives in or out. 100% in all ways, good in the heaviest of traffic, clip, load ect. To good loving home only. Comes with tack. Wellington.
For more info please call: 07774574712 or
07884176797 or email
naomiandivor@hotmail.co.uk
Photos on the "latest news" page.
Then….. and now!
In the many files and folders I have inherited as secretary, I have discovered a small book dated 1980. It is clear that the club was well established by then, but I cannot find any earlier records. It makes facinating reading and I thought I would share it with you. It is all hand written and I am struggling to decipher some of the text, but I thought it would be interesting to see how things have changed in the club over the years - and what has not!
The Miss Ewing who did the Prix Caprilli training is still a member of the club.
Hands up those who remember Prix Caprilli!
Are you one of the people mentioned in the minutes, we would love to hear from you.
BHRC AGM October 20th 1980
During the last year we had several activities some of which were very well supported, others not so well. We started off by having a skittle evening at The Eagle Tavern organised by Mr Farlaine, it was a very pleasant evening.
Mr Strutt organised a treasure hunt in the Christmas holidays which was not very well attended but was enjoyed by everyone who took part.
We hired a coach to go to Henstridge to see a demonstration of training the young horse up to Prix Caprilli stage by David Hunt; it was an instructive and interesting afternoon.
The Sid and Otter Valley invited the club to take part in a quiz at Honiton in February, against Sid & Otter Valley, East Devon PC and Axe Vale PC; the quiz was won by Axe Vale, only 5 points between all teams.
2 coffee evenings were held during the year, one at Middle Munty and one at Holcombe House.
Mrs Jones helped by Mrs Johnson took 5 senior girls to Porlock Vale Equitation Centre on a 3 day instructional course, 8 more are going next week.
The coach trip to Badminton Horse Trials was well supported; it was a lovely sunny day.
We had a lovely day for our Spring Show which was held at Ringborough House by kind permission of Mr and Mrs P Butterfield. Classes 12 years and under and 13 – 16 years were quite good but 10 years and under and 14’s and 17’s were very poor.
Our Open Long Distance Ride this year organised by Mrs Milburn, started from the Merry Harriers and was in aid of the RDA at Sandhill Park, not a very large entry. We had a few evenings of clear round jumping at Middle Munty which made the cheque up to £50.
Six club members hired a lorry and went to the Wessex Riding Club open show at Loxton, it was a lovely day and very enjoyable.
Miss Ewing worked very hard having practises every week for two months to get 2 junior teams and 1 senior team ready for the Area Prix Caprilli held at Taunton Race course on July 13th. Our juniors did very well. Our A team came 2nd and were only 4 points behind the winners who were Bath and our B team 3rd, 3 points behind our A team. Sarah Tidd gained the most points overall Gaela Johnston gained the second most points. Miss Ewing would not accept any money for all the hard work she put into training the teams, so everyone clubbed together and gave her a measuring stick, which she was very pleased with.
Junior teams were -
Gaela Johnston, Jill Johnston, Carol Pinder, Jane Strutt
Julia Morley, Gillian Morley, Sarah Tidd, Lucy Lock
Senior Team –
Frances Farlaine, Pam Millburn, Jane Tidd, Christine Pinder.
Directions to Paddocks Equestrian – TA3 6TS
Google Maps shows that Paddocks Equestrian is down Forest Drove North on your left, they are wrong, you DO NOT need to turn off once you have left the A358.
FROM the M5 - take the A358 to Illminster and Chard, go through Henlade, past the Nags Head pub on the right of the dual carrigeway. Go over the lights at the top of Thornfalcon Hill. Past the first turning to Hatch Beachamp on your left, past the second turning to Hatch Beachamp on your left and the road to Bickenhall and West Hatch (Chris and Sarah Sailsbury) on your right.
Paddocks Equestrian is the NEXT right, (blue "not suitable for heavy vehicles" sign) follow the road for about a mile - go through the Bickenhall sign - Paddocks is the next property on the left hand side of this road, on a sharp right hand bend with lots of timber products outside. Parking is at the back of the property, follow the Here Path sign. It will be well sign posted from the A358.
If you take the road to the Sailsburys farm, don't panic, follow the road past their farm, and take the next left, this will take you back to the A358 and you will get to The Paddocks from the other direction.
If you go pass Neroch Village Hall, you DO need to turn around, panic if you feel the need!
