Scottish Endurance Riding Club Dumfries Branch Newsletter

Scottish Endurance
Riding Club
Dumfries Branch
Newsletter
Jean Gilbert and Rowan crossing the finish, Day 2
June 2015
Well, our 2015 season has certainly got off to a
fabulous start. With Three Lochs, Kershope, Moffat, Fleet and Tinwald now
behind us we have already seen routes with something for everyone – we have trotted through
forests, teetered over motorways and galloped up hills, and every venue seems to have been
filled with happy, smiling riders. In fact, I think some of the horses have been smiling too! And
we’ve still lots more to come.
Summer may have got off to a slow start this year (that’s assuming the weather has bothered to
warm up by the time you read this!) but it is pleasing that, although we have had some pretty
dire stuff on a few ride days, none of our rides have fallen victim to the weather. We may be in
the south of Scotland but I reckon Dumfries riders are made of pretty stern stuff. Here’s hoping
for a bit of warmth (not too much!) for the second half of the season – it would be nice to finish
the year lightly bronzed from the sun rather than leathered and raw from the wind and rain…
Not only has it been busy out on the routes. Here at Editorial Towers life has been pretty full on,
too, with lots of lovely contributions to collate for the newsletter as well as bringing on a certain
rotund pony. This edition of the newsletter appears to have a theme of ‘Firsts’ – we’ve got a
first time in a new helper’s job, a first ever Endurance ride, a first outing for something fat and
hairy, a first attempt at something very long, an account of a member’s first horse and even a
first instalment of a two-parter! Oh, and the results of two rides that have appeared on our
calendar for the first time.
Thank you to all who have contributed (you make my editorial life so easy!) and please do keep
your stories and reports coming in to me. September isn’t so very
far off, after all.
And with that thought, until next time …..
Sue
sue@grout.scot
Chief Stewards When not futtering around on the laptop for the newsletter, I am keeping
myself busy by recruiting Chief Stewards for our rides. A special thanks to all who have stepped up to the
plate so far but, as every single ride needs a Chief Steward, it is a never-ending job to get people in place
and provide them with all the information they need to do the job. Please can I appeal for more CSs to
swell our ranks? You will get all the support you need and I think it is one of the most enjoyable jobs to
be done on a ride day. My email is above and Thank You in advance (she wrote hopefully!).
Chair’s Report
Wow, what a busy season so far! Our little branch is looking really healthy.
•
Membership is up
•
We have a full ride calendar
•
Which means -ride entries are up
•
Which means- branch funds are up!
Well done to everybody for making Dumfries branch a thriving one.
Next season will be our 20th Birthday so let’s make it something special for everybody to enjoy. Who has
any ideas for a birthday bash?
Thinking caps on, we need to make this a special event for everybody to take part in.
See you all on the route, and good luck with your goals.
Janice x
Ride Dates:
July 26th
Newcastleton
Competitive and Pleasure/Training
August 23rd
Lochfoot
Pleasure/Training
September 20th St Anns
Pleasure/Training
October 18th
Pleasure/Training
Pingle
November 1st Moffat
Pleasure/Training
November 15th Cally Woods
Pleasure/Training
December 20th Tinsel Ride tba
Pleasure/Training
Don’t forget: in order to be eligible for trophies and awards at the end of the season, each member
must have helped at a minimum of two rides. This may increase in future as Club looks at ways to
standardize the issue of helping across all Branches but, for now, get your offers in to Natalie via
Clubhouse where possible or by email/phone. Future Chief Stewards, please contact me directly.
Points Mean Rides at a Discount
And staying with the subject of helping…..
Don’t forget that you can redeem Helper’s Points against your ride entries, gained from helping out at
any of our rides. Points cards can be obtained from the trailer or contact Amanda for further details.
Some folk don’t bother, some do; it is entirely up to the individual but the offer is there from the Branch.
There’s no such thing as being stuck in a rut for many of our Helpers but sometimes it is scary to step out of our comfort zones.
Julie O’Neill shares her experiences…
Having only ever had one 'job' on the days we've helped out, we think we've got Check Point
well and truly organised... Water, human first aid kit, horsey first aid kit, slosh bottles and beet water.
(And then there's Team Jordan, who provide first class Check Point assistance!)
With a little positive encouragement from Natalie, our skill set has developed (can I use this on my CV?)
at Moffat where both Cheryl and I were vet writers. Feeling confident we were doing a good job, we
were encouraged to have a go at taking heart rates!
It may sound silly but unless you give it a go, you won't know! Not sure why I found this so daunting... It
was easier than I expected. I was absolutely buzzing to be called a 'Competent'
person!
Also discovered that if you have a job near the caravan.... there are sweeties to
maximise your sugar intake! ;)
Julie
Club Pleasure Rider’s Achievement Awards
If you are aiming for a bronze, silver or gold Pleasure Ride Award, please note that both Seacliff and the
Championships are classed as Club rides so can be counted as one of your designated rides in addition to
those at the selection of branches you are planning to visit. In other words you can count the
Championships or Seacliff as another ‘Branch’.
The awards run as follows:
Completion of Pleasure Rides in 5-6 Branches = Bronze
Completion of Pleasure Rides in 7-8 Branches = Silver
Completion of Pleasure Rides in 8 Branches + 1 Club Event/Championship Pleasure Class =Gold
The eight Branches are: Argyll, Border, Dumfries, Glasgow, Grampian, Highland, Lothians and Tayside.
Dumfries Duo’s ……
We have added a new award – just for fun! Enter ……(drum roll)……
The Dumfries Duo’s Award. Names were picked out of a hat (well, a bag really) and paired together. The
winning pair will be the one with the highest combined kilometres at the end of the year.
Duo’s currently are:
Cheryl Rawson and Rachel Cringean
Julie O’Neil and Amanda Lister
Barbara Jordan and Sohie Bell
Kath McGhee and Rachael Fothergill
Christine Farrow and Diane Warren
Ian Biggs and Susan Maxwell
Natalie Edwards and Vicky Thorburn
Christine Farrow and Diane Warren
Sue Grout and Janice Johnstone
Penny Hudson and Penny Johnstone
Rachel Bell and Sue Wardle
Janice Critchley and Jean Gilbert
Audrey Taylor and Alison Thorburn
Christine Thorburn and Karen Little.
If you are a new member or an ’old’ member whose name doesn’t appear here and you would like to be
included, let Amanda know and she will try to slot you in. Good luck everyone!!!
Another Note About Ribbons ….
Tinwald Chief Steward, Barbara Jordan, commented that it was good to see some riders had put either a
green or red ribbon in their horses’ tails – red for ‘I’m likely to kick so keep your distance – you have
been warned!’ and green for ‘I’m very new to this malarkey so please give me lots of space and
consideration’. However, she also noted that some who fell into either of the above categories had not
tied a ribbon in. It really does make sense for your safety, your horse’s safety and the safety of everyone
around you. The whole issue of Health and Safety is a nightmare for Ride Organisers and Chief Stewards
so please be savvy in this matter. Get a ribbon!
Team Selection – It’s Not Too Late…
The Home International and Celtic Challenge will take place at the Red Dragon in Wales this September.
Currently nobody from Dumfries has applied for selection but I am told it is not too late. If you are a
Novice rider, a Novice Combination or an experienced distance rider and would like to be considered for
the teams, please contact Nancy Murdoch in the first instance at nancy@clarifeye.com. Nancy will be
able to talk you through the opportunities open to you and send you an application form. Dumfries is
also the only branch not to have a rep on the International Selection Committee, which is a shame.
Anyone interested should contact me for further details of what the job entails. Thanks.
Ah yes, that first ever ride. For many members it’s in more of a distant-past than we care to remember. So much the
more enjoyable, then, to recall those feelings of that “first time” while reading about one of our newest members’
experiences. Take it away, Susan Maxwell….
“Thoughts From an Endurance Virgin"
As someone completely new to the sport of endurance riding I experienced my first ride at
Moffat, which is quite local for me. I joined Scottish Endurance at the start of the year and this was the
first ride I was able to attend.
I'm in my mid 40's, a full time firefighter and have had my present horse, Poppy, for almost 2
years. When I bought Poppy she was terrified of anything on the ground - cones, tyres, poles, white
lines and don't mention those flat cyclists who appear without warning on the tarmac! So, after a good
year of patient training and Parelli work, I decided to do as many different things as possible with her
and I thought endurance would fulfil a lot of what I wanted and would be a nice hack too!
The day before I am sorting out what I need to put into the saddle bag - glucose tablets - check,
silver foil blanket - check, triangular bandage - check, whistle - umm.... into garage to unearth the
whistle I'd kept when I left the police in the 80's - well theoretically, if I get into bother and blow the
whistle then Police Scotland's finest should appear immediately en-masse to rescue me........or at least
that was the theory...
Moffat day arrived and Poppy and I headed up the A701. Poppy was her usual excited self at
going somewhere new whilst all I could think about was motorways and trains.... as per the notes in the
information pack - and going to try a new sport with no backup and knowing no-one!!
We arrived at the correct place and were greeted with waving arms as I almost drove into the
blocked off quarry road!! After managing to get parked on a bit of hard standing in the correct place I
sorted out Poppy and headed off the get my number and some information, and say Hi to the kind lady
who was going to be my partner for the day. Everyone was very helpful and, after I told them I hadn’t a
clue what I was meant to do next, very kindly gave me the Idiots’ Guide to my expected actions.
Getting Poppy down to get vetted, I had a good chat with other people in the vet queue. As
Poppy was standing to get vetted I was extremely glad it was her heart rate that was getting taken and
not mine, as mine was racing just looking at the bridge over the motorway that my timid wee horse and I
were expected to cross. I was slightly perturbed to be told that she did not appear to have a heart beat
as she was quite cheerily peering around at the other horses but fortunately a second check assured me
that she was, in fact, alive.
After vetting we heading back to get tacked up and meet my new friend, Sheila and her lovely
horse at the start. Poppy immediately greeted her new friend with flattened ears and then we headed
out when the timer told us to go. My wee horse never flinched at the motorway traffic nor the ride
alongside the motorway on the service road and we shortly headed into the forest.
Due to mis-timing my next farrier’s appointment and finding that he was on a cruise for three
weeks [how dare he :-) ] I had not ridden Poppy for three weeks in order to keep the shoes on her feet
for the ride. So therefore, I expected her to be not very fit and that she would tire quite quickly…
Poppy had other ideas.
As we headed into the forest Sheila said that we should get a good paced trot in to start to make
time at the beginning of the ride. I followed her advice as we headed up a steepish incline at a brisk trot
and waited to Poppy to tire....and waited..... and waited... My timid wee horse had obviously been
stolen in the night and replaced with one who was full of energy, happy to lead, keen to see around the
next corner and was intent on pulling my arms out of my sockets...
We continued up the forest track and sometimes overtook, and were sometimes overtaken by
other horses and riders - sometimes by the same people. Sheila kept me both entertained and informed
and kept us right time-wise without tiring the horses. The route was an easy one to follow and well-laid
out, and took us by huge forestry vehicles, massive log piles and flapping tape. None of which seemed
to bother our mounts.
The weather had been kind to us up to the point where we had to traverse an open road at the
top of the hill where the views of the Moffat Hills were spectacular. But as the wind from the Arctic hit
us and the flakes of snow danced in front of us, Poppy decided the best thing to do was tuck her head in
around her knees and let me steer without her seeing anything. Not the most pleasant sensation!!
Three quarters of the way around I head the dreaded 'clink clink' on a loose horse shoe and
getting off I found her front shoe now held on with two nails. I decided to call it a day and said to Sheila
to go and do the rest, and that we would start back. So, now on three shoes we started to wander down
the hill alone. After coming some way I was starting to think we had gone the wrong way and I might
indeed need to toot on my whistle - but then the reassuring pegs and ribbon appeared.
At the bottom of the hill I decided to walk Poppy the last part to save her hoof. I managed not
to mug a glass of wine from people who were merrily having a party in their front garden and then found
myself at my second worry place - The Tunnel Under The Train Track!! As we came round the corner
Poppy immediately fixed on the salt bin filled with monsters and, as fate would decree, the Virgin Train
chose that moment to whoosh overhead within spitting distance. Poppy took one look at the train,
instantly dismissed it as something not to worry about and then snorted and danced her way by the
monster-filled bin, through the tunnel and out onto the road.
We walked back along the main road, cheerily waving thanks at all the motorcyclist who slowed
down. Once back we were greeted at the start/finish and given commiserations that we had to pull out
of our first ride. Poppy was vetted again, even though we hadn’t completed the ride, and passed. We
went back up to the trailer where I offered Poppy water, hay and checked her after her ride. She was
quite happy to see her haynet and unperturbed by any of the events of the day.
The next day I was definitely the sorer of the two of us. Poppy was fine and didn’t appear to
have had any ill effects.
I've learned that endurance riding is not a gentle hack out. From the small amount of what I
have experienced it is most definitely a sport where time and planning are most important. Planning
your route and seeing where you can make up time and where you can give your horse [and yourself]
time to gather your breath and enjoy the view are important.
Although we didn't finish our first ride properly it was enjoyable and informative and I can only
thank all those people who were so friendly and gave me such good company and advice. Poppy and I
are signed up for Fleet and the new Tinwald ride, and I will make sure that I also do my duties as a helper
as well this year.
I would urge anyone to give it a try and see if they, and
their horse, enjoy it as much as Poppy and I did. That first ride
and the different things we had to do and see definitely threw
us both out of our comfort zones and was a great experience
for us. I look forward to the next ones and hope that we may
also get to the stage of competing properly.
Thanks to everyone and look forward to seeing you at the next
ride.
Susan and Poppy.
Susan and Poppy had a more successful time at Fleet and here is their
first Endurance rosette as proof
At our Tinwald Ride we had two officiating Competent Persons. By her energy and spriteliness, who would have
thought that one of them had only recently returned from completing a three day 120km ride across Exmoor at The
Golden Horseshoe and a round road trip of some 20 hours?! A massive Congratulations to Jean Gilbert, who shares
her story….
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE 2015
In 2004, my husband, Ronnie, my grey mare and I had a lovely week in Exmoor, culminating in Briar
and I competing in the 2 day 80km at the Horseshoe. She got a grade 2 in hot weather, and when I
realised that this year was the 50th anniversary, I decided to aim for the 3 day 120km with Rowan.
The preparations went well, and we set off on the Friday, to a 10 hour journey, with road works and 2
accidents on the way. Saturday was spent exploring the lie of the land so that Ronnie didn't get lost
crewing. We discovered that our farm B&B near the Exford venue was where 4 Scottish riders and their
horses were staying, so we felt at home. Rachel Sykes, Frances Bakker and Lorna Hogg were doing the
Horseshoe 2 day 160, and Colin, like me, had entered the 3 day ride, so we decided to start off together,
and see how the two horses got on.
My start time was just before Colin's, so I started off steadily and caught up a girl from Exeter called
Vicky, who was riding a horse that she had had on loan since January, and was a little nervous. She asked
if she could follow Rowan, as he was being his usual sensible self, and I said it was OK as long as Colin
agreed, which he did.
The three horses went well together, and all was well until just before CP2, with me in the lead,
following a track which led under a beech tree with innocent looking twigs at rider level. I bent forward
and there was a thump as a heavy branch hit my bum bag. I stupidly looked up, and the next branch hit
my chin and upper arm, pushing me back till I was lying on Rowan's back with my head on his rump.
Bless him, he stopped and turned left, taking us clear of the tree, and I seemed to be in one piece, so we
carried on. There was no way I was giving up so early!
I got off lightly, as a rider a few minutes behind
was knocked off by the same branch and ended up
with broken ribs, damaged vertebrae and a cracked
pelvis! We had to catch her horse, which was OK.
The rest of that day went fine, lots of lovely
canters on the moorland and steep hills up and down
into the valleys. The three of us ended the day on
silver speed and the horses passed the vet with flying
colours.
Across the moor: Day 2
On Day Two, my start time was a couple of minutes before the others, and I held back waiting for
them to catch up. I waited and waited, but they didn't appear. I found out later they had gone a bit
astray just a little into the ride, so Rowan and I headed off alone. This was the northern loop towards
Porlock, and for part of the ride I was with Sue Headland from Yorkshire, though I dropped back towards
the end as she was doing around 13kph, which was faster than I wanted.
At the vetting I was still on silver speed, but Rowan's heart rate was surprisingly 56. It's normally in
the 40s, so he got a vet penalty for being above 55! That dropped us down to bronze, which was what
Vicky and Colin were on at the end of day two.
On Day Three we were all delighted to still be in with a chance of finishing. We decided that we
would take it steady and complete on bronze. It was the same route as Sunday, so we walked carefully
round “that tree” and made sure we didn't get lost. The euphoric feeling when trotting together over
the finishing line to applause from a few spectators was memorable, and it was even better to be told by
the vets that all three horses had passed.
At the prize giving that evening, Vicky presented Colin and I with a carrier bag of wine and beer to
share, as she had
been so pleased to
have our moral
support.
We drove home on
the Wednesday with a
couple of rosettes, a
fit horse, a few
bruises and many
happy memories.
Jean.
Final crew point: Day 3
Bringing out a new horse can be a daunting prospect yet sometimes the anticipation is worse than the event as
Yours Truly explains:
Just Not Quite Ready Yet? Busting an Excuse at Tinwald
I had had a lovely day Chief Stewarding at Moffat and was just thinking about the journey home
when a chance comment from Jean Gilbert stopped me in my tracks. “It’s about time we saw you out
with your new horse, Sue” said she. I grinned and probably mumbled some incomprehensible excuse as
to how we were just not ready yet. Jean gave me a knowing look….
Just not ready yet. The Monday previous to Moffat I had met up with ex-Club Chair Alison
Wilson and her stunning horse Poco for Santana’s first foray away from home, save for our hilarious
“dressage” experiences. We met in Ladyurd Forest on the way to Peebles and, as this was a new
experience for Santana, we enjoyed a leisurely walk round the four and a half mile circuit; very relaxed
and Poco wasn’t at all phased by or dismissive of the little fat pony gawping at every log, dog and even
digger we passed. As I said, we walked the whole route yet by the end my pony was a massive sweaty
blob. Happy but glowing, steaming and dripping. Just not ready yet for anything more perhaps.
But then I started thinking. I had loved being out and the pony had taken everything in her stride
despite me trying hard to rid the past memories of A and E from my mind and struggling to remember to
breathe, not wanting to send stress messages through my body and into
hers. Maybe it was time to start planning our SERC debut and maybe
Earshaig, safe and confined to forest tracks I’d heard, was the way to go.
But I kept hearing about Tinwald, our new ride – fields, green roads, hills
and likely to be fast. It sounded oh-so-good but my imagination went into
overdrive with images of horses galloping down on the little fat Haflinger
and me revisiting another A and E department (I used to be well known at
Dumfries General back in the day, not always for horse incidents!). Best
leave Tinwald for another year, I reasoned …. yet it sounded Oh-So-Good.
Our last committee meeting sealed my fate. Penny was again describing
the route but mentioned that we might need to cap the entry because of space at the venue. I could
think of nothing more than getting home and encountering Clubhouse for the first time.
So, how to tackle this massive undertaking? I couldn’t help thinking back to when I was on the
circuit big time with Tara – the most opinionated, challenging, competitive horse I have ever known and
yet I took it all in my stride, so why did my legs turn to jelly at the thought of bringing out the sweetest,
gentlest mare I’ve been privileged to share my life with? OK, we’d had a few issues but here she was,
happily hacking out by herself over remote moorland at home (well, not quite by herself as I was actually
on her back most of the time!) and thriving on her work. I guess the difference is that I just don’t bounce
so well or mend so easily as I used to in Tara’s day. What I needed, I decided was the perfect ride buddy;
someone who would dissipate any nerves I was feeling by their jolly yet calm presence. I thought back to
Moffat and one person immediately sprang to mind so I cheekily contacted Glasgow’s Gill Rooney and
the deal was done. There was no turning back but were we really ready?
I actually found it quite hard to remember how I had worked with Tara to get her fit so decided
it was best to start with a clean slate and just go by feel with Santana. We worked so hard at building up
distance and difficulty of terrain, and everything I threw at the Haflinger she devoured, figuratively
speaking, always wanting more. Included in the lead up to the ride was an hour lesson with my
instructor who has worked tirelessly to help me overcome, or at least deal with, hip and back problems
that had severely affected my balance and security in the saddle, helping me find my seat again, and I
realised that if we could survive an hour with Louise, which usually leaves me a quivering wreck and
wanting to weep with exhaustion, we might be fine for 18kms. The fitness was there, I reckoned, and
the novelty of other horses, cars, roadwork, almost everything else in fact, could only be tackled on the
day. We were good to go!
A lot has been said about the Tinwald Ride but I can honestly say that, in all my past SERC years,
there hasn’t been a route I have enjoyed as much as this. We arrived early, not being used to a horse
who will actually load when asked to (this fact actually came back to bite me later!) but this was a good
plan as it gave Santana plenty of time to goggle at everything and settle. The massive patch of giant
clover by out trailer helped somewhat in this. A 48 heart rate to start with was acceptable given the
novelty of the situation, we met up with Gill and Ryan, welcomed Sheila McConnel and Polly into our
now trio, and off we went. Anyone on the route would probably have heard us coming a mile off as we
chatted, laughed and even whooped our way round – in fact our additional 5kms that saw us revisit
Tinwald itself was a result of us putting the world to rights and missing the marker at D – and Santana
took the whole thing in her stride. Because of our detour, we had to push quite hard to make the time
but still she chugged on like a jolly steam train, wanting to keep pace with long striding Ryan and her
ears pricked the whole time. I was so proud!
We got in with ten minutes to spare and I
could tell my pony was tired. I didn’t expect her to
switch off quite as much as she did though, and
rousing her for the vetting was a real challenge.
She had a lovely time, worked hard and had
settled for a snooze while guarding her patch of
clover for later, thank you very much! Performing
another trot up certainly wasn’t on her agenda.
Her finishing heart rate was quite high at 52 but, in
our frenzy at waking her up, getting her ready and
down to the vetting I realised too late that we had
made a classic text-book error and had forgotten
Bouncing up The Hill. Photographer: Brian McMeeken
to encourage her to pee. Immediately after Alison
had taken her heart rate, she (Santana, not Alison) let rip with the most almighty flood I’ve ever seen so
it would have been interesting to see how that would have affected her pulse. However, that’s
something to remember for the future. Santana’s final trot up was, quite frankly, embarrassing as she
clearly wasn’t in the mood nor could see the point, but we got away with it and it was time for another
dose of clover. We had our lunch, caught up with a few folk and finally it was time for home. As I
mentioned earlier, the easy loading smugness came back to bite me hard – the pony just wasn’t for
loading! Not through naughtiness but simply through the fact she was ready to sleep and all four feet
were planted squarely and solidly on all four corners as only a Haffie can plant them. Vicky Thorburn
came to our rescue by sensitively guiding the sleepyhead in while I coaxed from behind with the tickling
of a lunge whip. We didn’t feel the pony move for the entire journey home – bless!
A thorough Equine Touch session and massage the following morning and a couple of days off
have seen her bright and eager to get going again. I rode Tara this morning and needed to work with
Jackdaw for a while, and it was nice (in an annoying sort of way) to hear Santana kicking her door in
frustration at being left out. She may never be the fastest but oh, boy, does she love to work! We have a
lesson booked for tomorrow and I’m sure she’ll come out of it in a better state than me.
So, Tinwald. No longer can I use the excuse of just not quite being ready – that had served me and my
imagined fears, not Santana, I realise. Penny, the ride was simply awesome and we can’t thank you
enough for it. A massive thanks, too, to Barbara for Chief Stewarding, to all the amazing helpers and
‘office bearers’ who made the day so perfect, and to Brian for his wonderful photos. Just one complaint
– two days on and my face still aches from grinning from ear to ear and back again for so many hours.
And poor David is still living through every micro detail of our experience! Bring on the next one. Sue
The horse of a lifetime is a very special equine. In the first of a two-part article, Jill Widdop pays tribute to the
talented and enduring Nimrod – who, fear not, is still going strong!
Nimrod & I through the Years
Nimrod and I first met before we even knew each
other. He had been at the yard I used to hack to, 3 or 4 miles
from my home, but I hadn’t realised. Then I hacked past him,
when I used to hack up the bridleway that went past his
previous owner’s house. He looked huge in the stable he was
in; the door only came up to the top of his legs, ha ha, as
normally there was a small Exmoor pony in that stable!
Well, I was starting to have trouble with my first
pony. I had only had her 8 months, an ex-riding school pony,
who down the line decided being on her own was not her thing! We had had an argument with a milk
tanker and then a motorbike on another occasion. The last straw was when she bolted from a motorbike
with me dressed as Robin Hood, on my way to the yard!!!
When I finally got up to the yard, my mum got talking to a horsey friend of ours. She said ‘I have
just the horse, he came to me as a part-exchange, doesn’t know fear, you could put a tractor in the
stable with him’. (The latter was a bit of an overstatement, but I had now lost a lot of confidence
myself). So this is where I met the so-called huge horse in our friend’s pony stable.
He was only 4, nearly 5 years old, a 14.2hh Welsh Cob X. We hacked out a couple of times, went
down into town, through traffic lights, over the railway bridge and had buses pass us. Great, so apart
from him been a bit green, which Denise had told me, we decided to buy him in January 1991. He was a
lot more money than we ever expected to pay, but it was important that he was right for me and we
trusted Denise’s judgment. I am very grateful to her.
Life was hectic for a while, juggling Kizzy and Nimrod, till Kizzy sold and went back to a riding
school where she was happier.
I hacked out regularly with my friend Jenny. We had lots of laughs; I would have to shout after
her to wait up while I got back on Nimrod, as he could get disunited in his canter, trip and I would slide
down his neck. He was always totally perplexed as to how I had got down there!
We explored the countryside as far and wide as we could in a day, had many a great picnic ride
and would call at a localish sweet shop when we were passing for a few extra goodies. Plus the odd stop
at a pub, for a juice, which is when I found out he liked fresh orange squash.
I got in touch with my riding instructor from my old riding school, who had gone freelance and
we got a few lessons in one of the fields where I grazed Nim as I was particularly interested in dressage
and Lynette was into this too. Nimrod was not the easiest of pupils and we have never made a dressage
prospect. We then progressed to Denise’s ménage which
she had built, as she wanted her daughter to have lessons
with Lynette too, so I moved my poles, jump and letters
up to her place.
We didn’t do any showing until Nimrod’s later
years up here in Scotland, but we did take part in the
Pennine Rendezvous and Charity rides from 25 to 40
miles. I did also have a bash at Handy Hunter classes and
games, and I would let a friend take Nimrod over the
cross country course that Lynette and I helped design (I
did it as a GCSE project). Nimrod seemed to enjoy x country, but it wasn’t something I did.
We moved to Dumfries & Galloway in February 1994 and before I moved Nimrod here, he went
back to stay at Denise’s as she was going to transport him for me, but we got snowed in for a week
before the trip, one of the hazards of living 1200ft above sea level on the Pennines I suppose.
Having expressed an interest in Long Distance/Endurance riding to my employer at Queenshill,
the neighbouring stables, I was introduced to Sue Grout at a Horse Club talk given by Lorna Clarke in
Castle Douglas, which we went along to.
I decided to join SERC Dumfries in 1997 and, what seemed a short
time later, ended up on the committee as secretary/membership secretary.
I also acquired the duty of being ride organiser for the Fleet Forest ride
when Sue and David moved away. I started out riding one of Sue’s horses,
Arth Fenella, a lovely roan mare, while I got used to how rides went (and
got mentally ready to attempt a ride with Nimrod) and Audrey Taylor &
Thunder showed me round a few pleasure rides.
Nimrod and I did our first Pleasure ride together at Barcaple
(Ringford) on 21st June 1998. I didn’t have transport and it was easy
hacking distance. Nimrod didn’t get the concept of times and speed to start
with (we hadn’t had to contend with this before as long as we made it back
before dark!) so although we got a lovely photo out of it, we didn’t make
the grade at 3.98mph (as it was then). The next was Dalbeattie in August, we managed to borrow a
horse box (from people we didn’t really know through people we did know!) but then found we needed
to borrow a vehicle due to the box being too heavy and causing my dad’s car to bunny hop, and that was
with it empty! We got there in the end but, after all that, we were unsuccessful at gaining our mileage
again at 4.38mph. Still we had an enjoyable ride. Then we had a breakthrough at Fleet Forest (in
November I think); we got back in at 5.79mph. We had now managed to get transport regularly with a
nice chap, Martin, who had a horse lorry. I had advertised, looking for transport and Martin replied and
was a great asset. He knew a few folk along the way and knew what he was doing around horses, due to
taking his own daughter here and there. We had to learn a knack to get Nim into the lorry, which usually
meant reversing up to a banking so that the tailgate wasn’t too steep for him to climb in (nose in bucket
compulsory, and still is today even with our own trailer!) We were set to go.
Jill.
In one half of the ever-present Team Jordan we have a committee member who tirelessly supports our Branch and
Club yet still finds time to compete her horse across the country. But where did it all start? Time to turn the ….
Spotlight On ……. Barbara Jordan
Why was I asked to do this? Maybe because I have been around for a wee while now and with
this in mind I decided to go back in the EGB archives and chat about all my trusty steeds.
1987 was my first Endurance Ride at Ullswater on a skewbald mare called Kimberley who was
one of our riding school horses and went on to do RC events. 1989 saw the purchase of a thoroughbred
cross 15.3 gelding called Drumfire, bought to hunt. We went on to finish 9 out of 10 rides from ’89 to
’95, which shows how few rides there were at that time in our area.
Once we realised Drum was feeling his age, by which time we were into Endurance, we looked
around for a “proper Endurance horse” and ended up with Ashley (Shadad Ibn Manar). Well, he is an
Arab and we have had lots of fun clocking up 41 competitive rides and 1500km. He retired in 2009 but
he was more of a poser than a doer!! He is very content in his retirement at the age of 24 with his
companion who is much the same age or more!
Ashley had suffered on and off with arthritis during his working life and so I slotted in a TB called
Heavenly Hoofer between 1994 and 2009, completing 14 rides
plus 8 rides on Just So, an Irish Draft x thoroughbred; several
Scottish rides with a 14.3 coloured cob, Prinzindi and also a
stroppy mare called Solway Sally. Prinzindi showed up a back leg
weakness when ridden at the longer distances so was sold back to
driving and Sally decided she didn’t like travelling alone once
Ashley retired so she was sold on to a riding school where she
would always have company if travelling.
Three horses on, tried and rejected, left us with the decision to wait patiently for what was to be
my last horse (can’t go on for ever!); a sensible age, old enough to compete straight away, a gelding, a
coloured and no bigger than 15 – 15.1hh. A month on we went with friends to buy driving tack at
Carlisle auction and there he was, trotting up and down the carpark! Chatting to the owner, he ticked all
my boxes and, as they say, the rest is history – Jim’s Lad came home! He was bought as a 6 year old and
renamed Jamie-son.
We have had 7 years together and although it hasn’t been easy I wouldn’t swap him and have
loved all his challenges, mainly because I think we have eventually got him to realise he is here for keeps.
Jamie, with 82 competitive rides to date and 5,000 kms has collectively exceeded all my other horses put
together and hopefully we still have many more rides together.
Twenty eight years in the game and counting!
Barbara
For sale on behalf of a friend:
Full size round pen for training, natural horsemanship etc. Bought
for £1500 but now standing idle. Easy to assemble. Would need to be collected from the Lochmaben area. £500
ono. Contact me for further details. (sue@grout.scot)
RESULTS
Three Lochs: 8th March 2015
Rider
Horse
Branch
kms HR
speed result
Barbara Jordan
Jamie-son
Dumfries
23
40
11.79
Training
Diane Warren
Trick or Treat
Dumfries
23
48
10.53
Training
Janice Johnston
Ellington Pearl
Dumfries
23
41
9.52
Pleasure
Natalie Edwards
HS Jibran
Dumfries
23
46
10.53
Training
Tracey Johnstone
Zig Zag Shah
Dumfries
23
42
11.79
Training
Audrey Taylor
Fearganainm
Dumfries
16
41
8.21
Pleasure
Christopher Wills
BJ’S Spirit
Dumfries
16
42
8.73
Pleasure
Fiona Penney
BJ’S Impulse
Dumfries
16
46
8.73
Pleasure
Janice Critchley
The Rabbit
Dumfries
16
45
8.21
Pleasure
Karen Hassard
Tore
Glasgow
16
50
9.06
Pleasure
Kirstin Miller
Crystal Cheyenne
Dumfries
16
50
10.55
Training
Kirsty Strachan
Ollie
Glasgow
16
42
8.97
Pleasure
Penny Hudson
Dolly
Dumfries
16
42
10.00
Pleasure
Rachel Cringean
Bertie
Dumfries
16
35
10.00
Pleasure
Rosemary Matthew
Crioch Khamsin
Dumfries
16
38
10.55
Training
Sheila McConnell
Knockandys Fancy Pants
Dumfries
16
44
8.65
Pleasure
Chantelle Allanson
Chamfron Colorado
Day Member
14
38
12.92
Out of time
Elaine Storey
Magic
Day Member
14
48
6.67
Out of time
Elizabeth Foulds
Jenny Wren
Dumfries
14
45
8.94
Taster
Emily Singleton
Zen
Day Member
14
46
8.40
Taster
Jill Widdop
Brockleton Craig
Dumfries
14
42
8.00
Taster
Kara Torrance
Punch
Day Member
14
58
9.77
Taster
Kay Robinson
Stormy Lad
Day Member
14
60
7.37
Out of time
Leonnie Laing
Laddie
Day Member
14
38
6.67
Out of time
Lorna Forrest
Teako
Day Member
14
52
6.67
Out of time
Rae Turner
Bowerwood Panache
Dumfries
14
60
7.37
Out of time
Sharmon Irons
Que Sera
Day Member
14
59
8.40
Taster
Steffanie Singleton
Huckleberry Pie
Day Member
14
44
8.40
Taster
Steve Phelps
Rocky
Day Member
14
54
8.00
Taster
Sue Hay
Willow
Day Member
14
43
6.67
Out of time
Ride Organiser: Annie Walker
Chief Steward: Penny Johnston
Kershope: 29th March 2015
Audrey Taylor
Fearganainm
Dumfries 17
40
9.44
Pleasure
Cheryl Clarke
Meikle Jinnie
Dumfries 17
42
10.10
Pleasure
Janice Critchley
The Rabbit
Dumfries 17
42
9.44
Pleasure
Jean Bennett
McKenna
Dumfries 17
44
8.95
Pleasure
Julie O'Neill
Park House Split Decision
Dumfries 17
40
10.00
Pleasure
Karen Megson
Maritijie
Dumfries 17
41
8.95
Pleasure
Penny Hudson
Dolly
Dumfries 17
42
9.62
Pleasure
Rachel Cringean
Bertie
Dumfries 17
38
9.62
Pleasure
Sue Wardle
Quarryhouse Have a Go
Dumfries 17
44
9.44
Pleasure
Barbara Jordan
Jamie-son
Dumfries 25
38
14.29
Training
Christine Farrow
Ravenside Atlantic Star
Dumfries 25
45
10.14
Pleasure
Diane Warren
Trick or Treat
Dumfries 25
42
11.36
Training
Jean Gilbert
Marcus Ibn Gayet
Dumfries 25
40
11.63
Training
Julie Banks
Mill Starlight
EGB
25
50
14.56
Training
Kirstin Miller
Crystal Cheyenne
Dumfries 25
48
10.79
Pleasure
Natalie Edwards
HS Jibran
Dumfries 25
47
11.54
Training
Rachael Fothergill
Royal Olympian
Dumfries 25
40
11.36
Training
Rachel Bell
Casanova
Dumfries 25
48
13.04
Training
Rosemary Matthew
Crioch Khamsin
Dumfries 25
46
10.79
Pleasure
Sophie Bell
Kingsmeadowhouse Cairo
Dumfries 25
42
13.04
Training
Tracey Johnstone
Zig Zag Shah
Dumfries 25
40
10.14
Pleasure
William Gate
Croftys Springtime Frost
EGB
50
14.56
Training
Ride Organisers: Janice Critchley and Alison Thorburn
25
Chief Steward: Sue Grout
From Facebook: Many thanks to EVERYBODY who helped at our Kershope ride. You all made today run
smoothly, real Dumfries branch family atmosphere where everybody mucked in. Then a lovely relaxed
meal in the Bailey Mill afterwards to dry out and warm up. Well done everybody. JC
Moffat: 26th April 2015
Annie Cunningham-Jardine
Heffalump
Dumfries
19
46
9.27
Pleasure
Catriona Murray
Bandit
Dumfries
19
36
9.12
Pleasure
Christopher Wills
BJS Impulse
Dumfries
19
50
9.27
Pleasure
Donna Hamilton
Abergavenny Unique Lady
Lothians
19
48
8.51
Pleasure
Elaine Marshall
Melchior
Lothians
19
44
8.44
Elim
Fiona Penney
BJS Spirit
Dumfries
19
50
9.27
Pleasure
Gillian Rooney
Ryefield
Glasgow
19
48
10.75
Pleasure
Jane Nally
Stratagem
Glasgow
19
42
8.64
Pleasure
Janice Johnston
Ellington Pearl
Dumfries
19
44
11.07
Training
Jean Bennett
McKenna
Dumfries
19
46
7.50
Elim
Jean Gilbert
Rilletta
Dumfries
19
40
10.00
Training
Jill Templeton
Cayenne
EGB
19
44
10.00
Pleasure
Jocelyn Gray
Touchdown Boris.
Lothians
19
46
10.09
Pleasure
Joyce Hume
Little Fenwick Ben Nevis
Lothians
19
56
8.51
Pleasure
Karen Megson
Maritijie
Dumfries
19
52
7.81
Elim
Moira Pickering
Eisor Zigzak
Glasgow
19
46
8.64
Pleasure
Penny Hudson
Dolly
Dumfries
19
44
9.83
Pleasure
Sarah Lovell
Emerald Isle Tiffany
Glasgow
19
40
8.38
Pleasure
Sarah Wilson
Bertie
Dumfries
19
36
9.83
Pleasure
Sheila McConnell
Knockandys Fancy Pants
Dumfries
19
48
8.70
Pleasure
Sheila Rae
Will We Wont We
Glasgow
19
Sue chambers
Lady Eleanor
EGB
19
44
10.00
Pleasure
Sue Ingham
Stanley
Day Member
19
50
9.27
Pleasure
Sue Webster
Thornville Prince
EGB
19
44
9.12
Pleasure
Susan Maxwell
Beltane Poppy
Dumfries
19
Angela Heidemann
Reuben
Tayside
27
46
10.87
Pleasure
Bernhard Heidemann
Harley Davidson Heidemann
Tayside
27
42
10.87
Pleasure
Carole Stewart
Mr Fletcher
Day Member
27
46
9.70
Pleasure
Gail Fitzsimmons
archie 2
Dumfries
27
42
9.59
Pleasure
Gill Brittle
Holme Park Flirt
Lothians
27
42
9.94
Pleasure
Lorna Hogarth
Troy
Lothians
27
46
8.76
Pleasure
Rosemary Matthew
Crioch Khamsin
Dumfries
27
48
9.36
Pleasure
Sheila Irvine
Pizzaro
Lothians
27
48
8.76
Pleasure
Tricia Garnett
Polo (Polly)
Tayside
27
48
10.87
Pleasure
Ride Organiser: Natalie Edwards
Chief Steward: Sue Grout
Elim
Retired
Lame
Out of time
Out of time
Lame
Fleet Forests 10th May 2015
Jackie Jamieson
Basil B
Dumfries
8
58
6.67
Elim
Out of Time
Kate Higginson
Thomas
Day Member
8
46
6.67
Elim
Out of Time
Jill Widdop
Brockleton Craig
Dumfries
12
44
8.47
Taster
Kay Robinson
Stormy Lad
Day Member
12
40
8.47
Taster
Steve Phelps
Rocky
Day Member
12
44
8.47
Taster
Christopher Wills
BJ’s Impulse
Dumfries
17
46
9.03
Pleasure
Elizabeth Foulds
Jenny Wren
Dumfries
17
40
8.57
Pleasure
Fiona Penney
BJ’s Spirit
Dumfries
17
50
9.03
Pleasure
Jillian Crosbie
Miakoda
Dumfries
17
46
8.57
Pleasure
Kirstin Miller
Ruben
Dumfries
17
50
8.64
Pleasure
Penny Hudson
Dolly
Dumfries
17
40
9.62
Elim
Lame
Rachel Cringean
Bertie
Dumfries
17
40
9.62
Elim
Lame
Rosemary Matthew
Crioch Khamsin
Dumfries
17
50
8.64
Pleasure
Sheila McConnell
Knockandys Fancy Pants
Dumfries
17
42
8.79
Pleasure
Susan Maxwell
Beltane Poppy
Dumfries
17
42
9.44
Pleasure
Barbara Jordan
Jamie-son
Dumfries
29
36
11.92
Training
Diane Warren
Trick or Treat
Dumfries
29
48
11.92
Training
Sheila Watson
Eldrick Redoubt
Day Member
29
46
10.94
Pleasure
Ride Organiser: Annie Walker
Chief Steward: Anita Hansen-Lennox
From Facebook: Thank you for an amazing day. Lovely ride, lovely
friendly people, amazing scenery and nicest club of all the equestrian sports I’ve been to so thank you
for making us so welcome. SM
AND LOOK AT THIS FROM THE 1999 EDITION of the CLUB
NEWSLETTER!!! …..”Helping at the venue is actually great fun
and it was lovely to meet quite a few folks who were just
starting in the sport. Once again the friendliness and
helpfulness of Long Distance Riders came to the fore. I really
don’t know many other sports where seasoned campaigners
happily accompany novice competitors, sometimes at the
expense of their own timings and mileages. Heather Park –
Fleet Ride.
Tinwald 24th May 2015
Angela Burns
Amber Burns
Glasgow
10
48
8.22
Taster
Emma Maxwell
Ransom
Dumfries
10
60
9.09
Taster
Laura White
Molly White
Day Member
10
52
8.96
Taster
Liz Street
Yogi
Day Member
10
60
9.09
Taster
Susan Boyes
Sydney
Glasgow
10
42
8.22
Taster
Anna Pritchard
Pepsi
Day Member
18
46
9.73
Pleasure
Audrey Taylor
Fearganainm
Dumfries
18
38
9.23
Pleasure
Christine Thorburn
Alfred
Dumfries
18
44
9.64
Pleasure
Gillian Rooney
Ryefield
Glasgow
18
50
8.64
Pleasure
Janice Critchley
The Rabbit
Dumfries
18
50
9.23
Pleasure
Jill Templeton
Cayenne
EGB
18
44
10.8
Pleasure
Kirstin Miller
Crystal Cheyenne
Dumfries
18
56
11.61
Training
Rachel Cringean
Bertie
Dumfries
18
44
9.73
Pleasure
Rosemary Matthew
Crioch Khamsin
Dumfries
18
54
11.61
Training
Serena Cunningham-Jardine
Heffalump
Dumfries
18
Sheila McConnell
Knockandys Fancy Pants
Dumfries
18
50
8.64
Pleasure
Sue Chambers
Lady Eleanor
EGB
18
46
10.8
Pleasure
Sue Grout
Otztaler Santana
Dumfries
18
52
8.64
Pleasure
Sue Ingham
Stanley
Dumfries
18
Vicky Thorburn
Heidi
Dumfries
18
48
9.64
Pleasure
Amanda Lister
Sparky
Dumfries
26
44
11.06
Training
Barbara Stephenson
Miss Ruby
EGB
26
40
10.13
Pleasure
Carolyn Cummings
Peterbrook Sunset Surprise
Dumfries
26
50
12.48
Training
Cheryl Clarke
Meikle Jinnie
Dumfries
26
44
9.29
Pleasure
Christine Farrow
Ravenside Atlantic Star
Dumfries
26
50
10.33
Pleasure
Diane Warren
Trick or Treat
Dumfries
26
48
11.47
Training
Julie O'Neill
Park House Split Decision
Dumfries
26
58
9.29
Pleasure
Kathleen Andrea Braithwaite
Shannon
EGB
26
46
9.45
Pleasure
Natalie Edwards
HS Jibran
Dumfries
26
46
10.61
Pleasure
Penny Johnston
Jade
Dumfries
26
42
11.06
Training
Rachael Fothergill
Royal Olympian
Dumfries
26
44
11.47
Training
Ride Organiser: Penny Hudson
Chief Steward: Barbara Jordan
Retired
Retired
Photographer: Brian Mc Meeken
Thanks to: Janice Critchley, Julie O’Neil, Susan Maxwell, Jean Gilbert, Barbara Jordan, Jill Widdop,
Brian McMeeken and Christine Farrow for their contributions, and to David Grout for printing and all
things technical. Our next newsletter is planned for September 2015, plenty of time for you to get all
your reports, thoughts and everything else to me.
Your Committee 2015:
JANICE CRITCHLEY:
Branch Chair, Website and FaceBook Editor
Mossfoot, Kirtlebridge, Lockerbie, DG11 3LL
deanwild362@btinternet.com 01461 500809
AUDREY TAYLOR:
Vice Chair, Ride Secretary and Central Committee Rep
Wallacehall East, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, DG11 3HR
Audreytaylor50@btinternet.com
AMANDA LISTER:
01461 600635
Vice Chair, Branch and Membership Secretary
3 Crossgates Road, Hallbankgate, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 2PQ
a.lister@btinternet.com 07876674221
PENNY HUDSON:
Branch Treasurer
Mundeville, Tinwald, Dumfries
hudsonpenny@aol.com 07786562543
NATALIE EDWARDS:
Helpers Co-ordinator
Grigalach, Bruce St, Lochmaben, DG11 1PD
natcoates73@yahoo.co.uk 01387 811447
MIKE JORDAN:
Disciplinary Rep and Championship Committee Rep
64 Main Road, Seaton, Workington, CA14 1HY
theteamjordan@gmail.com 0190068271
BARBARA JORDAN:
Championship Committee Rep
64 Main Road, Seaton, Workington, CA14 1HY
theteamjordan@gmail.com 0190068271
SUE GROUT:
Newsletter Editor, Central Committee Rep and Chief Steward Co-ordinator
Dunedin, Roberton, Biggar, ML12 6RT
sue@grout.scot
07989094483
JANICE JOHNSTONE:
Scottish Endurance – to complete is to win