The Side Saddle Association Area 5 Newsletter

April 2020

Dear Members

I hope that this newsletter finds you well and most of all safe.

The AGM did not occur as many of you know. However, the voting for Council

Members being postal, resulted in the following changes.

President: Mrs Jane Pryor

National Chairman: Ms Vanessa Hood

Vice Chairman:

Ann Sadler

Henrietta Barton

Caroline Hobson

Cath Marchbank

Area 5 would like to welcome everyone to their new positions and are keen to

support the hard work they will undertake in the running of The Side Saddle

Association.

We are all experiencing a different way of life at the moment. For some it is easy, but

for many it is harder. My personal lock-down has not been too difficult so far and I am

lucky to be able to escape to walk the dogs round the adjacent farmland which I have

permission to do.

With nothing equestrian related to occupy our minds, many have turned to other

ideas including on line shows.

Please support Area 12 in their quest to raise money for the NHS who appear to be

the back bone of our country at the moment. There are classes to suit everyone and

no riding is required. Information may be found on the Area 5 Facebook page or

direct from the Area 12 Secretary Mrs Zoe Bateson whose details may be found in

the handbook.

Now might be the time for you to consider taking Grade Tests in the future as

revision and reading may fill a gap in the day or evening or at the least cure any

insomnia! All information can be found in the Handbook. If you need any help with

regard to this do not hesitate to ring and ask me.

The Area 5 Committee has a new temporary secretary. Due to personal

commitments, Gaye Morgan is unable to proceed in this role at the moment and the

effervescent Maureen James has offered to step in. Emma Richardson- Steele will

continue to help with the newsletter and PR work. Gaye is hoping to proceed with the

position next year. Grateful thanks go to all.

Maureen’s contact details are: Telephone 01858 575300. Email mhajames@gmail.com

I am most thankful to the wonderful Area 5 Committee who have contributed to this

newsletter with some fun and interesting articles.

Looking onwards, we will try to put as many things together for you as soon as we

can. We are somewhat reluctant to rearrange any show dates at the moment to

avoid clashes with other long standing shows.

It is our sincere hope to be able to run our big show at Moreton Morrell, The Sheila

Rowland Masters Show, on Sunday 13th September. The trophies that used to be

presented at the Area Show earlier in the year have all been moved to this show and

along with fabulous rosettes, sashes and a host of classes there is much on offer.

I do hope that you enjoy this newsletter and please if there is anything you would like

to contribute to the next one send directly to Emma Richardson-Steele.

Once again, stay safe and we hope to see you at some point soon!

With best wishes

Ginny

Ginny Oakley Pope SSA Area 5 Chairman

PLUM PARK ON-FOOT RALLY - SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2020

Members who attended the Rally were treated to a visit by Hennie the

House Horse, who came into our room and quietly stood with her owner

Debbie whilst mane and tail plaiting was demonstrated, the rights and

wrongs of various hoof oils was discussed including tips from the Household

Cavalry, favourite grooming aids were demonstrated and various questions

were fielded by Ginny and Vanessa. Hennie who is all of 16.3 and a superb

example of a part bred Irish Draught, has the most amazing

temperament. How many horses would stand on a carpet in a room filled

with Area 5 Members and after some three quarters of an hour quietly turn

round and walk out of the front door and up a step into the car park?

Double bridles were then discussed with some interesting examples having

been brought to the Rally. All were very different, especially the widths of

nosebands and were made to fit and suit different types of horses. All had

different bits and the merits of using the Bit Bank when buying was

discussed as this allows buyers to try before they buy.

Following a soup and roll lunch (plus cakes), Karen Byrd modelled several

of her own habits including a vintage Busvine. She demonstrated types of

waistcoats, hunting ties/stocks, how to put hair in a bun and the merits of

various hair nets and pins. Bowler and silk hats, shirt collars, ties, boots

and gloves were also discussed and demonstrated.

SSA AGM - SUNDAY 15TH MARCH 2020

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak a Virtual Meeting was held by email to all

those who had booked to attend. This allowed those Members to approve

the Association’s accounts and Accountant for the next year by

replying. The results of the Postal Voting for the Officers was declared. Our

new President is Jane Pryor, congratulations to her and to our very own

new Association Chairman, Vanessa Hood, Re-elected as a Vice

Chairman was Ann Sadler, with Henrietta Barton, Cath Marchbank and

Caroline Hobson elected as new Vice Chairmen.

We would like to thank SSA Hon Secretary and Area 5 Member Sally Lane

for dealing with all the extra work that cancelling the AGM at Hogarths Hotel

has given her.

SPRINGBRIDGE CLINIC, 29TH MARCH 2020 cancelled

MURCOTT SHOW AND CLINIC 5TH APRIL 2020 cancelled

AREA 5 SPRING SHOW AT THE H.O.P.E SHOW 11th May 2020

cancelled

PLEASE NOTE!

The month of the Area 5 Autumn Show at

Moreton Morrell was incorrectly shown in

the SSA Handbook on page 37.

The correct date is Sunday 13th

September 2020.

Area 5 member Sarah Edmunds shares

Springtime with COVID-19

Do you believe in things coming in threes? 2020 says challenge accepted- EHV/Floods

& CV-19.

The relentless rain meant it wasn’t a great hunting season, from New Years Day

onwards, when we did get out, it was roads and tracks with lots of trotting so the side

saddle stayed at home. Manny the mammoth spent the winter working hard with his

pro-rider trainer to get ready for the early shows and Dexter sailed through his rehab

after annular ligament cut/manica flexoria removed and DDFT adhesion tidied up

surgery back in November.

We were ready to crack on with the showing season! Then the virus raging on the

other side of the world, made its way across to our island and prospect of lock-down

changed everything. I’d grown up with a mum who still remembered clearly the war

years and rationing so it has always been in my nature to have a well stocked pantry

and plenty of supplies so I didn’t need to add to much to see us ready to isolate. The

management of our eight horses needed some consideration, so we quickly booked

and got all teeth and vaccinations done. Perry the two year old cob was gelded.

They were too fit and on too much food to just stop so we decided to keep them quietly

in work, Dexter,io and Manny had a new set of shoes and the rest are now barefoot.

We are having a steady hack out first thing on two, then working two in our lunch break

as both our companies had already allowed some home working so not a huge stretch

to push that up to full time. Manny has kept up with his training thanks to a webcam in

the school meaning Roger can still have a lesson to ride Manny in the way his trainer

wants him to go. Plus riding is our way to unwind and find an escape from this stressful

time.

We see this as a time to rethink how and why we do things the way we do, to identify

issues that occur in competition and work towards improvement. There are lots of pole

work exercises to strengthen backs and work on rhythmic paces whether ridden or in-

hand. I’m working through a rider Pilates online class to work on sitting taller and not

collapsing my right hip (and working extra hard to try to stop it creeping forwards when

aside).

Now is also a great time to not just tidy but de-clutter your tack-room. I’m working

through all the saddles, bridles, spare tack, fixing any loose stitching and giving it all a

proper clean,bits, spurs and stirrups go in the dishwasher and the side saddles are

having a seat and linen scrub too (elbow grease and white bar soap eg imperial

leather), followed by filling a bag with items to sell and ruthlessly binning things like

that cracked cheekpiece that might do in an emergency etc. Next stop will be attacking

the wardrobe and the huge collection of boots and hats we seem to have

accumulated.. Jackets can be sponged/handwashed and stored in proper carriers with

moth repellent. Check that none of the buttons haven’t come loose etc. Hats can be

checked for damage and fit- I’ve binned our tattier hacking hats for newer ones found

tucked at the back of the shelf. Boots will given a good clean, spray silicone spray or

WD40 on the zips to stop corrosion that can lead to snagging/breaking and stored with

trees (rolled up paper feed sacks secured with tape do a similar job) then stored in

boxes to keep dust off but let them breathe- do try not to store leather in plastic as it

can sweat and get patchy marks that can prove impossible to fully buff out.

I’ve also attacked the pile of stuff that always seems to lurk on the Luton of the

horsebox/in the boot of my car and found all sorts of treasure from small hand sanitiser

to a new packet of pasta in the lorry cupboard and even treasure in the form of a packet

of 4 toilet rolls under the seat (or maybe that’s the bottle of Malbec jammed under my

jump leads in the Trooper!)

Wash your hands, don't touch your face and stay at home!

Sarah Edmunds

My Lockdown by Karen Byrd - Treasurer of SSA Area 5

Well, three weeks in and my favourite Facebook post was one that said

something along the lines of “it just shows how antisocial you are when

lock down makes little difference”. Life has not really changed for the boys

as we are all family working and living together, so Dad and his partner,

myself, my husband and youngest son, along with eldest son and Alex

Kennedy all live on the farm, using same machines, so extended family

living, but strict social distancing with external people (including my 25

very lovely, supportive DIY liveries).

Potato planting is done, winter barley looks appalling along with most

farmers as wrong conditions when planted, oil seed rape that did look

promising in the autumn (it survived the flea beetle) has succumbed to the

wet and pigeons! We did manage to plant the milling wheat at the

beginning of February and this is looking very hopeful (it will be next

winter’s Warburton bread).

All our horses and liveries are all out 24/7, chilling in the river meadows

which are luckily now dry after the wettest winter ever known. I change or

remove livery rugs in the morning and evening, with owners popping up

through the day to check horses, waters, feed, any medicines etc. A very

odd time for all of us.

My “proper” job as an accountant working from home has changed little,

just a few more phone calls from clients, especially self-employed ones,

looking for answers to how they are going to get through the next few

months. I have never been so glad of good internet and already being

kitted out for substantial amounts of “homeworking”.

Lack of mucking out, riding and competing two horses has given me time

for a couple of old hobbies. I have two sisters and my mother taught us all

how to sew as soon as we could thread a needle (to keep us out of

mischief and within her sight).

My first “lock down” project was to hem one pair of living room curtains,

which I made a couple of year ago, and to make two more pairs to match.

Second: hem two skirts and a pair of trousers, old favourites left in the

mending pile for a “rainy day”.

Third: cleared my ironing pile to zero.

Fourth: make up some tweed fabric that was a Christmas present from

Alex. I mentioned I wanted to make a tweed “Dubarry” skirt and Alex found

some lovely thick tweed in Paris on her uni fashion student trip. It fits a

treat, lovely heavy weight skirt for cold race days at Cheltenham, looking

forward to wearing it next year!

Fifth: the Schoffel fleece.... being an accountant, I just cannot bring myself

to pay a huge amount of a fleece waistcoat because it has the right label...

bought fabric, zip, pattern etc online last Saturday, all the necessary bits

had arrived by Wednesday and I enjoyed Good Friday making the

waistcoat. I am pleased to say it fits and already a favourite.

Sixth: this is going to take a little longer. My garden has been at the

bottom of my “to do” list for quite a few years. However, this weekend the

greenhouse has been cleared, climbing rose now fanned and tied to the

wall and nettles are getting fewer. Seed planting next week and trying to

work out a way of keeping my little Spaniel from digging up what I have

just planted.

Keep safe everyone and enjoy a different, slower paced Springtime.

Looking forward to everyone’s company later in the year.

Karen

FROM THE ARCHIVES: SSA NEWSLETTER 1989

GIRTH EXTENSION STRAPS

If you ride a cobby horse, barrel-shaped with no withers, you will know how difficult it

is to get your side saddle too sit securely on his back; no matter how good the fit of the

saddle, it is still necessary to girth up quite tightly. Trying to get a good purchase on

the stiff, short, girth straps fitted on the offside of the saddle can, for many, be an

unequal battle, particularly if it has just started to rain and your gloves and the straps

are getting really slippery!

The solution could be to use girth extension straps – not the ‘H’ shaped straps supplied

by the saddler to lengthen an existing girth, but a pair of custom made extensions.

A pair of old stirrup leathers beginning to wear too thin for safety in the middle, but still

with good strong stitching to the buckle, will do admirably. Punch half a dozen holes

at one-inch intervals, starting an inch below the buckle and then cut the strap to a

length of about 12 inches – not too short, for you will need something to hold on to.

Tack up your horse as usual, fitting the two extension straps on the off side of the

saddle between the girth straps and the girth and using the top holes of the girth

strap; adjust the near side end of the girth two or three holes up so that there is still a

gap between the girth buckle and the end of the girth strap on the off side. Begin to

tighten the girth using the extension straps in rotation – how much easier it is to pull

up a girth using a long, pliable strap!

Then, once the saddle is firmly in place, mount up aside and walk a few paces until

the horse is relaxed and has breathed out. Finally tighten the girth still using the

extensions. Now remove the straps, the forward one first, and couple the girth strap

to the girth - one strap at a time so that there is no pressure on the one that you are

changing, so it is an easy job.

Then either put the straps into your pocket or a safe place if you are tacking up alone,

or hand them to your groom/helper/husband for safe keeping. Remember, using these

girth extensions can make all the difference between an elegant, relaxed rider, a joy

for all to behold, and a quaking mess with broken finger nails, following the exertions

of trying to do up a girth without them!

The Late Alec Mole (SSA husband, groom and dogsbody)

Lockdown Bonus by Committee Member Jennie Daniels

During this lockdown period, my husband and I are working from home, and the boys

are getting on with their university and college work (or at least that’s the idea).

Edward has also been roped into doing some volunteer IT work for the NHS via my

husbands work.

Mum though, who is normally very busy volunteering for the local history collection

and researching peoples family history, has found herself having a big clear and sort

out on her side of the house. The huge bonus of that for me, is that a side saddle

hunting scene print she bought for my birthday on a trip to London in 2013 has been

found in its “safe” place and finally been given to me!!!

My brother is also back home so has been keeping himself busy with all the work

needed around the fields. I think he has probably replaced about 8 broken gate posts

now, several of which had been held tied shut with the all purpose baler twine. Plenty

more jobs to be kept busy with.

Kind regards

Jennie

CANCELLATION OF THE NATIONAL SIDE SADDLE SHOW

7/8/9th AUGUST 2020

In the light of the present situation with Coronavirus the Side Saddle Association has

made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 National Show. It is incredibly

disappointing for everyone who helps to organise and run the show, our

sponsors, trade stand holders and for all the competitors, their friends and families.

Please note we have already booked Addington for 2021, The National Show will take

place on 6th, 7th and 8th August 2021.

Area 5 Members may be interested to know that there is a new Premier Inn just opened

in Buckingham, situated by the Tesco roundabout on the road leading to

Addington. The rates at the time of writing this bulletin were considerably cheaper

than that of the Travelodge.

Emma RS's Famous Fly Repellent Spray Recipe

The hot weather has brought the files out this weekend. I've made up my first

batch repellent. You can buy all the ingredients from Amazon. The total costs

of your ingredients will be more than commercially purchased fly repellent,

but it will be enough to make up many batches.

I've used this recipe on my horses for many years now. It saves money and

is as good as anything you can buy !

5 caps of dettol - from a 500ml size bottle

4 drops washing up liquid

250 ml of Avon Skin So Soft and fresh. This can be halved if midges not too

bad

2 teaspoons of citronella

2 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil

2 teaspoons of lavender oil

2 teaspoons of tea tree oil

2 teaspoons of cedarwood oil

2 teaspoons of bog myrtle oil – not essential but excellent for midge

protection.

Put into a 1 litre spray bottle. Top up to make 1 litre with either water or cold

tea. Shake well before spraying and give a quick shake after every few

squirts to make sure the oil is mixed with the water.

I have used this on people as well as horses, but please do a patch test first

in case you or your horse reacts to any of the above ingredients.

Lockdown Horse Interview with

Hayley Knibbs and Steve Burden

Horse's Registered name: Golden shot

Stable Name: Tim

Nicknames: Slurpy / Slurps, Brat Boy

Colour: Chesnut

Gender: gelding

Disciplines: abit of everything really, mainly showing and side saddle,

we’ve got the bug!

Personality: he’s an oversized dog, softest horse I’ve ever met but very

very sensitive!

Hates: being on his own and getting stressed out

Favourite Treat: he’ll try anything, whatever I’m eating! His favourite food

is calm and condition!

Age: 11

Height: 16.2/3

Funniest Habits: He does a very strange slurpy thing, he’ll do it until he

gets my attention. In the evening, once I’ve skipped out in winter or poo

picked in summer and move on to the next horse, he will always poo

again, because he knows I’ll go back in so more attention!!

Best feature: all of him, I’m biased but he’s beautiful inside and out!

Worst Feature: How easily he can get stressed out, doesn’t take much at

all. And can be sharp to ride at home but I can take him almost anywhere

else and nearly always count on him?!

How Long You Have Had him: 3.5 years